I was disappointed with Yogyakarta nightlife. As a city famous for attracting students and tourists, I was expecting a fun party atmosphere with busy bars and nightclubs.
On the contrary, Yogyakarta is quite conservative: Most girls wear the jilbab and you can see all over the city some aggressive banners against gays or Shia muslims. I've read also about some incidents against a feminist group just a few days ago. This gave me the impression to be in Saudi Arabia more than in "tolerant" Indonesia.
In spite of this, I still had fun but I had to try quite many venues before figuring out which one were crowded and which one were boring.
The objective of this guide is to save you some time and give you the best tips to enjoy Yogyakarta nightlife if you are a single traveler there. If new bars and clubs open, please mention them in the comments to help me keep this review up-to-date.
Girl-Friendly Hotels in Yogyakarta:
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I guess you are not going to Yogyakarta for the nightlife only and you are also interested in visiting attractions like Borobudur, the beaches in the South (like Gesing), the Keraton, etc.
If you want to do all that, plus go to bars and clubs in the evening, the best place to stay in Yogyakarta is near Jalan Malioboro, the most famous street in the city. It is lively, especially at night, and it is also walking distance to the main train station.
If you are on a budget, an alternative is to find a guest house near Jalan Prawirotaman, about a kilometer south of Jalan Malioboro. The price range goes from 10$ to 50$ a night. Be careful with small, family-run hostels though as they may not be girl-friendly. To avoid any issues, it is better to book in larger, chain hotels such as the ones below:
Expensive:
Inna Garuda Malioboro
Melia Purosani
Those are chain hotels in Central Yogyakarta. They don't have as much charm as small properties but at least you won't be the center of attention.
Inna Garuda Malioboro
Melia Purosani
Those are chain hotels in Central Yogyakarta. They don't have as much charm as small properties but at least you won't be the center of attention.
Best Bars and Clubs in Yogyakarta:
There are not that many venues for partying in Yogyakarta. My favorite spots are listed below, starting with the most recommended.
Dress codes are generally not enforced. I saw people wearing flip-flop, short pants and t-shirt almost everywhere except in Boshe and Sugar.
The best days to go out are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. You can check on the Facebook pages of the venues below for special events during the week (for instance Student Campus Nights).
During July and August, the bars in the tourist areas are more lively with Western tourists, particularly in the backpacking streets Jalan Sosrowijayan and at the corner of Jalan Parangtritis and Jalan Prawirotaman.
Busy beer garden with a young expat and Indonesian crowd. Owned by a mixed couple Indonesian and Belgian, it is relaxed, friendly and cheap. You can get a local beer for just Rp30,000. Nicely designed. Service can be clumsy.
It is in a residential neighborhood, 10 minutes away from Jalan Malioboro. Probably the best place to meet "normal" girls in Yogyakarta. They have DJs and live bands occasionally.
Address: Jalan Pakuningratan 34, Yogyakarta 55233
Phone number: +62 274 523723
Taphouse Beer House
Click on the link above to read my review. It is a brand new beer house in an old house. Trendy and happening on Wednesdays, Fridays (hip hop) and Saturdays.
Jalan Jlagran 18, Yogyakarta
Phone number: +62 812 2444 2225
Address: Jalan Pakuningratan 34, Yogyakarta 55233
Phone number: +62 274 523723
Taphouse Beer House
Click on the link above to read my review. It is a brand new beer house in an old house. Trendy and happening on Wednesdays, Fridays (hip hop) and Saturdays.
Jalan Jlagran 18, Yogyakarta
Phone number: +62 812 2444 2225
Liquid Bar and Kitchen (not to be confused with Liquid Next Generation reviewed below) is a large warehouse filled with picnic tables where people come as a group for beers/wine and snacks.
The area near the DJ can be considered a club, especially later in the night on weekends. They also have live music. Open until late (from 5pm to 5am), it's a fun place, often messy, where you'll probably find something you'll like. There is about 25% girls and I didn't see any foreigners.
Address: Jalan Magelang KM 4,5
Phone number: +62 274 589611
Taj Lounge
It is a good place to meet people if you are living in the city. If you are a tourist you might get bored. Music changes every night from hip hop to EDM and techno. Ladies night on Wednesday with free shots for girls. Open every day from 7.30pm to 3am.
Address: Jalan Urip Sumoharjo No.103H
Phone number: +62 822 4277 6766
Boshe VVIP Jogja
Boshe VVIP is just in front of City Mall. If you have been to the one in Bali, you will notice it looks almost the same. There is a Rp70,000 entrance fee (free for ladies). You generally have a local live band or sexy dancers before midnight, and then a DJ.
Since the prices are higher than the average for Yogyakarta (small local beer is Rp50,000), it attracts an older crowd, mostly male. The sound system and the lighting are great. It is famous for its karaoke where pretty lady companions (LC) are available. Many girls but most of them are working there and they are only looking for money. From reports I've read, you can actually have sex inside some of the bigger karaoke rooms.
The staff is rock n' roll. Every night they do a dance together on stage:
Address: Jalan Magelang KM 6,5
Phone number: +62 274 543477
Website: Boshe VVIP Club Jogja
Sugar KTV and Nightclub
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Sugar is one of the most exclusive KTVs and nightclubs in Yogyakarta. It is popular with the Chinese community, in particular guys as you have lots of high-class prostitutes. It also has some normal girls but they are always with male friends or boyfriends.
It is within the hotel Indoluxe, about 15 minutes from the center. It's worth going there only if you are planning to book a table and open a bottle at least. If you come alone, the entrance fee is Rp50,000 but you won't have anywhere to stand or sit.
The nightclub is pretty happening with events every night: Sexy dancers, fashion show, DJ, live bands, etc.
Address: Jalan Palagan Tentara Pelajar No.106
Phone number: +62 274 8722 388
Website: Sugar Yogyakarta
Complete review on Jakarta100bars: Sugar Review.
Terrace Café and Karaoke
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Terrace is located in Jalan Raya Seturan, an interesting street with many cafes and restaurants that stay open until late. Terrace is the busiest of all. It is a small club on two floors with either live music, a DJ or sexy dancers on stage. It wasn't so crowded when I visited and most of the guests were guys. The entrance was Rp40,000, a large bintang costs Rp75,000. They play EDM, Hip Hop and Top 40 music.
Address: Jalan Raya Seturan No. 4
Phone number: +62 274 4332931
Liquid Next Generation
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Liquid Next Generation is one of the oldest nightclubs in Yogyakarta. Opened in 2006, it has the same concept as Terrace and Boshe. You have a stage with live music or DJs, and most people watch the show from tables and sofas. It is still popular, especially for special events. It does not look as modern though and it has a more underground vibe (dark, noisy, smokey). I wouldn't be surprised if people took drugs inside. Entrance fee is Rp35,000. Open everyday from 10pm to 4am.
Address: Jalan Magelang KM 5,5
Phone number: +62 274 622 020
Sugar KTV and Nightclub
It is within the hotel Indoluxe, about 15 minutes from the center. It's worth going there only if you are planning to book a table and open a bottle at least. If you come alone, the entrance fee is Rp50,000 but you won't have anywhere to stand or sit.
The nightclub is pretty happening with events every night: Sexy dancers, fashion show, DJ, live bands, etc.
Address: Jalan Palagan Tentara Pelajar No.106
Phone number: +62 274 8722 388
Website: Sugar Yogyakarta
Complete review on Jakarta100bars: Sugar Review.
Address: Jalan Raya Seturan No. 4
Phone number: +62 274 4332931
Liquid Next Generation
Address: Jalan Magelang KM 5,5
Phone number: +62 274 622 020
Oxen Free is a beer garden, popular with expats, foreign students and tourists. Smart and educated crowd. They have live traditional music (keroncong) every Tuesday and jazz every Wednesday. When they don't have live music, they put some easy going tunes like the ones you would hear on a Buddha Bar playlist.
The prices are cheap and the food is supposed to be decent (I didn't try it). Price for a large Bintang is Rp50k and for a main course (International or Indonesian) between Rp50,000 and Rp100,000.
Address: Jalan Sosrowijayan No.2
Website: Oxen Free Beer Garden
The prices are cheap and the food is supposed to be decent (I didn't try it). Price for a large Bintang is Rp50k and for a main course (International or Indonesian) between Rp50,000 and Rp100,000.
Address: Jalan Sosrowijayan No.2
Website: Oxen Free Beer Garden
Lucifer
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Lucifer is a small bar/café/restaurant in the backpacker street Jalan Sosrowijayan. They have live rock and reggae music, cheap food and a crowd made of mostly Indonesian men in their 20s. Some of the waitresses are pretty.
Address: Jalan Sosrowijayan no 71
Phone number: +62 274 554377
Address: Jalan Prawirotaman No.12
Phone number: +62 274 384092
Address: Jalan Sosrowijayan no 71
Phone number: +62 274 554377
Easy Going Restaurant and Bar
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This is one of the most famous backpacker hangout in Yogyakarta. There is nothing really special except that it is popular. If you are traveling alone it's a good spot to make new friends.
Address: Jalan Prawirotaman No.12
Phone number: +62 274 384092
Other Bars nearby:
At the corner of Jalan Prawirotaman and Jalan Parangtritis, you have a strip of cheap bars with live music such as Cuba Libre, Ruis Cafe, Beatles Pub, Banana Café and South Side Café.
Palms Karaoke and Executive Club
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Palms is the only nightclub/bar in the list that I didn't visit. From what I understand, they have good EDM and electro DJs every night until 3am. Lots of pretty girls as well in their karaokes.
Address: Jalan Batikan No. 9
Phone number: 08170251111
At the corner of Jalan Prawirotaman and Jalan Parangtritis, you have a strip of cheap bars with live music such as Cuba Libre, Ruis Cafe, Beatles Pub, Banana Café and South Side Café.
Palms Karaoke and Executive Club
Address: Jalan Batikan No. 9
Phone number: 08170251111
Prostitution in Yogyakarta: Massage Parlours, Spas, Salons, Karaoke and Girlie Bars.
Karaoke
Some of the nightclubs mentioned above have lady companions or escorts such as Liquid, Boshe, Terrace, Palms and Sugar. Another good place for karaoke is EC Jogja inside Inna Malioboro Hotel.
These venues have lady companions / escorts / prostitutes that you can book out to your hotel for a fee ranging from Rp500,000 to Rp1,000,000. You must ask the GROs which girls are willing to do what when booking the room because many are only there for singing/drinking with you.
Some of the nightclubs mentioned above have lady companions or escorts such as Liquid, Boshe, Terrace, Palms and Sugar. Another good place for karaoke is EC Jogja inside Inna Malioboro Hotel.
These venues have lady companions / escorts / prostitutes that you can book out to your hotel for a fee ranging from Rp500,000 to Rp1,000,000. You must ask the GROs which girls are willing to do what when booking the room because many are only there for singing/drinking with you.
Spa and Massage Plus Plus
They are usually not located in the city center except for Elysium Spa. The others are about 15 minutes from Jalan Malioboro.
In general, you choose a girl from a photo or from a number (or ask advice to the GRO). The price of the room + massage is between Rp200,000 and Rp350,000. If you want more, you have to pay a tip to the girl from Rp100,000 for a handjob to Rp400,000 for full services (sex).
The most recommended massage parlours for foreigners are the following:
Graha Spa (Jalan Ring Road Utara RT11/RW18)
Red Cliff Spa and Lounge (Jalan Tasura No. 45)
Elysium Spa (Jalan Magelang)
Mansion Spa and Health Club (Jalan Kabupaten No. 888)
Amanda Spa (Jalan Kabupaten No. 96)
Salon Plus Plus and Panti Pijat (Brothels)
There are also many panti pijat and salons with sexual services, but they are in very "local" places. If you are interested to see, you can go to the street Jalan Palang (Salon Tiga Dara, Salon Amay) or Jalan Babarsari (Salon Cassanova). Prices are slightly lower compared to spas mentioned above (25% less). Some can be very cheap but they cater to low-class Indonesians (under 15$ for full service).