The Jaya Pub — Restaurant in Jakarta

The Best Little Pub in the World — Jaya Pub, Jakarta Where Cheers meets Indonesia.

Tucked away in the heart of Jakarta is a place that feels like stepping into another world — a world where music, laughter, and stories from across the globe collide. Welcome to Jaya Pub, a legendary watering hole where the drinks are cold, the vibes are warm, and the problems of everyday life are left firmly at the door.

This isn’t just a bar — it’s a community. A collection of characters from every corner of the earth. Expats, locals, travelers, misfits, musicians — all gathering under one roof to enjoy the kind of night that ends with sore cheeks from laughing and a heart just a little bit lighter than when you walked in.

At the center of it all is Weda, a true icon. She's been working here for years — a little older now, sure, but more delightful than ever. With a twinkle in her eye and a grace that only comes from decades of hospitality, Weda isn’t just a waitress — she’s part of the reason people return again and again. To be served by her is to be welcomed, remembered, and cared for.

The manager manager owner will treat you as though you’ve come home after a long trip. There’s no pretense, just genuine warmth and a cold beer waiting for you.

If you do one thing in Jakarta, make it Jaya Pub on a Saturday night. The live music hums, the crowd sways, and for a few perfect hours, the world outside doesn’t matter. You’ll leave with a full heart — and odds are, you’ll find yourself back the next weekend, smiling like...

If you aren't interested in the club scene but want to have a drink and sing along to some classic Western rock, this is the perfect spot for you. Food, full bar service, pool table, friendly staff and patrons. A more mature crowd (well, at least older!) skewing more heavily towards ex-pats than locals. Prices are reasonable. Cash and credit cards accepted. Good amount of English understood here.

The other reviewers say it well. Not sure a younger crowd would enjoy this place so much, but if you're over 35 odds are you're going to love it. Live music often. Canned music otherwise. Both are louder than I'd prefer but loud enough you can sing/yell along to without feeling self-conscious.

Though they close at 2am last call is around 1:15am and the place is definitely in shut-down mode.

Good but basic selection of liquor. They can make cocktails on request, not just from the menu. Drinks are strong! The place is clean without feeling sterile. You definitely feel like you stand in a long line of happy patrons, but you don't feel disgusted by that. Bathroom is cleaner than most bar bathrooms I've been in! I didn't try the food but I would next time I come - the menu is more extensive than just the traditional SE Asian fried food you find at a lot of other places.

Pool table is in an alcove with good space. It's in surprisingly good condition and the cues are workable.

Definitely coming back here the next time...

Jaya Pub, with its legendary status as Jakarta's oldest pub, promised a nostalgic night out, and the live music certainly delivered. However, my experience was dampened by several issues.

The pub was incredibly overcrowded, with tables packed uncomfortably close together. This made for a rather claustrophobic atmosphere. To add to the frustration, our Instagram reservation was inexplicably ignored. Despite showing our confirmation message, the GRO/Manager, Ms. Viar, dismissed it, stating she only honors WhatsApp reservations. This begs the question, why offer an Instagram reservation option at all?

To make matters worse, our reservation was met with a tiny tall table in a corner, offering no proper seating. Ms. Viar then informed us that a bottle purchase was required for a proper table. While we were open to buying a bottle, this condition should have been clearly communicated during the reservation process. Regardless, we ended up buying 12 beers, several cocktails and whiskey, due to having a good time dancing and singing. Surely the amount we finally spent is something comparable to their bottle prices.

Jaya Pub's lack of transparency and poor handling of reservations significantly impacted...