Carrots Bar, Jakarta

Venues & Concepts

Dec 1

Inside the Experience

Carrots Bar is the kind of place you learn about from a friend — and then immediately decide you won’t tell too many others. Hidden in the basement of Fairgrounds SCBD, this 14-seat cocktail den has become one of Jakarta’s most talked-about new bars, not through hype, but through the quiet power of community, craft and charisma.

Co-founders Alvin Sung Jaya and Monica Jonan, together with creative partner Anthony Luis, have created a bar that feels like a secret gathering point — equal parts speakeasy, tasting room, and living room. Step through the carrot-shaped door handle and you enter a space lit by warm, amber reflections; the bar’s centrepiece is an eight-seat communal table designed to make strangers feel like old friends. Around it, standing room encourages conversation to spill outward.

Carrots is small, but its presence fills the room.

The bar’s rotating menu, I Drink, Therefore I Am, explores flavour the way a chef explores a new season — curious, iterative, expressive. The drinks are playful without being outlandish, structured yet unpretentious. You'll find riffs on banana daiquiris, sarsaparilla-smoked highballs, Indo-Chinese spice accents, and cocktails that read like culinary experiments made deliciously approachable. The team is serious about technique, but never too serious about themselves.

What sets Carrots apart in Jakarta’s nightlife landscape is its authenticity. Guests mingle naturally. Regulars talk across the table. Newcomers are welcomed into conversations. Many reviews call it “an urban sanctuary,” “your friend’s basement bar — if your friend made world-class cocktails,” or simply, “the most comfortable bar in SCBD.” The no-smoking policy is a rarity in the city and an immediate favourite among those who want to taste their drinks, not the room.

Carrots has rapidly become a favourite for after-dinner drinks, intimate hangs, and unexpected long nights that unfold naturally. The bartenders remember your name, explain their R&D process with excitement, and aren’t afraid to freestyle a drink based on your mood. It’s the kind of bar where creativity feels alive — and where the joy of drinking is shared, not performed.

What People Say Most Often

A true hidden gem — tucked in the basement, small, intimate, and worth finding
Warm, communal vibe — guests talk to each other, bartenders seat strangers together
Inventive cocktails with Indo-Chinese notes, house foams, seasonal R&D, and bold flavours
No-smoking bar — a huge draw in Jakarta
Menu rotates frequently, making each visit feel like a new experience
Outstanding hospitality — owners and bartenders are kind, present, and welcoming
Perfect for dates, solo visits, or small groups
Music at a pleasant volume — rare for Jakarta nightlife
Often compared to Singapore’s Live Twice for its mood and design cues

Editorial Snapshot

Overview

A 14-seat basement bar in SCBD, Carrots focuses on creative, culinary-driven cocktails and a communal drinking experience. Intimate, design-forward, and proudly smoke-free, it has become one of Jakarta’s most distinct new entries.

The Experience

Guests sit along a central eight-seat table, encouraging interaction. Warm lighting, wood textures, and neon accents create a relaxed yet polished environment. Drinks are rooted in R&D and shaped by Indo-Chinese influences without losing classic structure.

Signatures & Standouts

Queen Pistacia
A guest favourite — nutty, creamy, lightly acidic, topped with a foam made using Doritos. As playful as it is technical.

Shanghai Skip
Sleek, aromatic, and subtly spiced — a regular recommendation among locals.

Hi Baby
Approachable yet creative, a drink that balances sweetness and depth.

Banana Daiquiri Riff
House interpretation of the classic, bold and fruit-forward.

Sarsaparilla-Smoked Highball
A crowd-pleasing, aromatic highball with nostalgic soda-shop notes.

Queen Pistacia
Nutty, bright, creamy, topped with a Doritos-infused foam — a guest favourite.

Gare du Nord
A crowd-loved, spirit-forward cocktail reminiscent of classic martini variations.

Their Vieux Carré (off-menu)
Frequently praised by regulars for its balance and finesse.

Why People Love It

Carrots succeeds because it feels personal. Hospitality is warm, creativity honest, and the environment intimate enough that every guest feels part of the room’s energy. For seasoned cocktail enthusiasts, it’s a study in craft. For casual drinkers, it’s a friendly place with great drinks and better conversations.