Indonesia's nightlife fizzles amid growing conservatism

Jakarta

AS revellers filed into the Empirica nightclub on a recent Friday night in Jakarta's business district, just a stone's throw from the stock exchange, manager Joe Chen was counting on a good night.

International DJs were lined up, ready to play to a crowd of at least 800. Already some were filing into the converted warehouse to take their place on the dozen or so white leather couches where minimum drink orders started at S$500. Women inexplicably decked out with angel wings handed out free cigarettes, compliments of one of the night's sponsors.

But even a blow out night wouldn't undo a steady decline in patron numbers over recent years, said Mr Chen, chief operating officer of Enzo Group, which runs Empirica and a swag of othe…