Each drink tells the story of a jazz legend, curated by Bar Manager Paulo Naranjo and elevated through St. Regis hospitality and live music six nights a week.
The St. Regis Bar Jakarta has unveiled a conceptual cocktail experience that transports guests to the vibrant jazz era of 1920s New York—a time when music, nightlife, and identity were being reshaped in real time. Ranked No. 22 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, the bar captures the cultural conditions that gave rise to modern bar culture: improvisation, elegance, rebellion, and social energy.
At the heart of the experience is the New York–Inspired Cocktails collection, where each drink is treated as a landmark in jazz history. Its third volume, released on the 22nd of January, pours legend into every glass. Duke Ellington’s sophisticated orchestration is translated into Duke of Jazz No. 2, a refined cognac sour that reflects his elegant composure. Louis Armstrong’s joyful trumpet bursts inspire Pop’s, with effervescent bubbles that echo his iconic horn notes.
The Cotton Club’s Prohibition-era secrecy lives on in 403 Negroni, a bold reinterpretation that embodies speakeasy mystique, while the Savoy Ballroom’s legendary dance floor comes alive in Happy Feet, a lively spirit that never seems to stand still. Meanwhile, Crimer-Tender draws inspiration from Al Capone’s bartending days at Coney Island, recalling an era when harsh bootleg gin was softened with fresh ingredients to make it palatable.
“Each cocktail is rooted in a specific jazz figure, venue, or song from that era,” explains Bar Manager Paulo Naranjo, who previously led the bar programme at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, an Asia’s 50 Best Bars alumnus. “We translate personality and rhythm into flavour—Duke Ellington’s balance and composure, Benny Goodman’s precision and swing, Ella Fitzgerald’s purity and elegance, and Louis Armstrong’s spontaneous genius. The menu functions as a cultural timeline you can taste.”
Additional highlights include The First Lady, honouring Ella Fitzgerald’s pure and expressive voice; Swinging Benny, a tribute to Benny Goodman’s impeccable swing; and Paper Moon, inspired by Fitzgerald’s timeless song and reimagining the modern classic Paper Plane for dreamers chasing the impossible.
St. Regis Rituals Transform Storytelling
What truly distinguishes The St. Regis Bar Jakarta is the way each cocktail arrives not merely as a drink, but as a carefully choreographed moment. Glassware is curated specifically for each recipe, presentations are intentional and respectful of the legend behind the drink, and servers share the story that inspired its creation. This is the hallmark precision of St. Regis Butler Service, transforming each interaction into a refined ceremony.
The bar’s theatrical rituals reinforce this storytelling approach. The Violet Hour marks the transition from day to night with a sophisticated martini service, while The Art of Sabrage is performed with flair and precision. Dramatic Bloody Mary unveilings command attention without feeling theatrical for theatre’s sake. These rituals are not gimmicks, but moments of refinement that echo the spirit of jazz-era New York, where formality met freedom and social conventions loosened after dark.
Live Jazz as Cultural Continuity
Live music plays a central role in sustaining the bar’s identity. The Rapture Band performs from Monday to Saturday, recreating the intimate, evolving atmosphere that once defined 1920s jazz clubs. Music here is not background entertainment but a living element of the experience, shaping conversation, rhythm, and mood throughout the evening. It reflects how legendary jazz venues once functioned—where sound influenced the space and defined the night.
Guest Mixologist Series: Raising The Bar
Under Paulo Naranjo’s leadership, The St. Regis Bar Jakarta has also launched an innovative guest mixologist programme titled Raising The Bar. Rather than focusing on celebrity appearances, the initiative is designed as a platform for creative exchange. Visiting bartenders from across the region are invited to engage with the bar’s 1920s New York jazz theme, interpreting its iconic figures, legendary venues, or influential musical movements through their own perspective.
True to its inspiration, the programme mirrors jazz’s collaborative tradition: it provides a clear structure while encouraging improvisation. Recent collaborations have included renowned names such as Le Chamber from Korea, featuring co-created menus, one-night-only reinterpretations of classic cocktails, and informal knowledge-sharing sessions.
Upcoming collaborations in 2026 will see takeovers from some of Asia’s most celebrated bars, including Bvlgari Ginza Bar from Tokyo on the 17th of January, Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou (ranked No. 7 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and Best Bar in Mainland China) on the 29th of January, Dean & Nancy from Sydney on the 4th if February, and Obsidian Bar from Shenzhen (No. 51 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025) on 10 February. Through this approach, The St. Regis Bar Jakarta positions itself not merely as a venue, but as a dynamic cultural platform where history and contemporary creativity intersect.
From No. 88 to No. 22: Jakarta’s Rising Bar Scene
The St. Regis Bar’s ascent on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025—climbing from No. 88 in 2024 to No. 22—reflects sustained momentum rather than a fleeting moment of success. The rise validates a long-term cultural philosophy that prioritises depth over trends and identity over imitation, with St. Regis refinement elevating every detail.
This recognition reinforces Jakarta’s emergence as a serious regional bar destination alongside Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. Further accolades from Tatler Best Asia 100 Bars in both 2024 and 2025 have cemented the bar’s place in the region’s evolving cocktail narrative.
The St. Regis Bar Jakarta is located in the Golden Triangle at Rajawali Place, Jalan HR Rasuna Said Kav. B/4, Setiabudi, South Jakarta. The bar is open daily from 5.30 PM to 1.00 AM, with live jazz performances from Monday to Saturday between 8.00 PM and 1.00 AM.
For reservations and further information, visit www.stregisbarjakarta.com or call +62 21 5094 8888.