Best Things to Do at Night in Jakarta

I recently wrote about the best things to do in Jakarta. In the following review, I will be more specific and focus on night-time activities.

A cliché used to describe Jakarta is that of "a city that never sleeps." While this could apply to any major capitals in the world, I think it is particularly accurate here. There is always some kind of life in Jakarta, whatever the time and whatever the location.

It is quite logical considering the city has one of the highest population densities in the world. Another reason is that there are a lot of Indonesians working long shifts or night shifts, especially small business owners and independent workers. As long as money can be made, they won't close shop or go home. This is why you can always get food, cigarettes, or a taxi ride at any time of the night.

For the traveler, the advantage of this situation is that there are a lot of things to do at night. Even better, if you go out after 9pm, you'll also enjoy less traffic, cooler temperatures, and less pollution.

The following list will give you some ideas on how to spend time after the sun sets in Jakarta. If you feel I forgot something, please don't hesitate to send me a message.

Best Things to Do in Jakarta at Night

Street Food

Night-time is the best moment to go around and try some delicious Indonesian street food. Many of the small stalls on the sidewalk are actually only allowed to operate in the evening (to avoid disturbing pedestrians during the day).

My personal favorite location for street food in Jakarta is Jalan Mangga Besar, a red-light area busy with an eclectic mix of people. It's a great place to try some authentic Chinese food or some more unusual specialties like cobra and monkey.

If this is too far or too weird for you, Jalan Sabang and Jalan Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta are a good alternative. You'll also find many 24/7 restaurants in the area.

Rooftop Drinks

Jakarta is the 9th city with the most skyscrapers in the world and it is at night that the view is the most spectacular. The darkness hides all the city's flaws: The potholes, the dirt, the dust, and the rust disappear, replaced by millions of colorful lights.

The best rooftops to enjoy the view of the skyline are Cloud or Skye. I give more recommendations in my review Top 10 Rooftop Bars in Jakarta as well. I also enjoy watching the city from the main bar in the Grand Hyatt even though it is not a rooftop.

Live Music, Theater and Concerts

There are several great venues for listening to live music in Jakarta. Two of the most famous are B.A.T.S in Shangri-La and CJ's in Mulia. Both have a Western band playing Top 40 and pop/rock hits. They may not suit everyone's taste though as they attract a lot of working girls. Paulaner Brauhaus in Kempinski or Eastern Promise in Kemang are better options if that bothers you.

In Menteng, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) is an art complex popular with Indonesians. There are daily cultural performances (concerts, theater, movies, etc).

Clubbing and Karaoke

Clubs are usually busy on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. You can read about my favorites here: Best Nightclubs in Jakarta.

Cinemas

Jakarta has excellent and modern cinemas that cost about half what you would pay in Europe. The CGV-Blitz chain in Grand Indonesia has movies until 10pm during the week and until midnight on weekends.

Massage and Spas

Some massage parlors and spas close rather late in Jakarta, especially those located in 5-star hotels: Bimasena (Dharmawangsa Hotel) and Willow Stream (Fairmont) close at 11pm, the spa at the Ritz-Carlton Mega Kuningan is open until 12am.

Shopping

All the high-end shopping malls close at 10pm in Jakarta but there are some more traditional markets (pasar) that stay open 24 hours, for instance, the fish market of Angke Muara and the flower markets of Cikini and Rawa Belong. Closer to the city center, you also have Pasar Senen and Pasar Mampang Prapatan.

Update 2024: I just passed in front of Pasar Minggu at 1 AM and the place was buzzing with life. The taxi driver told me it starts at midnight. Definitely a must-do!

Exercise

Running/cycling at night or very early in the morning is very common among fitness enthusiasts in Jakarta. It is a way to escape from the heat, the traffic, and the pollution. Popular running spots include the Monas, the Senayan Stadium, and Ragunan Zoo.

A good way to meet Indonesians is to join a running club. Indorunners run every Thursday starting 7.30pm from FX Mall in Senayan.

Amazingly, there are also some 24h gyms in Jakarta such as Rai Fitness in Senopati, Clark Hatch in Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, and Club Olympus in Grand Hyatt.

Night Tourism

Many tourist sights in Jakarta can still be visited at night. Taman Fatahillah, the Monas, Ancol, or the Kota Intan Bridge remain crowded until very late. They attract middle-class Indonesians, especially tourists, and all kinds of street vendors. During Ramadan, you can also visit the Istiqlal mosque all night long.

Young Indonesians also like to hang out in some public areas like the Taman Suropati and Taman Menteng parks or around the Bunderan HI fountain.