At Akasta Jakarta, Dinner Comes With A Spectacular Dose Of Theatre

Jakarta has never been short of places to dine, drink and dance. But at Akasta, the Indonesian capital’s nightlife takes on an altogether more theatrical dimension, where dinner is merely the opening act of an evening that unfolds with the extravagance of a full-scale stage production.

 

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The setting certainly plays its part. An atmospheric, almost amphitheatre-like space, Akasta is dressed in rich jewel tones, gilded Gothic arches and stained-glass windows. The bar glows with a golden warmth, while the dining room’s intimate tables offer front-row perspectives of the spectacle to come.

In the kitchen, executive chef Patrick Ramon gives Indonesia’s culinary heritage a contemporary spin, combining regional flavours with European techniques. “The modern Indonesian dishes which I’ve created are derived from my own food experiences,” chef Patrick says. “Diners—including local Indonesians—will find that the original flavours of Indonesian cuisine are retained and enhanced when they compare it with their familiar favourite dishes.”

Highlights include the Trilogi Sate Nusantara, a trio of beef, lamb and chicken inspired by Blora-style satay, and ayam bakar bumbu rujak, featuring free-range chicken glazed in a complex marriage of sweet, sour and spice. Even dessert gets an inventive makeover with Kunyit Asam Gembira, a playful interpretation of traditional turmeric-and-tamarind jamu, accompanied by mango sorbet and coconut crumble.

At the time of our visit, the evening’s entertainment, titled The Golden Era, begins at 7.30pm with a parade of live vocalists accompanied by piano. Jazzy strains give way to international R&B favourites and soaring Indonesian power ballads, with the singers finding their stride as the energy in the room steadily builds.

Then things take a decidedly more dramatic turn.

Interpretive dancers and aerial performers bring an element of fantasy to proceedings, their movements illuminated by an ever-changing interplay of light, sound and smoke. Particularly memorable is a visceral, tribal-inspired sequence that reimagines Indonesia’s wild landscapes as something resembling the fantastical world of Avatar. Elaborate costumes, hypnotic choreography and cinematic projections transform the stage into an otherworldly spectacle.

Throughout, Akasta’s surrealist lighting casts the room in shifting shades of amber, emerald and gold, blurring the distinction between supper club and immersive theatre.

By the time the performances give way to uptempo hits, the atmosphere has shifted considerably. At midnight, a DJ takes over, carrying the evening into its next chapter.

For travellers seeking an alternative to Jakarta’s conventional fine-dining circuit, Akasta offers something refreshingly different: a night out where the destination is as much the performance as the place itself.

Akasta Jakarta is located in the SCBD district of South Jakarta. It opens daily from 6pm to 2am, with the main performance officially scheduled from 8pm to midnight.

Photos courtesy of Akasta Jakarta