Jakarta may be the capital of the world's largest Muslim-majority country, but it has an underground life of its own. If you're the clubbing type, its nightlife is arguably among the best in Asia, except during fasting months when some venues are closed or have limited hours. From the upscale Kemang to the seedy Mangga Besar , nightlife is there for all levels of loudness, but bring a friend if you decide to brave the seedier places though they tend to have the best DJs.
Fans of live music, on the other hand, are largely out of luck if they go to budget bars, at least unless they're into Indonesian pop. To get alcoholic beverages in Jakarta is not an easy task since it is not permissible to sell them in the mini market except in big stores inside a mall to discourage underage drinking.
When out and about, note that Jakarta has a fairly high number of prostitutes , known in local parlance as ayam lit. The Kota area in northern Jakarta is the oldest part of town with numerous colonial buildings still dominating the area. It is also considered to be the seediest part of town after midnight. Most karaoke bars and 'health' clubs there are in fact brothels who mostly cater to local Jakartans. Even regular discos such as Golden Crown have special areas designated for prostitutes.
Other notable establishments in this area are Malioboro and Club 36 which should not be missed. This part of town has a large ethnic Chinese population who also dominate the clubbing scene there.
The bulk of the clubbing scene is spread throughout Jakarta but usually found in office buildings or hotels. The help of an experienced local with finding these places is recommended. Do note that nightlife in Jakarta tends to be pricey by local standards. Due to Jakarta's freedom, there is no specific dress code that should be worn unless you are in a religious area. However, it is best not to dress too openly to avoid awkward stares or giving the impression especially for women that you are a prostitute since most of them in Jakarta wear very short dresses or skirts.
