Jogja is home to some of the best Indonesian universities. That means that students looking for a night out keep Jogja’s busiest bars and clubs running. Here are some of the liveliest and most unique places to be for an exciting or chill evening in Jogja.
Bars
Taphouse Beer Garden
Taphouse Beer Garden deserves the “hipster” title more than any bar. It’s a bar built in an abandoned house and they’ve largely kept the rustic industrial feel of the place. Vines climbing the dingy walls, an old concrete well that’s been repurposed as a beer crate, this place screams “hole-in-the-wall”. The menu also doesn’t disappoint; they have a wide selection of imported beers like Hoegaarden and Leffe in addition to local beers. We recommend Taphouse if you’re looking for a unique bar experience.
Cubic Kitchen & Bar
If you’re looking for somewhere that has a more modern interior design with a dimly lit atmosphere, Cubic is the place for you. They’ve got a wide menu for cocktails and liquor that’ll satisfy most whisky snobs. From Monkey Shoulder to Hibiki’s and Nikka’s, you know they take their liquor seriously. Cubic can get quite rowdy. They have DJs on some nights and they play hip-hop on most Wednesdays.
Oxen Free
This is the go-to bar for a relaxing way to spend the evening in Jogja. With a tranquil outdoor setting, this is where locals and foreigners alike come to unwind. Expect soft rock and acoustic tunes from the bands that they regularly host. Oxen Free is definitely a place that’s better suited to late-night conversations over a cold one.
Sakapatat Brew House
Sakapatat is a gastropub that’s known for serving great burgers and fries over refreshing pints of draft beer. The rustic ambience gives it a wholesome feel that makes it a perfect way to destress after a long day of travelling. Shisha or Hookah is also available at Sakapatat.
Lucifer Bar
This bar attracts a lot of tourists. Maybe it’s because of the rustic ambience, or the raw live music that ranges from jazz to reggae. It’s also located near Malioboro so it won’t be too far from where most hotels are located.
Clubs
Liquid Cafe Jogja
Liquid is one of the oldest and most established clubs in Jogja. It’s also certainly one of the biggest - believed to be able to accommodate 1800 people. Like most clubs in Jogja, there is a stage at the centre surrounded by a couple of tables and sofas. This means that most of the crowd may be watching from their tables until it gets rowdier or until the main act comes onstage.
That said, Liquid has had some popular artists. Some of which include DJ Soda and DJ Katty Butterfly.
Boshe VVIP Club
For a more “modern” feel, head to Boshe Club. Apart from EDM, they’ll have nights with indorock and R&B. Most nights are structured by having a local band perform before midnight followed by a DJ that pumps up the intoxicated crowd.
Like Liquid, half of the dance floor is filled with tables so don’t expect the crowd to start dancing until an artist can hype up the crowd.
