SELATAN / KEBAYORAN BARU

The Kebayoran Baru subdistrict of South Jakarta has always been one of the posher,  better developed parts of the capital due to the fact that it was the last residential area planned by the Dutch colonial government. Laid out according to the principles of the “Garden city movement”, the area features well organized residential areas, wider than average roads and a higher than average number of parks than the rest of the city. These days, the most happening parts of Kebayoran Baru are the SCBD (short for the Sudirman Central Business District) and the area around Jalan Senopati just south of it. Some people consider these two adjacent areas to be the new center of Jakarta nightlife, boasting many of the city’s trendiest nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. SCBD is home to the polished and shiny Pacific Place Mall, which is connected to one of Jakarta’s two Ritz-Carlton hotels. It is also home to the Indonesia Stock Exchange and numerous commercial office towers. The Fairgrounds building (often known to taxi drivers as ex-Bengkel) is home to several of the area’s best-known nightlife spots, including Lucy in the Sky and Fable. You can easily distinguish Fairgrounds by the fleet of supercars that are parked out front. Jalan Senopati has long been known as one of Jakarta’s most interesting food hubs, with plenty of trendy eateries lining its streets, but in the last few years it has also become a fashionable nightlife spot, with several fancy bars patroned mainly by the city’s young, wealthy professionals.