Jakarta’s bar scene is no longer just about rooftop views and neon signs, it’s about personality, philosophy, and places that feel like stories waiting to be told. In this series, we explore bars that don’t just serve drinks, they also weave tales of wonder.
Vagabond is perched, rather dramatically, on the 25th floor of the Multivision Tower in Kuningan, a cocktail bar that is proud of its personality. Many bars claim this, but Vagabond proves it by mixing global bar culture with expressive cocktails and a philosophy that sounds uncannily like a slogan from a travel agency: “Not one place, but many moments.” In practice, this means you’ll find yourself in a space that values atmosphere over spectacle. Vagabond prefers to “read the room,” which is a polite way of saying they’ll adjust the vibe depending on whether you’re in the mood for quiet sophistication or something bigger.
The bar was co-founded by the charismatic Michael Callahan, who has spent decades behind some of the world’s most respected bars from Africa to Asia, and Europe to North America. He’s joined by the equally stylish Payman Bahmani-Bailey, whose career path looks suspiciously like the server list of a teenager’s VPN: New York, Los Angeles, Taipei, Singapore, and now Jakarta. The two first worked together at Proof & Company in Singapore and helped forge the tone and culture behind the award-winning 28 HongKong Street bar.
The drinks list is where Vagabond flexes its muscles, offering 12 signature cocktails alongside rotating classics and even communal punch bowls—because nothing says conviviality quite like sharing a ladle with strangers. Among the highlights are Untitled (2025), a rum cocktail inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat that proves booze can be as highbrow as art; or The Whizzer, a clarified, carbonated concoction built with garam masala gin and chicken stock, sounding more like a student experiment than a bar menu item but deliberately “unexpected, distinctive, and exactly the point.” Vagabond isn’t just a bar; it’s a stage. Literally. There’s a dedicated platform for DJs, curated music journeys, and ritual-led moments. Some are planned, others spontaneous, all are designed to make the night feel alive.
Multivision Tower Fl.25, Jl. Kuningan Mulia Lot 9B, South Jakarta
Blending playful creativity with cultural depth, OSMO is Jakarta’s newest cocktail bar. Rooted in “bastardized classics,” its debut menu No Big Deal reimagines everyday rituals, like pressing “Skip Intro” on Netflix, into signature drinks such as shiso‑vodka refreshers, turmeric‑tequila blends, and interactive Martinis. Alongside cocktails, The Solera Whisky program is OSMO’s boldest statement. Borrowing a technique from winemaking, the bar blends three whisky styles in cascading barrels, producing a spirit that’s spice‑forward yet smooth. Guests can sip it neat, shoot it, or stretch it into a highball, with each option a different lens on complexity. The accompanying food menu mirrors this ethos, with reworked comfort dishes like Sate Padang and Smoked Duck Dry Ramen. Designed for intimacy but without pretension, OSMO combines bold flavors with music, ritual, and atmosphere that is helping to firmly position Jakarta among Asia’s most exciting cocktail capitals.
Jl. Aditiawarman I No.8, South Jakarta
With a design that leans into understated sophistication, intimate corners, sleek palettes, and a rhythm that feels both composed and welcoming, BAR ON G redefines what a modern gentleman’s bar can be, not through spectacle, but through intention. Every detail, from the clean architectural lines to the soft interplay of light and shadow, invites guests to slow down and savor the art of being present. This is a space for those who appreciate subtlety. The hush of conversation over a well‑crafted drink, the elegance of restraint.
BAR ON G’s philosophy is in its approach to the cocktails that balance technique and storytelling. The Barong’s Signature collection distills Indonesia’s cultural diversity into liquid form, with standouts such as Ring of Fire, Taprobana, Puspa Bangsa, Rarobang Coffee, and Papua In Love each creating a sensory narrative expressed with clarity and grace. Ultimately, BAR ON G is less about performance and more about presence.
It’s a haven for those who value the pause between sips as much as the pour itself. In a city that rarely slows, this bar offers something increasingly rare: character, conviction, and a distinct point of view.
Fairmont Jakarta, Jl. Asia Afrika No.8, South Jakarta
St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Jakarta sits in the quieter part of Jakarta’s Golden Triangle. The St. Regis Jakarta is more than a hotel, it is a platform for experiences shaped around music, performance, and timeless traditions. Conceived by award-winning New York designer Alexandra Champalimaud, the property blends cosmopolitan elegance with a sense of personal connection. Into this mix, the St. Regis Bar Jakarta invites guests to step into the golden age of jazz with its latest conceptual cocktail journey, a tribute to the music, nightlife, and identity of 1920s New York. The third volume of the New York-inspired Cocktails collection pours legends into a glass, with Duke Ellington’s sophisticated orchestration reimagined as Duke of Jazz No.2, a refined cognac sour that mirrors his elegant composure. And Louis Armstrong’s joyful trumpet bursts inspire Pop’s, with effervescent bubbles that sparkle like his horn’s notes.
The St. Regis Jakarta, Rajawali Place, Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta
Eden Bar at Pan Pacific Jakarta rises above the city on Level 90, a botanical escape framed by the Thamrin skyline. More than a bar, it is a destination shaped around sustainability, design, and atmosphere, where the garden terrace and sleek indoor lounge meet artisan-led mixology and converge into one elevated experience.
The entirety of Eden Bar balances metropolitan energy with a back‑to‑basics analogue ambience.Golden sunsets spill across the terrace before the city lights take over, transforming the mood into something effortlessly sophisticated. At the heart of it all is a mixology program that champions locally sourced ingredients, weaving Jakarta’s bounty into curated cocktails that feel both inventive and grounded. Guests are invited to meet the mixologist, discover signature creations, and immerse themselves in a rhythm that balances indulgence with ease such as the crowd‑favourite Banana which is made using banana‑infused aged rum, Islay whisky, spiced syrup, and bitters.
Eden Bar is not just a perch above the city—it is a place for discovery, with more surprises waiting to unfold. A new collection of botanical signatures and interactive sessions with Eden’s engaging mixologists promise fresh energy and evolving narratives — analogue sensibility meeting modern curiosity.
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No.10, Central Jakarta
The Lounge unfolds like a chic living room brought to life as you walk into InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah, adorned with an elegant interior and sweeping floor‑to‑ceiling windows that bathe the room in natural light and offer a view of Jakarta’s cityscape.
Morning brings a gentle glow, inviting guests to settle into the rhythm of the day. As the city’s hum deepens into evening, The Lounge becomes a stage for golden‑hour conversations and after‑dark sophistication, where artisanal cocktails, rare spirits, and curated wines flow alongside refined grazing. It’s a place where the clink of glasses mingles with laughter, where the timeless design and warm ambiance feel curated for connection. The Lounge is somewhere to unwind, where moments stretch seamlessly from a daytime’s calm into an evening’s sophistication.
PIM 2, Jl. Metro Pondok Indah No.1, South Jakarta
