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FOOD | Jan 21, 2010

Counting Down the Drinks at Kemang's 365 Eco Bar

A book should not be judged by its cover. In this case, a bar should not be judged by its facade. From the outside, one would not think much about 365 Eco Bar.

This may be because it’s location in a former parking lot, next to the Duty Free store in Kemang and a bookstore. The building’s exterior is also unusual, as it is made of wavy metal containers.

But there are fascinating details upon close examination. Three giant numbers are installed outside the building. These numbers change every day, a countdown to the end of the year.

“[The name] 365 represents the number of days in a year,” said Didien Flagnaghan, the operations manager. “On New Year’s Eve, the number goes to 000 and it automatically resets to 365 at midnight.”

Conveniently located in one of Jakarta’s busiest entertainment areas, my friend Aditya and I decided to stop by 365 one night for after dinner drinks.

A nice terrace graces the front of the establishment, where a wooden table sits next to the entrance door. We made a mental note to hang out at the terrace to enjoy the breeze on our next visit.

The main bar is a well-lit square block in the middle of the room, and there are a few seating options. Apart from sofas, guests can sit on crates with colorful, padded cushions scattered around the venue.

To set the mood with after evening falls, the bar uses empty liquor bottles with their bottoms cut off for lighting.

My friend and I enjoyed the look and feel of the place. The walls, peppered with graffiti, gave us the sense that we were casually hanging out on the streets, especially with the “Sidewalk Closed” sign by the DJ booth. We also liked the soulful, jazzy tunes that played in the background.

The bar can pack about 200 people into the inside and outside areas. Didien said most of the guests, who are usually young professionals, arrive at around 9 p.m. to chill out.

The bar offers a list of wine, liquor, beer and special cocktails, with prices starting at Rp 50,000 ($5.50).

I went for a Kiss, 365’s signature cocktail, a concoction of Absolut Mango vodka and orange juice, served in a flute-shaped glass and garnished with orange peel. The sweet vodka and freshly squeezed orange balanced each other well.

Aditya opted for the house red wine. While it was fine, he said that it was not as good as the vintages offered at many other lounges.

Another concoction offered at the bar is a range of fruit and vodka infusions. Didien said the drinks were a mix of fruit extract and Smirnoff vodka.

“We save the fruit extract in a cool room for two weeks before we infuse it with the vodka,” he said.

The drinks arrived in a wooden test tube rack that looked like it was from a science lab. I tried the jackfruit infusion.

The strong taste of the fruit and mint lingered on long after I gulped down the shot. Aditya sampled the lemon version. While he said the strong taste of Smirnoff overpowered the lemon, he liked the hint of sweetness and the drink’s aroma.

We wanted a bite to accompany our drinks, so we tried the nachos grande. The appetizer, which arrived with minced and pickled pepper instead of cheese, proved to be a good option.

But if you need a real meal, the bar also offers steaks and sandwiches at affordable prices. The Australian tenderloin with fresh salad and basil mayonnaise dressing, for example, costs less than Rp 70,000.

365 Eco Bar

Jl. Kemang Raya No.6 (next to Aksara Kemang)
South Jakarta,
Tel. 021 3192 4467

Source: Jakarta Globe

Indonesian Lifestyle 2008