Must-see nightlife in Java

  • Tanamera Coffee

    South Jakarta

    A real contender for Jakarta's best cup of coffee is this third-wave roaster that offers a range of single-origin beans from around Indonesia. It now has…

  • Loewy

    South Jakarta

    One for those who take their booze seriously is this classy French bistro with a long bar you can prop yourself up at to order from a pleasing, ever…

  • Filosofi Kopi

    South Jakarta

    Immortalised by the Indonesian coffee-lover's movie Filosofi Kopi (the film itself was shot here), this busy cafe does a range of local coffees prepared…

  • Acaraki

    Jakarta

    Hidden in a renovated building near Taman Fatahillah, Acaraki is the coolest cafe in the area. It's decorated with exposed brickwork and an enormous…

  • Awan

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    Set on the top floor of Kosenda Hotel, this lovely rooftop garden bar manages to be both understated and dramatic. There's a vertical garden, ample tree…

  • Bamboo Beach Café

    West Java

    This old favourite has upped sticks and moved further along the beach (alongside a number of other warungs), but the beach-bum vibe and sunset sea views…

  • Hero Coffee

    Semarang

    This delightful cafe is one of several popping up in the old city area. Housed in a beautifully restored colonial terrace, with a pink awning and wrought…

  • Dragonfly

    South Jakarta

    In the most unlikely of locations (the lobby of an office building), you'll find this top stop for visiting DJs to Jakarta. Lights are projected onto…

  • Colosseum Club

    Jakarta

    Next to the 1001 Hotel, this vast club with a huge dance floor and a 16m-high roof is the venue for what's easily one of the most impressive lighting…

  • Wiki Koffee

    Bandung

    The best place for coffee on Jl Braga is this smoky cafe set in a restored old storefront and tastefully decorated with vintage furniture, art and fresh…

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    Cloud Lounge

    Jakarta

    Gourmet bites in a decadent dining room, flaming cocktails, an indoor-outdoor lounge with views of the entire city from the 49th floor of the Plaza tower …

  • Immigrant

    Jakarta

    By day this is a stylish art deco dining lounge high atop the trendy Plaza Indonesia mall. At night, the adjacent club serves crafted cocktails and…

  • One Fifteenth Coffee

    Jakarta

    Set in a stylish space within an attractive heritage house, this contemporary cafe is named in tribute to the ideal coffee-to-water ratio. It was one of…

  • Agenda

    Yogyakarta

    This Berlin-inspired bar has relocated from its former hip hotel rooftop location to this equally cool industrial space with atrium roof and concrete wall…

  • One Fifteenth Coffee

    South Jakarta

    This Indonesian Barista Championship–winning small chain, named after the perfect water-to-coffee ratio, is known for its minimalist style and exceptional…

  • St Ali Jakarta

    South Jakarta

    Getting onboard South Jakarta's burgeoning third-wave coffee scene is acclaimed Melbourne roaster St Ali. As well as Indonesian coffees, it does African…

  • Bakoel Koffie

    Jakarta

    Occupying a fine old colonial building dating to 1878, this elegant art-deco-style cafe has twirling ceiling fans, marble-top round tables and vintage…

  • Sakapatat Social House

    Yogyakarta

    A little out of the way in a residential area north of town is this hip, contemporary Belgian-owned gastropub. It has several local beers on tap along…

  • Oetara

    Jakarta

    Cool, laid-back, bright neighbourhood coffee shop with marble tabletops, vintage chairs, tiled walls, hardwood floors and a chrome cage over the serving…

  • Taphouse

    Yogyakarta

    A good spot for a beer, this atmospheric bar is set within a crumbling, stylised, ruined-brick courtyard. It's a sprawling, eclectic space with bench…

  • Ruang Seduh

    Yogyakarta

    A must for coffee enthusiasts, this tiny cafe feels more like a laboratory with its frosty white decor and high-tech coffee-brewing station installed with…

  • Ombé Kofie

    Jakarta

    In an affluent north Jakarta suburb, this cool little neighbourhood cafe offers pour-over coffees using beans sourced from across the archipelago. Patrons…

  • HARO

    Jakarta

    Occupying the top floor of a gritty office building is this rooftop dive bar that's a good spot to tap into Jakarta's underground music scene. It's a…

  • Prohibition

    South Jakarta

    Inspired by 1930s-style Shanghai speakeasies, this decadent lounge takes you to a bygone era. Grab a booth or a stool at the long marble-topped bar where…

  • Amomali

    South Jakarta

    A well-respected coffee chain specialising in quality Indonesian beans prepared by expert baristas using Aeropress, V-60 pour-overs and espresso. It…

  • Brewerkz

    South Jakarta

    One of the few places serving craft beer in Jakarta is this Singaporean microbrewery that has a bar in the Crystal Lagoon part of Senayan City mall. It's…

  • Lucy in the Sky

    South Jakarta

    Head upstairs to this atrium rooftop garden space to soak up one of Jakarta's best party spots with fun-loving locals here for nightly DJs spinning…

  • Kopi Oey Sabang

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    Gorgeous little cafe, modelled on an old Chinese teahouse, and part of a national chain. It comes with antique tiles and vintage prints on the walls,…

  • Armor Kopi

    Bandung

    A good reason to hit the hills is this outdoor cafe set among pine plantations and pastoral outlooks. There's an excellent choice of Indonesian coffees,…

  • Ndoro Donker

    Central Java

    Named after the first tea mogul of Java and set in the 19th-century home on his original plantation, this teahouse teems with visitors at the weekend,…

  • Jaya Pub

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    In a dimly lit parking lot off the main street, this place has a clandestine feel – but it's more on the sleazy than hipster speakeasy side. Still, it's a…

  • Bloem Café

    Semarang

    For those feeling inspired by DMZ, the 3D 'trick art' museum opposite, this sweet little coffee shop helps continue the sense of illusion into the…

  • Warung Damandiri

    Central Java

    With unrivalled views across the gorgeous little village of Selo, towards the looming, brooding presence of Gunung Merapi, this open-air coffee shop…

  • Eastern Promise

    South Jakarta

    A classic British-style pub in the heart of Kemang, serving Bintang, Heineken, Anker, Carlsberg and Guinness. It has a pool table, well-worn furnishings…

  • Monolog Coffee Company

    South Jakarta

    Serving ethically sourced arabica coffee from Indonesia. Its blend is low in acidity and bold in body. It also serves well-crafted sandwiches, burgers,…

  • Leon

    South Jakarta

    Modern sophisticated warehouse-style bar and club with high ceilings and windows, plus a very-well-stocked bar. Of an early evening, before crowds arrive…

  • Awor Gallery & Coffee

    Yogyakarta

    One for those who take their coffee seriously. Grab a stool at the counter and watch aficionado baristas painstakingly prepare Indonesian coffees as an…

  • Beer Hall

    South Jakarta

    Beer drinkers seeking something crafty can head to this taphouse that looks the part with its cavernous red-brick facade and industrial-chic space. While…

  • Cups Coffe & Kitchen

    Bandung

    A polished-concrete atrium cafe with orchids hung on the wall, smoke in the air and mostly Western snacks and sandwiches on the menu. Fish and chips,…

  • Camden Bar

    Jakarta

    Behind the bland wall facing a side street, this bar is a fine place to retreat for an evening. You can chill in the woodsy air-con lounge or take in the…

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