I'm declaring this the ultimate Jakarta date spot... with one fatal flaw.

Honestly, every time a friend comes to Jakarta and asks me where to Chill at night, I'm always a bit at a loss for words. Until I walked into this bar at the St. Regis... Walking through that long, dark corridor, at the end was a dazzling bar and flowing jazz music, and in that moment, I understood—this is the sophisticated vibe Jakarta should have. ✨

Atmosphere and Drinks, Both Top-Notch

The atmosphere here is practically tailor-made for dates. The amber lighting is perfectly dim, and sinking into the velvet sofa, you feel your whole body relax. After 8:30 every night, the live jazz band starts performing[1]. They're incredibly talented, with many invited from the US. The moment the music starts, the whole space is instantly elevated.

The drink menu is simply fantastic. Girls, listen to me, you have to try the Jakarta-exclusive Bloody Mary here—Batavia Mary[2]! It blends local arak and sambal, and it's garnished with an Indonesian shrimp cracker on top. The first sip has a familiar spicy fragrance, but it's perfectly balanced by the sweet and sourness of the tomato. The layers of flavor are incredible, Mantap!

The snacks are also far from being an afterthought. The Tuna Dabu Dabu[3] was a pleasant surprise for me—fresh tuna cubes with refreshing sambal and caviar, one bite is super satisfying. The service is on point too; they give you complimentary mineral water and small snacks, which is a nice touch that adds to the experience.

Hold On, Here Come the Downsides

Nothing's perfect, and this place is no exception. The most frustrating thing for me is: it's actually an indoor smoking area[4]! 🚬 The great, sophisticated atmosphere is completely ruined by the lingering secondhand smoke. It's so unfriendly to non-smoking girls like us, Anjay!

Also, if you're going specifically for the jazz music, be careful about where you sit. The design of the bar and pillars is a bit weird; half of the seats are actually in a blind spot[5], where you can't see the band perform at all. And sometimes the band's volume suddenly spikes, making it too loud to have a conversation[6], which kind of ruins the mood.

Pro Tips to Avoid Disappointment, You're Welcome

Here's a summary in plain language for the girls who want to check it out:

Alright, go ahead and @ the friends you want to go Nongkrong with

• Best Time: The jazz band usually starts around 8:30 - 9:00 PM from Monday to Saturday, so don't go too early if you want to hear the music.
• Seating Guide: If you want to see the performance, you must go early to snag the sofa seats directly facing the stage. Otherwise, you'll just be listening to it as background music.
• Budget Reference: Cocktails start from 190k IDR per glass[7]. For two people ordering two drinks and a snack, it'll cost around 400-500k IDR[8].
• Dress Code: Smart Casual. Dress up nicely and take some great photos! Don't just show up in flip-flops and a tank top, okay?
• Ultimate Reminder: For girls who are extremely sensitive to smoke, think twice! Or just pray that the table next to you doesn't smoke 🥲.