Jakarta Nightlife - Best of 2012

If you're looking to party when the sun goes down, stick to South Jakarta; because after midnight, the north side of the metropolis turns dicey, quickly. That being said, there are several notable nightclubs in northern Jakarta, like Club 36 and Malioboro.

• 1) BBs Twelve Blues Bar

  BBs Twelve Blues Bar, in Central Jakarta, is where to go for a night of live music. A world-class blues band and a soul-stirring reggae group both perform on Fridays, while Saturday nights are reserved for Classic Rock. The food is typical pub-grub and the atmosphere is friendly.

• 2) Cafe Botavia

  Cafe Botavia is one of the most expensive eateries in the city. Located in West Jakarta, International and Indonesian food is served during lunch and dinner. At night, Cafe Botavia turns into a trendy hot spot where status-aware locals go to see and be seen.

• 3) Hard Rock Cafe

  If one night you feel like a little bit of western rock-n-roll, head over the Hard Rock Cafe in the EX annex. Plaza Senayan's Arcadia annex is another popular area; the focus, however, is more on fine dining.

• 4) Red Square

  Vodka aficionados should reserve a table at Red Square. The first of its kind in Jakarta, Red Square carries a wide variety of Vodkas and offers up unique Russian-fusion meals. The décor is chic crimson and black, fire jugglers perform nightly, and professional dancers usually hit the floor around 11:00 p.m.