Jakarta’s SCBD neighborhood has a new bar that’s taking a thoughtful approach to cocktails. Dualism, the latest venue from SwillFam Group, invites you to explore how contrast can shape taste and experience. The idea behind it is simple but unusual: each drink is made from one set of ingredients, but served in two different styles. One version might be bold and intense, while the other is softer and more playful. Instead of choosing between them, you are encouraged to try both and notice how each version brings out something different. It’s not about opposites competing—it’s about how they complete each other.
This concept reflects the personalities of the bar’s two founders. One comes from a world of music, design, and sensory exploration. The other is a cocktail expert, focused on technique and flavor. Together, they’ve inspired a menu that feels more like a creative journal than a typical drink list.
The first menu at Dualism is called Chapter I: The Founders, and it’s designed to feel more like a creative journal than a typical drink list. Each cocktail pairing is built around a theme, with two versions that show different sides of the same idea. One pairing is named Theater, where one drink reflects the feeling of tragedy—deep, warm, and thoughtful and the other is shaped by comedy—bright, fresh, and easygoing. Another pairing, named Marie Antoinette, mixes cream, tea, and nuts to explore the space between real history and imagined stories. It’s smooth and layered, with flavors that feel both familiar and a little dreamy.
In a pairing called Caravaggio, the team plays with the idea of light and shadow, they use tropical fruits and woody notes to create a mix that feels both lively and grounded. Then there’s Memento, which looks at the idea of change and memory; one version, Mori, is quiet and calm, while Vivere, is bubbly and full of energy—like a toast to life. The menu also includes ingredients from Indonesia, such as bawang dayak and cuko. These local touches help connect the drinks to their surroundings, while still allowing room for global influences and creative expression.
Dualism isn’t just a bar—it’s a place for exploration. The team plans to introduce seasonal menus, invite guest bartenders from other cities, and host events that continue the theme of contrast. Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast or just curious to try something new, Dualism offers a fresh way to experience flavor and perspective. With its tagline “two sides of the same pour” the bar encourages you to look beyond the surface and discover what happens when opposites meet.
Dualism
SOL Collective Space, SCBD
Jl. Jend. Sudirman kav 52-53 Lot 17A, SCBD, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190
