Listen up! 3 things you'll regret not knowing before visiting the St. Regis Bar in Jakarta.

Lately, my friends have been raving about this place, saying Jakarta finally has a jazz bar that actually hits the spot, and it's inside the St. Regis. To be honest, I'm always a bit skeptical about bars in high-end hotels, fearing it's just another one of those "corporate lounges" with great decor but so-so drinks.

But from the moment I walked down that long, dark corridor and saw the amber glow of the bar at the end, I knew I might have hit the jackpot this time. It has that New York Prohibition-era Speakeasy vibe, and the atmosphere was instantly on point. 🤫

Immersive Nongkrong, Half Heaven

Once seated, the whole space is dim and intimate, with the drumbeats of the jazz music gently tapping at your heart. The band is supposedly flown in from the US[1], and their quality is definitely there—not the kind that just half-heartedly plays some background music. The environment is elegant, and the service is impeccable, as expected from the St. Regis. The waiters will keep refilling your free mineral water and snacks[2]—full marks for attentiveness. 👌

The drink menu is quite interesting, inspired by New York's neighborhoods, but I went straight for the Jakarta-exclusive Batavia Mary[3]. It's a Bloody Mary made with lokal Arak and sambal chili paste. The first sip is the familiar tangy tomato flavor, but the aftertaste has a hint of spiciness and a unique aroma from the liquor, with a cracker stuck on top... Hmm, this drink has a story, and I like it.

What surprised me the most were the snacks! Bar snacks are usually a minefield, but their Tuna Dabu Dabu[4] really blew me away. Fresh tuna cubes and fish roe mixed with a refreshing Indonesian sambal, eaten with rice crackers—the layers of texture were explosive. Anjay, the quality was way beyond expectations, Mantap!

Half Complaints, I Have to Get This Off My Chest

OK, enough with the praise, let's talk about the things that made me frown. Although the drinks are good and the ambiance is great, a cocktail costs 190k++[5], so a casual visit for two easily costs 400k+[2]. At this price point, some major flaws in the experience are hard to tolerate.

First of all, smoking is allowed EVERYWHERE![3] For someone like me who can't stand the smell of smoke, it's a total disaster. No matter how good the fragrance and jazz music are, when mixed with secondhand smoke, the classy vibe is instantly cut in half.

Secondly, the layout is just terrible. The bar and a few massive pillars are plonked right in the middle, meaning more than half the seats have an obstructed view, and you can't see the band at all[6]. Plus, one time I went, the band's volume was ridiculously loud. My friend was sitting right across from me, and we basically had to shout to talk[7]. The Chill feeling was completely gone.

【A Veteran's Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls】

Finally, for the girls who want to check this place out, here are some solid tips. Save this, you won't regret it!

• Reserve! Reserve! Reserve! You must book in advance and specify in the notes that you want "a seat with a good view of the band." Otherwise, you'll most likely be stuck next to a pillar.
• Time it right. The live jazz performance usually starts at 8:30 or 9 PM[8], so don't go too early and just sit there if you want to hear the music.
• Ordering strategy. For your first visit, go straight for the Batavia Mary[3]; you can't go wrong. For snacks, the Tuna Dabu Dabu[4] is a must-order.
• Non-smokers, enter with caution. If you're extremely sensitive to the smell of smoke, please think twice, or be prepared to be in a cloud of it[9].