[NEW SPOT] New Hangout Spots, Barong Bar & The View Gastro Bar in Fairmont Jakarta

Posted on Oct 7, 2015 | 2 comments

After the grand opening in August 2015, Fairmont Jakarta continues to bring about various new concepts of hangout places, making it one of the luxury hotels that offers a top lifestyle and entertainment center in Jakarta. Herewith I want to share a quick preview some of the new and decent places to hang out, especially during the after-office hours while waiting for the heavy traffic to tone down a little. Strategically located in Senayan, Fairmont provides an all in one lifestyle hub, which leaves guests with rich stories to tell for when they go and plan their next visit.

Barong Bar, is the answer for those looking for a hangout spot after office hours. Do not expect to find any food in Barong Bar, since they specialize only for drinks, but they will serve you with some light snacks for free. The intimate and masculine ambiance in Barong Bar, lead by the dynamic, creative and innovative bartenders. Here, guests can find innovative cocktails using locally sourced ingredients mixed with classic techniques. Currently, a wide selection of New World and aged European wines, coupled with an extensive whiskey list will make up the bar.

Whether you are in the mood to drink or not, you should try their signature drinks. If you’re a gentleman, you should try the signature drinks named Whiskey Sour (Rye Whiskey, Sherry, Lemon & Grenadine), or try the Manhattan (Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth & Bitters). If you are an active woman, I would recommend you to try the Highland Daisy (Scotch Whiskey, Benedictine, Rosemary, Raisin Honey Syrup and Lemon) which is also their signature drink. Besides that, you can also find some interesting non-alcoholic beverages to order, such as Mango Mango (IDR 60K) which made from a combination of mango, lime, and sprite.

Barterder and the drink at Barong Bar Fairmont Jakarta by Myfunfoodiary

Highland Daisy Cocktail

Highland Daisy Cocktail – IDR 180K

If you are looking for a casual, quiet, and a romantic dining place with spectacular views onto the Jakarta skyline, you should visit The VIEW Gastro Bar. VIEW brings a fresh take on unique dining to Jakarta, offering guests a delicious selection of local and international tapas size menu in a gastro bar concept. Located on the 22nd floor, guests can enjoy a magnificent view of the city skyline through large windows, giving guests a total experience of the senses.

On that special night, we tried some signature cocktails at the VIEW. The cocktails that I’ve tried so far have been delicious and well presented. And my favorite was the Pea Flower Gimlet Cocktail, which tasted light and refreshing. Not to forget, the Peach Sparkle Mocktail was also a perfect choice to accompany our dinner. It’s a non-alcoholic drink, made from a combination of peach, mint, and soda water.

Pea Flower Gimlet Cocktail at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

Pea Flower Gimlet Cocktail IDR 120K (Butterfly Pea Flower infused Gin, and Lime Juice)

Peach Sparkle at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

Peach Sparkle Mocktail IDR 60K (Peach, Mint, and Soda Water)

Lead by Chef Alvrie Manangka, whose previous experience includes international five star establishments in Malaysia and Maldives, he creates a cultured and sophisticated menu with a highly personalized touch. Together with Chef Andrew Zarzosa, they served us with a special multi-course meal. From tantalizing appetizers to premium beef ribs, and awesome dessert, the whole dinner experience was exceptional.

Gift of the Sea at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary collage

Gift of the Sea – Oyster, Lychee, Chili – Hamachi, Citrus, Almond

We started our dinner with something unique. It’s called Gift of the Sea, which was certainly a great treat with amazing presentation and great flavor as well. A small ball that presented on top of the hand sculpture was actually Tuna Tartar with Avocado, Watermelon, and topped with Vintage Caviar. It’s also served with the other two, Fresh Oyster with Lychee Granita and Chili, and Hamachi with Ginger tea, citrus and almond served in the oyster shell. Followed with the oh-so-good K22 Egg, again, with a unique presentation. Best to eat the egg right away when it’s still hot!

K22 Egg

Roasted Foie Gras at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

Foie Gras Roasted in Embers, Fermented Hibiscus, Sago

What followed was so many mouthwatering dishes, including Foie Gras Roasted in Embers, Young Squid with forbidden rice and yuzu, King Crab with beef tongue, Chayote squash and corn, Beef Rib accompanied with King Trumpet Tobanyaki Mushroom and Quinoa, and finished off with sweet surprise at the end of the meal. The Foie Gras was roasted on charcoal, paired with sago pearl; that was a unique twist! Forbidden rice was actually the black sticky rice pudding, known as a very popular breakfast or afternoon snack in Indonesia. Once again, Chef made a twist of famous local ingredients with premium ingredients to create unusual meals. The Squid was good, but a bit too sour for my personal preference, because chef added a bit of yuzu to give a bit acidity on top of the squid. The King Crab wrapped with Beef Tongue and served with a very light Parmesan – Tomato Dashi soup, tasted so comforting and delicious!

Young Squid and Forbidden Rice at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

Young Squid with Forbidden Rice, Yuzu, and Red Cracker

King Crab with Beef Tongue at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

King Crab with Beef Tongue and Parmesan – Tomato Dashi

Chayote Squash with Corn at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

Chayote Squash with Corn and Onion Roots

Beef Rib and King Trumpet Mushroom at The View Gastro Bar by Myfunfoodiary

Beef Rib with King Trumpet Mushroom and Quinoa

I’m not a vegetarian, but I really enjoyed the Chayote squash stuffed with corn and popcorn puree. The flavor that came out from this dish was interesting! And the main star of the dinner for me was the Beef Short Rib that has been cooked for 36 hours at a very low temperature. It looked pink, but actually it’s fully cooked. It’s served with King Mushroom which was cooked with sake, yuzu, etc. Not to forget, the Surprise dessert specially made by Chef Alvrie made me impressed! He combined the goodness of chocolate, chocolate beng–beng, served with red wine and chocolate sauce mixture. The dessert part indeed satisfied my sweet tooth and to the other guests that night. Thank you so much Fairmont Jakarta for having us!