Palembang Nightlife: Best Nightclubs and Bars [2024]

Palembang is the second largest city in Sumatra after Medan. It does not receive a lot of foreign visitors apart from Malaysians and Singaporeans.

As with most provincial towns in Indonesia, its nightlife is limited. Most clubbers are guys, and the few girls who accompany them are often professional. There is usually no dance floor: Customers book tables and they just stay within the same group, without trying to mingle with other people.

The DJs are pretty much always playing the same famous EDM or Rn'B tracks. Most often, they are women who are chosen mainly for their looks.

Hotels near the Nightlife

I found the nightclubs to be quite far from each other. For this reason, I strongly recommend you to book a hotel in the city center.

The best ones in terms of quality of service and location (near the nightlife/bars/clubs) are the following:

⭐⭐⭐ (under $30): Amaris Palembang, Monoloog, Favehotel Palembang

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ($50-$80): Aston Hotel and Conference Center, Novotel Palembang, The Arista Hotel

Best Nightclubs in Palembang:

If you are traveling or working in Palembang, here are my nightclubs recommendations:

Gold Dragon

Part of a large chain (HW Group), it is one of the most happening venues in the city, with frequent guest DJs and singers. Mid-sized, it is designed for groups so avoid it if you are alone.

Arena9

This is my favorite place to hangout in Palembang. It is a complex with a café, a restaurant, a beer house (Bierhaus), and a skygarden. The crowd is quite young and more trendy than elsewhere. It seems that this is where students go for partying in the city.

Selebriti Entertainment Center

One of the most famous nightlife spots in Palembang, this complex features a KTV and a bar (S' Lounge).

The space is medium-sized, with a slightly elevated podium for live performances (most songs in Indonesian with some international hits). During breaks, a DJ will mix very loud techno and house music.

Not so crowded unless they have a special event.

Open every day until 2am.

D'Fairway Lounge and Sports Bar

A non-pretentious club with live music and DJs. Nothing spectacular but the crowd is more friendly and diverse than anywhere else in the city (or maybe I was just lucky that night).