The 10 Best Bars in Menteng, Jakarta

Perched on top of the stylish The Hermitage hotel, this rooftop bar has the overall elegance and vintage feel of the establishment, with added youthful liveliness and magnificent city view. Find yourself a cosy spot either at the sofa seating area or by the bar and enjoy the glorious sunset, or the lovely city lights afterwards. La Vue has an extensive bar menu that includes various spirits, cocktails, and imported beers.

Managed by the favoured and trusted brand of Beer Garden, the Menteng branch is just as popular and well-managed as its three sisters. Settled on a rooftop that boasts a sweeping city view, Beer Garden Menteng keeps up with the surrounding elegant neighbourhood through its own splendid design, combining a lovely garden concept with stylish industrial design. In addition to the wide beer selection, this place also has killer cocktails and scrumptious food, best enjoyed with the accompaniment of the daily live music.

As one of the oldest bars in Jakarta, this place sure feels charmingly vintage, with antiques and exotic adornments in every corner. But even with the old charms, this place never goes out of style, especially among expats and tourists. Feel free to cozy up at one of the quiet nooks, feast on scrumptious Thai or Indian meals, get a cocktail or two (try their famed appletini!), or play a game of pool.

Menteng isn’t just one of the city’s most happening neighbourhoods, it’s also one of the oldest. The Jaya Pub is known as the Jakarta’s oldest pub, with loyal frequenters and curious new customers swarming the charming place since 1976. This neighbourhood bar is still loved amid the hip new bar scene not only for its history, but also for the decent drinks and classic rock live music that create a feeling of warmth and nostalgia.

As a big part of the culture, Germans take their beers seriously – a passion that is reflected by Paulaner Bräuhaus, a microbrewery restaurant serving authentic Bavarian food with their prized German beers. The choice for the latter is plentiful, alongside a range of cocktails and spirits. You can even order the Flavor Beer sampler to get a taste of selected drinks and expand your palate. Also, don’t miss their very own Oktoberfest, arguably one of the most authentic adaptations of the beer festival in the country.

This pub and resto is one of Jakartans’ all-time favorite chill-out spots in the middle of the city. As the name suggests, visitors can expect an eye-soothing garden with neat verdure and calming shades of green. And not just that, the place reflects Balinese design, with earthy elements, grand traditional entrance, and overall homey ambiance. Despite the serene and welcoming atmosphere, Melly’s Garden gets wild when it comes to the bar menu, covering everything from beers, spirits, to an immense selection of cocktails.

This restaurant-cum-bar-cum-club welcomes Jakarta’s most glamorous crowd and make them even more fabulous as the group of expats, young execs, and socialites enjoy the energetic mood built by music, drinks, and ambience. You can start with the dining room that serves a wide array of international cuisine, then just scooch over to the lounge or club area as the night escalates. Just like the food menu, the bar offers a wide array of elegant beverages, from beers to fancy cocktails.

As you can guess from the name, ¿Por Qué No? serves various Spanish delicacies, from scrumptious tapas to invigorating tequila and signature cocktails. Note that the name means ‘why not?’, a mentality that will magnify your experiences and ignite an unforgettable night out at this bar as you try the daring menus and the most dashing drinks they have to offer. Interior-wise, ¿Por Qué No? has the elegance of a restaurant and a vibrant ambiance of a rooftop bar, with stylish glass ceilings that just amplify everything good about this place.

If dressing up all fancy for a glass (or two) of flamboyant cocktail sounds like your thing, then you’re going to love OKU, a deluxe Japanese bar and lounge in Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. In addition to its lavish quality and setting, OKU reverberates with a relaxing laid-back atmosphere, inspired by the Japanese Zen principles. And speaking of best of both worlds, the place also includes a fine dining restaurant serving premium Japanese cuisine that will complement the excellent drinks.

One of the most happening bars in Jakarta, Camden also has two other branches in South Jakarta and Bandung. Camden Cikini is relatively bigger, with a more upper-class crowd, despite the generally affordable drinks that keep the place packed. The bar has indoor seats and a bigger outdoor garden area surrounded by lush greeneries that light up beautifully as night descends.