Jakarta’s cocktail culture isn’t just rising—it’s roaring. At the heart of this surge is Cosmo Pony, a bar just a year old that has stormed into Asia’s 50 Best Bars at #38. For a city long overlooked on the regional map, the achievement feels less like luck and more like destiny. Jakarta is now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Asia’s great drinking capitals.
A Leap That Paid Off
For Silvio Daniele, leaving behind the polished sophistication of Singapore’s bar scene for the raw energy of Jakarta was a leap of faith. Recognition on Asia’s 50 Best was always a dream, but he never expected it to come this quickly.
“I’m so proud of the team,” he says. “Their talent, dedication, and drive made this possible in just under a year.”
Jakarta, however, proved to be a different kind of arena. Guests aren’t just looking for technical excellence—they want warmth, fun, and personality. The challenge was not only to serve world-class cocktails but to deliver them with theatre, joy, and a touch of chaos.
“Constantly adapting, improving, and keeping things exciting has kept me going, and delivering something excellent and light-hearted at the same time—that’s been the real joy.”
In less than twelve months, Cosmo Pony has become a destination bar sought out by both locals and travelers. “It’s not simply a place to drink—it’s an experience, a memory, a story to tell,” Silvio adds.
A Living Room for Jakarta
Cosmo Pony was never meant to be just another high-energy hotspot. Silvio envisioned Jakarta’s living room—a space where friends could gather, strangers could connect, and the city’s buzzing energy could be captured in every cocktail.
Signature drinks like the Tequila Cosmo and Ugly Bananas are more than beverages; they’re conversation starters and snapshots of Jakarta’s playful spirit. Their latest menu, RISING CITY, goes one step further, attempting to distill the very soul of Jakarta into liquid form.
“I love that the name has become a kind of anthem for the city,” Silvio says. “It’s about positioning Jakarta as the next great cocktail destination.”
A Homecoming with Purpose
For Indra Kantono, co-founder of Singapore’s Jigger & Pony Group, Cosmo Pony marks both a homecoming and a new chapter. Born and raised in Indonesia, Indra has long wanted to contribute to his homeland’s cultural landscape.
“Wow, what a moment,” he recalls of hearing the ranking. “It felt rewarding not just for our team, but for Jakarta as a cocktail city. There’s a growing sense of excitement that the city is finally getting the international attention it deserves.”
The partnership with Jakarta’s Union Group proved vital. Jigger & Pony brought its global expertise in hospitality, while Union Group provided deep local insight. Together, they built a bar that could exist nowhere else but Jakarta.
“It was important for us not to create a Singapore bar in Jakarta, but a Jakarta bar for the world.’
Union Group’s Pride and Vision
For Stefanie Wijono, Deputy Head of Marketing and PR at Union Group, Cosmo Pony’s success is a moment of pride.
“It was a rewarding moment, because I know how hard Silvio, Marsya, and the team have worked for the past year,” she says. “For Union Group, it’s the cherry on top of our partnership with Indra and Jigger & Pony—we’ve learned so much from them.”
Union Group has had international recognition before, but Stefanie sees this as something bigger: a signal that Jakarta’s bar scene is reaching critical mass.
“We believe Cosmo Pony adds something unique to Jakarta’s high-energy bars. We hope more international tourists and industry players will now come to discover just how great this city is.”
Jakarta Isn’t Rising. It’s Roaring.
What unites Silvio, Indra, and Stefanie is the belief that Cosmo Pony’s story is bigger than a single bar. It’s about Jakarta itself—its restless creativity, its generosity of spirit, and its growing place on the global stage.
Together, they embody the forces propelling Jakarta forward: vision, partnership, and pride.
The message is clear. Jakarta’s cocktail culture is no longer an afterthought or an underdog. It has arrived—with confidence, flair, and a roar. And at the center of it all, with a wink, a smile, and a round of Ugly Bananas, stands Cosmo Pony.
Cosmo Pony
Grand Hyatt Jakarta, 4th Floor, Jl. M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30, Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10350
