“The Indonesian bar scene is on a sharp upward curve — a shift that’s been especially evident over the past year, give or take.” So says Tariq Widarso, better known as Sip Sensei, who offers to share more about the country’s cocktail landscape.
How a Bar Should Be, According to Tariq Widarso
Based in Jakarta, Tariq is a photographer and digital content creator with a fondness for bars that are “comfortable and inviting, the kind of place you can picture yourself spending hours in — warm lighting, wood tones, a solid drinks menu and a food offering to match. Personally, I prefer venues that are smoke-free, or at least have excellent ventilation.” His preferences are clear, but never rigid — nothing that stops him from stepping outside his comfort zone. “A true barfly should be willing to explore a variety of places, driven by the excitement of constantly trying new things, new drinks, new spaces, meeting new people, and, of course, collecting new experiences.”
Jakarta and Bali, the Heart of Indonesian Mixology
In Indonesia, that spirit is most alive in the major cities. With a population that is largely Muslim, the country’s bar culture “is mostly confined to progressive urban centers. Right now, Jakarta and Bali are the main hubs, though they couldn’t be more different: Jakarta is a sprawling capital with a fast-evolving drinking culture among locals, while Bali rides the tide of tourism, adapting to the tastes of each wave of visitors.” Which is why the truest expression of Indonesian cocktail culture is easier to find on the streets of Jakarta. International influences are present — inevitably — but the city’s bartenders focus their energy on local flavor.
Four Places to Watch, According to Tariq Widarso
That’s why Tariq’s recommendations carry weight: four bars poised to break out. HATS Bar and Unfinished Project, a ten-minute walk apart; and Nautilus Bar and Between the Sips, also within strolling distance of one another. It’s worth noting that the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list features four more Jakarta addresses, all new entries: Cosmo Pony, Carrots Bar (which shines a light on Indo-Chinese ingredients), The St. Regis Bar and Modernhaus.
The Rules of Indonesian Mixology – and Beyond
Fresh stars whose rise echoes Tariq’s point — the Indonesian scene is growing fast and, despite its youth, is emerging as a flag-bearer for quality. On that subject, Tariq has a distinctive perspective. He doesn’t just love cocktails — he photographs them, tells their stories.
And from that vantage, he lands on the same conclusion many others share: for a bar scene to thrive, its drinks must marry flavor, storytelling, and visual appeal. Equally crucial is the harmony these elements strike with hospitality and service, which are “an integral part of the whole picture. That applies not just to the cocktails, but to the bars themselves — places that should leave guests with a sense of delight at every turn.”
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Images courtesy Tariq Widarso
