The thread for Top Gun, in case anyone wants to add information for this bar. I did not go there.

Top Gun is on Jalan Paletehan opposite My Bar.

Top Gun has completed a big renovation and it appears they are going to try and compete with My Bar. I was there on the opening night briefly. The bar is divided into two sections. The fron section is a pub which has a corner stage for live music, and a pool table. In the back there is a Disco which is about 2/3 the size of My bar (which makes it twice as big as the upstairs disco in D's Place) The disco design and feel is very much like My Bar. Oh that must because the Top Gun was supposedly taken over by one of the My Bar principals who copied everything down to the music tracks.

We we there about 11PM and had missed out on the free beer. Oh well, drinks were still half price for the night. Well my half price beer was 18K rupiah not bad, but if they are gonna charge 36k for a beer they won't be getting much of my biz. Especially if the crowd is of the same composition as opening night. Let's see the guy to girl ration was a miserable 3 to 1. The guys were mostly the loud obnoxious alcoholic Aussia and Brit expats and the girls were the usual way past the prime 25+ fuglies that patrol Blok M and hold downt the fort until the more attractive girls start hitting D's Place and My Bar after 11 PM.

I am skeptical that this copy cat of the current My Bar set up is gonna take off. However, perhaps it will make for a good overflow place on the nights when My Bar just gets too damn crowded.

Top Gun was the second bar I hit while visiting the Blok M area. Obviously with the posters on the wall of the movie "Top Gun," the name was obviously taken from the movie featuring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.

Very, very crowded with all female eyes on me as I was attempting to wade delicately through the crowd. Entertaining live band, although it was hard to listen and watch the band, as these girls kept tapping me on my shoulder, wanting to (I'm assuming) solicit their wares? I don't know the answer to that, as I don't speak one word of Indonesian.

Regardless, this had far better looking girls IMHO. As I was making my way through the crowd, I was experiencing a lot of shirt-tugging and smiles from the girls in here. I'm assuming, no doubt of course, they're all in the "Biz?"

And just out of curiosity, which hotel do they use? I didn't notice hotels in the area, unless they're those shabby buildings above the bars? And how come it's full of older, or middle-aged guys? Why so many westerners here? Is the word already out that this is an area of prostitution?

Where do tourists acquire the knowledge of Blok M? I ask this, because before I came here to Jakarta, the only research I did about the hooker scene was from this forum ClubHombre.

Would definitely go back there again before I leave Jakarta. Anywhere here in Indonesia is better than mongering in TJ, Mexico.

Regards from Jakarta, Indonesia,

Master Bates.

I was there yesterday but didn't sample the merchandise so can't say what the going prices are these days. It started out rather slow, but by around midnight it was reasonably full.

The girls (actually given some of their advanced ages I should probably use the term "women") were not anything to write home about, but there actually were a few who were attractive. Then again, my perspective may have been skewed by the fact that before checking out Top Gun, we spent some time in G-String just down the street, where I saw the worst assortment of fuglies I have ever seen at a P4P bar.

On the positive side, the house band was quite good and their music had some balls (although the Beatles covers sucked). This was probably the first time I went to a P4P place and would consider returning but only to hear the band.

Top Gun is mentioned in 2009/06 Lovingmarvin - Asia 2009 Trip - Indo & Thailand

Was in Top Gun last night, a Tuesday, about 10:30pm. Maybe 30 girls, half at the bar on the left when you walk in and the other half milling about. Maybe 2-3 guys in the place. Don't know what the usual is, but that's what it was. I had a bottled beer, I think 30,000. Saw a girl I liked, called her over, bought her a drink (110,000) and liked her vibe. Not too much English. A lady called "Mama Mia" came over and said see was her "Aunt". I think she's every girls Aunt. Spoke great English. So there was no misunderstandings I had Mama tell the girl what I wanted, very specific. She agreed. Price for overnight? "Up to you". Got an Uber and back to the Gran Melia. Did everything I wanted and then some. Stayed the night, another round at 6am and I kicked her out, got ready for my flight back to KL. I gave here 1 million. Based on no Intel here of current value. Great service, great gal. Did I overpay? Maybe by your standards but not by mine.

Top Gun is definitely worth a try.

Nice to see you in action in the big durian! 1 million is a standard long time rate, so you definitely did not overpay. If you don't want to wait around for an Uber, you can take Silverbird, Bluebird, and Express taxis in Jakarta without worrying about haggling. Those companies use the meter. Avoid everyone else.

How was the Gran Melia?

I used Silverbirds from the hotel and then usually an Uber back. Slummed it with a Bluebird once or twice. All good, no hassles.

The Gran Melia was one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in. The service was second to none, though it was slightly less luxurious than the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

I stayed at a Red Line room, with private check-in at the lounge level, 14. Within 5 minutes of check-in - 4 hours early AND they upgraded me to a suite for no reason - EVERYONE called me by name.

Security is Embassy-quality, but not obtrusive. A real search of the car and walk through metal detectors and you"re good to go.

Highly recommended.

I'll try to write out a quick report - the visa on arrival was SUPER easy - unlike Cambodia. Customs was a breeze too and the airport very modern inside and easy to find a Bluebird taxi.

If it wasn't for the insane traffic, Jakarta would have some potential.

Thanks, Wallstreet, it's good to hear that Jakarta is still a good potential venue. Indonesia was one of my favorite destinations some years ago, but I've never done it without a wingman--and haven't had one for a while. And there were the reports of cleaning up the place, after gambling was shut down on Batam. Never heard much about the fate of the casas there....

Thanks for the update, Wallstreet. Glad to hear there's still fun to be had at Blok M, and glad that someone on CH is out there having fun and sharing the intel. Much appreciated!

Thanks guys - you've inspired me to write a trip report. I was relying on Xen's great report - from 2005! Time for an update.

Outstanding news...thanks!