Kemang – Top Shopping and Nightlife
If you are looking for a place to shop and party in Jakarta you should make your way to the south district. The Kemang area is an elegant and wealthy neighbourhood where Jakarta’s glitterati and many ex-pats reside. This fact alone has led to the establishment of many local designer shops, delicious restaurants and easygoing café bars. If you enjoy browsing around boutique stores, antique shops and sampling exotic dishes then the streets of Kemang should be on your tour.
It is a very popular place to go and during a weekday its streets throng with the bustle of traders, locals and tourists all jostling for space. The best time to pay a visit is at weekends or on holidays, there is less congestion then and it is a lot easier to find your way around the collection of world cuisine restaurants and bijou art galleries.
Restaurants range from the authentic cafés serving Indonesian and Asian food, to genuine Italian menus. There are light spacious lounges serving spicy local meals and small intimate bars with tasty snacks and light bites. Those who can’t live without their burger and chips will be pleased to find a number of well known fast-food chains have branches here, while those who enjoy trying a countries national dishes will not be disappointed.
Kemang hosts an art festival every June and throughout the neighbourhood you will find that there are displays of locally produced arts and crafts, street dancing and parades. The narrow streets come alive with bazaars, craft demonstrations and art performances all aimed at raising funds and the profile of the area. Check out the online magazine Kemang Buzz for up to date listings
The nightlife in Kemang is as lively by night as its streets are hectic during the daytime. The numerous bars and clubs are full of young people out to enjoy their evening at the diverse venues. Names like Tipsy, Amor and Murphy’s Irish Pub are all designed to attract the young and trendy set for an evening of drinking and dancing. There is a lot of variety in both food from Jamaican to Japanese and music from chart beats to Latin grooves; classical music by the pool or smoky jazz in a basement, you are bound to find something you like.
Jakarta is becoming an incresingly popular destination for young couples looking for a mixture of culture and nightlife while on holiday. UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways have begun to include Jakarta amongst the worldwide cities that the fly to.
If you take pleasure in real life experiences when on holiday then the Kemang district will give you a sample of how the local people of Manila unwind and have fun. Jarkarta is a melting pot of cultures and shopping here you will find everything from Indian silks to Turkish pottery, there is Western fashion and Japanese jewellery. This is where you will discover the fashion and style conscious come to shop.
The Kemang district provides an entertaining place to visit during any stay in Jakarta, there are ample quality hotels, a number of sporting facilities and health spas worth visiting and some great galleries and museums. Visitors will find attractions like the beautiful Setu Babakan Lake, Ranunan Zoo and Kidzania miniature city all within easy reach.