Enter Another World at SCBD’s Fable Lounge & Dining

Kamana Shrestha

If there was ever a place where all your favorite fairy-tale characters could come together and mingle over a good cocktail or two, it would be at Fable, a new lounge in the heart of one of the busiest cities in the world.

A product of All-In Entertainment, Fable Lounge & Dining is a three-in-one venue that not only caters to food fanatics but also clubgoers and music lovers, with a restaurant, lounge and nightclub, all under one glass roof in South Jakarta.

“We want to enlighten and introduce people to another level of entertainment with a refreshingly new vibe, music scene and ambience,” said club co-owner Jason Kurniawan, who admitted he was a big Harry Potter fan.

Located in the Sudirman Central Business District, the upscale restaurant and lounge, which is still in its soft-opening phase, blocks out the noisy Jakarta streets and allows patrons to relax in a serene, laid-back atmosphere while enjoying the beautiful city skyscrapers outside on the club’s large deck, known as the Secret Garden, and fully stocked bar, expected to open later this year.

The club is located on the second floor of the Fairgrounds building, upstairs from The Goods Dept. But don’t expect any old entrance to the venue. Right after patrons make their way through the thick red curtains, they find themselves walking through a lit cave-like pathway.

The pathway makes you feel like you are in the midst of being transported into another dimension. Almost like the rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland” — but this road leads to a place far more exquisite.

The dim lighting sets up the mellow mood the lounge tries to evoke. The spacious area has two separate bars inside and one outside, a restaurant that seats 48 people and a dance floor with a DJ booth on the same level. Local and international DJs spin mostly hip-hop, R&B, house and trance music depending on the night.

The parties can get as big as 800 people stomping their feet, waving their hands and of course fist-pumping the night away. Just recently, Fable had the American duo LMFAO’s DJ host its “Party Rock Night.”

Jason and his good friend and fellow club owner Feisal Hamka came up with the concept for the venue because of their shared love for the world of fantasy. And that’s exactly what the club attempts to do starting with the decor of elegant leather sofas decorated with plush red pillows on either side.

The sofas are spread throughout the back end of the club and mostly face each other with a table in the middle. The cozy setting allows for any bunch of people to enjoy intimate conversations over drinks. Lined against the walls are candles in the center of chandelier pieces that sit inside mini cages.

The club stocks more than 120 varieties of alcohol, including the largest Magnum collection in Jakarta. Among the many cocktails, a favorite with the ladies and any chocolate lover is the Nutella Passion cocktail made with rum, Bacardi, light Baileys and hazelnut syrup. Other favorites include Queen of Hearts, Fable Royal Mojito and Cinderella. The speciality cocktail prices range from Rp 110,000 to Rp 175,000 ($11.50 to $18). And for those looking to keep it simple, classic cocktails like Cosmopolitans and Daquiris are also available and start at Rp 98,000.

“We want Fable to be a place for people to let loose, lose their inhibitions, feel free to mingle and use their imagination,” Feisal said.

The fine-dining menu at Fable is a bit of East meets West. The fusion cuisine has selections ranging from comfort food like grilled cheese with a side of applesauce, to signature dishes like furikake aglio olio, foie gras ravioli and grilled cod with a spicy teriyaki sauce.

For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, the dessert list is plentiful with picks like black velvet cake and caramel crust pie. If on a diet but still looking to indulge, try the Alaskan water sorbet melon — a light and refreshing bite that hits the spot. Food is served until 11 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. for main courses and 2 a.m. for snacks on weekends.

“We want people to come here and experience something new on every level,” Jason said. “We really both love to entertain and we hope Fable becomes a place where we can hold a lot of events.”

Cover charge for the club is Rp 150,000 and on weekends patrons are expected to dress to impress, with women required to wear high heels.

Sticking to the theme of the club, it’s not surprising that Fable is set to have its grand opening on Halloween (Oct. 31) with a series of parties and a DJ booth outside showcasing its Secret Garden.

Whether it’s to enjoy a night out, or simply just get away from the hustle and bustle of crazy city life, Fable is the place to escape to and truly be enchanted.

Fable Lounge & Dining
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53,
SCBD, South Jakarta,
Tel. 021 515 1501