Best disco in Jakarta for me, extremely crowded on week-ends and for special events. It has four flours, each supposedly with different themes but it’s mainly techno played there. It is dark, big and possesses a unique atmosphere. Drugs, prostitutes and other things are easily available. Just ask the waiters. Police may raid the place occasionaly so be careful when taking drugs, be discreet and don't keep anything on you when you leave the club (and even inside). The worst thing that could happen to you is having your urine tested... it happened. Also, 4000 or 5000 people can fit in there, but there is only 1 fire exit, so pray hard and nothing will happen. At last, there are a LOT of pickpockets, with the primary target being cell-phones, so dont keep anything on your rear pocket... you may be high, but others aren't and they are much aware that you are an easy prey..
If you come for the music, you'll just need to go to the 4th floor., the famous "lantai empat". Most foreigners stay on the left of the podium, near the DJ. Many gays are just below and the rest of the dance floor is mostly packed with young people. On the corners, in the dark, dealers, prostitutes and pimps. Older clients usually go downstair in the karaoke room and take ectasy/shabu-shabu with girls. The crowd is at best on sunday afternoon I think, because many youngsters who do not have permission to spend the night out clubbing do it during the day. Music go through phases also, with morning songs being very long and a bit hypnotic, as a way to phase with people dropping (when ecstasy's effects starts to disappear) - Best example of the atmosphere is the one that Ame - Rej sets you in when you listen to it.
Great DJs came here, in particular Ame and Luciano, plus some Ibiza DJ such as DJ Pippy. It is currently hosting more and more international DJs, at least once a month or two.
The owner of Stadium has a few other places, more specifically massage parlours and karaoke, namely Malioboro, Beverly Hills and Sumo.
Our french blog has more photos and more infos about Stadium and nightlife in Jakarta: Click here! and click here!
Having spent literally days in Stadium, saturday nights, sunday afternoons, monday mornings with barely a break in-between, I really feel there are no other places as such in Jakarta, nor in other cities. Stadium is clearly mythical.
For the music, Stadium is setting the tone for most of the rests of the discos in Jakarta.. Some tracks are so easily identifiable that when they are played in other places, you'll see people go "Stadium song!". Here are some sample:
At The End - Iio (Couldn't find the Stadium remix though)
A great one but can't find the name (or maybe Commisar Pro?): Stadium song unknown title
Another Ecstasy song : Desert Rose by Sting, Stadium remix
This one may not have started in Stadium, it's a bit more housy, but you hear it everywhere (the remix is not the original one but it's the best I could find): House of Voodoo - Shadows
Update July 2009: There were a few people injured and one dead in a fight that took place in Stadium. Apparently, the attack was led by a group of young people in white shirts who wanted to close down the place. In spite of that, I don't think it's unsafe to go there by yourself, the biggest danger you might encounter is being ripped off by a taxi driver.
Contact details:
Stadium Jakarta
Hayam Wuruk 111
Phone: (6221) 626.3323
Email: std at stadiumjakarta.com
Check their website also, it is quite complete with events, photos, music and promos: Jakarta stadium club website
