The best bars in Indonesia right now

What it is A sleek yet cosy bar with vintage-inspired decor, smooth notes of jazz and blues, and plush leather armchairs in Jakarta’s Senopati neighbourhood.

Why we love it Making it on our list of Best Bars in Asia and coming in at number 12 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 aren’t the only reasons we love The Cocktail Club. As soon as you step inside, you’ll feel far away from Jakarta’s heaving streets, the warm lighting and velvet banquettes like a welcoming embrace. Drinks are equally impressive, with the cocktail menu grouped by mixologist; try Indonesian mixologist icon Kiki Moka’s Ujung Pandan (Rp 150,000), made with kaffir lime gin, housemade pandan liqueur, absinthe, and housemade coconut syrup, or opt for Erik Opung’s Cincau La Soy (Rp 150,000) with plantation pineapple rum, multi-grain soy milk, black grass jelly, and orgeat.

Time Out tip For something other than cocktails, select from the bar’s impressive whisky collection and pair it with the supply of cigars.

What it is Nestled alongside a handful of other bars on Jalan Gunawarman, this speakeasy draws in Jakarta’s most stylish crowds.

Why we love it Experimental cocktails are the name of the game here, with an emphasis on aromatic, herbal, and floral flavours with ingredients like fig, coriander, and chamomile. Try the signature Tears in Heaven (Rp 150,000), made with vodka orange, menthe, purple cabbage liqueur, chocolate absinthe, and orange liqueur. You can’t help but feel relaxed amongst the sumptuous interiors, made homely by its wood features and warm lighting. 

Time Out tip A/A Bar regularly hosts live music sessions, whether with DJs, bands or jazz groups.

What it is Listed 27th in Asia’s Best Bars 2024, Pantja is known for its classic cocktails and historic concoctions right in the heart of Jakarta’s business district.

Why we love it Led by co-founder and bartender Kabir Suharan, the 2024 drinks menu, Tribute, raises a glass to bartenders throughout history. The Black Bar is dedicated to black bartenders – try the Sakura Stone Sour (Rp 180,000), a modern take on the Stone Sour by Thomas Bullock, who was the first black bartender (famous for his Mint Juleps) to publish a cocktail recipe book. The Woman Trailblazers section celebrates female bartenders – sip on the Hanky Panky (Rp 220,000) by Ada Coleman, head bartender at The Savoy in London for over 23 years.

Time Out tip Come hungry, as the kitchen, led by chef Rapha Menchaca, specialises in farm-to-table cooking with a focus on seasonal ingredients, open-fire cooking, and fresh pasta.

What it is A speakeasy-style cocktail parlour on the second floor of an unassuming building tucked down one of Canggu’s side streets.

Why we love it Step into The Shady Fox and you’ll be transported from tropical Bali to 1930s London. Oozing with vintage charm and glamour, the bar is themed around roulette and late-night entertainment where you can let loose with their weekly events and live music nights. The bar is helmed by Ado Đozovic, who whips up favourites like the Queen of Heart (Rp 155,000) made with berry gin, cherry liqueur, simple syrup, and red wine, and the Buona Sera Signorina (Rp 180,000) made with tequila, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and horchata. 

Time Out tip It’s guestlist only, and you’ll need to DM them on Instagram for the password.

What it is Right across the street from its award-winning sister restaurant Locavore, the Night Rooster is the perfect spot for pre or post-meal drinks in Ubud. 

Why we love it The inventive cocktail menu was conceived by Raka Ambarawan (known locally as the ‘King of Cocktails’), and it uses local ingredients like fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They look complicated on paper but go down smoothly. An excellent place to start is Ashes (Rp 165,000), a heady blend of vodka, whiskey, homemade fortified wine, blowtorched dehydrated fruit, palm sugar, and burnt cinnamon bark, with a side of molasses cracker and smoking pine cone.

Time Out tip Expect the food to be as impressive as Locavore’s, with standout dishes like deviled eggs, corn dogs, and sweet-and-sour braised rabbit leg with kimchi mayonnaise.

What it is One of Bali’s most iconic bars, perched just a few metres above the sparkling Indian Ocean.

Why we love it The only way to reach the bar is by hopping inside an open-air inclinator that takes you down a rock cliff – talk about a dramatic entrance. Located in AYANA Resort, Rock Bar stretches for 270 metres along the seafront. The bar (designed by Japanese glass artist Seiki Torige) is the main focal point, surrounded by various seating options (sofas, tables, day beds, and countertops) overlooking the water. Designed by Sebastien Bonnefoi, signature cocktails champion Indonesian fruits, herbs, and spices. The best way to cool off from the heat, Dragon Sunset (Rp 230,000), is a refreshing mix of Gordon's gin, Cointreau, dragon fruit, and rose petals.

Time Out tip Sunset is the best time to visit, but arrive early to beat the queue at the inclinator. In-house guests enjoy VIP access and prime seats.

What it is A bar and dance club located in the G88 Building (an abandoned plane converted into a lifestyle hub). 

Why we love it 1959 was a huge year, from NASA’s launch of Pioneer 4 (the first US spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravitational field), to the release of Marilyn Monroe’s Some Like It Hot. The cocktails in 1959 are themed around the events that took place during this time. At the helm is head mixologist Dimas Mahendra, who concocts elixirs like the Monroe-inspired Incurably Romantic (Rp 160,000), a combination of tequila, spice syrup, lemon, basil jalapeño, and frothy albumen. Or try Viva La Revolucion (Rp 150,000), a nod to Fidel Castro, with spiced rum, banana, jackfruit, and lemon.

Time Out tip Catching up with a big group? Book the VIP room – complete with comfy sofas – for an intimate space away from the crowds.