By early evening the heat has eased and Medan's streets fill with people heading out to eat, drink and sing. Traffic thickens along the main roads, food stalls and restaurants light up, and the city's clubs, pubs and karaoke joints begin their night.
Medan's nightlife is spread across the city rather than concentrated in one strip, and it leans towards eating, live music and family-style karaoke as much as towards bars and clubs. It suits visitors who are comfortable taking a taxi between stops, and who want a low-key evening of food and music as much as a late night out.
Where to go out in Medan
1. Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan
This street, just across from the JW Marriott Hotel, is where you will find Bistronomix, a venue the sources describe as popular especially with younger crowds. It suits an early, energetic start to an evening in the central hotel district.
Because it sits opposite a major hotel, it is easy to reach on foot if you are staying nearby, and easy to explain to a driver if you are not.
2. Around Lapangan Benteng and the Deli river
Harbour 9, on the ground floor of the Forum 9 building near Lapangan Benteng, offers outdoor seating beside the Deli river. This suits a relaxed drink in the open air rather than a loud indoor night.
One practical point from the sources: there are many mosquitoes at night, so plan accordingly.
3. Centre Point complex
The Centre Point complex is home to Healy Mac's, described as the only branch of Healy Mac's in Indonesia, with nice food at reasonable prices. It suits a mall-based evening where eating and drinking happen in the same place.
Because it is inside a complex, it works well as a fixed, easy-to-find meeting point before you move on elsewhere.
4. Jalan A. Rivai
Holywings on Jalan A. Rivai is noted for good food and reasonably priced drinks, with live music usually starting at 21:00. The sources add that it occasionally hires famous singers.
This suits an evening built around a live set, so timing your arrival for the music rather than earlier in the night makes sense.
5. Jalan Putri Hijau
Retrospective Entertainment, also known as Retro, occupies the sixth floor of the Capital Building on Jalan Putri Hijau. It suits a later, more club-oriented stop once the evening has already started.
Being on an upper floor of a commercial building, it is the kind of place you go to deliberately rather than stumble across.
6. Jalan Kapten Pattimura
Shoot Resto Bar Club on Jalan Kapten Pattimura is a pool bar with a big screen showing sports channels, football games on weekends, regular live bands and DJ performances, and a large collection of wine from around the world. It suits a group that wants to combine pool, sport and music in one venue.
If you are going specifically for a match, the sources point to weekends as when football is shown.
7. Hotel Danau Toba and the pub circuit
The Tavern Pub at Hotel Danau Toba was once one of the most popular going-out pubs for expats in the city. The sources describe it as now a little run down, attracting a sleazier crowd, with live music from local bands, fairly small and fairly popular, crowded on weekends with groups of friends, couples and some rather friendly girls hanging out, and a bit expensive for the standard.
This suits you only if you want a small live-music pub and are prepared for the trade-offs the sources describe. Note that this description dates from 2018.
8. Family karaoke venues
Medan has dedicated family karaoke venues, including H.o.M.E Family Karaoke on Jl. Patimura and Karaoke Keluarga (K2) Family Karaoke in the Multatuli complex. Stroom KTV in Selecta is also listed among the city's karaoke options.
These suit groups, including mixed groups and families, who want a private room rather than a bar. They are a common way to spend a late evening in the city.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not give detailed timings for dinner or for how late venues run. The clearest fixed point is live music at Holywings, which usually starts at 21:00, and football screenings at Shoot Resto Bar Club on weekends. Beyond that, plan on eating in the evening and starting your venue-hopping after that, with the understanding that the sources do not specify closing times for the places listed.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Christmas Eve Joint Holiday and Christmas Day — December
- New Year's Eve and New Year's Day — December into January
- Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (tentative) — January
- Chinese New Year Joint Holiday and Chinese New Year's Day — February
- Ramadan Start (tentative) — February
- Bali's Day of Silence and Hindu New Year (Nyepi) — March
- Idul Fitri Joint Holiday and Idul Fitri (tentative) — March
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of nights out does Medan offer?
The sources describe clubs, pubs and karaoke joints as the main options at night, alongside family karaoke venues, spa facilities and hotel spas. There is also a pool bar with sports screens and live bands.
Where can I hear live music?
Holywings on Jalan A. Rivai has live music usually starting at 21:00 and occasionally hires famous singers. Shoot Resto Bar Club has regular live bands and DJ performances. The Tavern Pub features live music from local bands.
Is there anywhere to watch football at night?
Shoot Resto Bar Club has a big screen playing sports channels, with football games on the weekends.
Can I go out for karaoke rather than a bar?
Yes. The sources list family karaoke venues including H.o.M.E Family Karaoke on Jl. Patimura, Karaoke Keluarga (K2) Family Karaoke in the Multatuli complex, and Stroom KTV in Selecta.
Decide which part of the city you want to end up in, book a spa or a karaoke room if that is your plan, and set out early enough to eat before the music starts.