Stallone Tjia
Feb 05, 2026
Jakarta’s nightlife landscape welcomes a new kind of destination. Perched on the 25th floor of Multivision Tower in Kuningan, South Jakarta, Vagabond is a personality-driven cocktail bar shaped by global bar culture, creative expression, and human connection. Officially opened on 30 January 2026, Vagabond introduces itself not as a trend-led venue, but as a living experience guided by its philosophy: “Not one place, but many moments.”
Vagabond Brings a Bar with Personality and Expressive Cocktails to Jakarta
Vagabond is defined by intention rather than spectacle. From early evening onwards, the space unfolds gradually—elegant rooms, a strikingly designed bar, and a carefully calibrated soundscape set the tone for a night that evolves organically. It is a bar that reads the room, values atmosphere over excess, and allows each night to become its own story.
A Global State of Mind
Vagabond is co-founded by Michael Callahan, one of the most influential figures in modern mixology. With a career spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, Callahan brings decades of experience from some of the world’s most respected bars. His deep understanding of both major urban markets and island destinations such as the Maldives, Hawaii, and Bali has shaped Vagabond into a concept rooted in global perspective yet sensitive to its local setting.
Working alongside him is Payman Bahmani-Bailey, General Manager of Vagabond Jakarta, whose career has taken him from New York and Los Angeles to Taipei, Singapore, the Mediterranean, and now Jakarta. The duo previously collaborated at Proof & Company in Singapore, contributing to the culture and tone behind the award-winning 28 HongKong Street.
“Jakarta is intense in the best way,” says Callahan. “It’s social, layered, and emotionally charged. Vagabond isn’t about imposing a global template—it’s about listening to the city and creating nights that feel personal, unrepeatable, and quietly legendary over time.”
“At Vagabond, hospitality isn’t scripted,” adds Bahmani-Bailey. “It’s about reading the room and letting the night become what it needs to be.”
Backed by a collective of seasoned hospitality and nightlife professionals, Vagabond is thoughtfully designed but never overdesigned—intentional, alive, and constantly evolving.
Cocktails with Character
At the heart of Vagabond lies a cocktail program driven by purpose and personality. The menu features 12 signature cocktails, complemented by a rotating selection of modern and classic drinks, global guest collaborations, and three communal punch bowls that revive the convivial tradition of shared drinking.
Each cocktail is expressive, sometimes provocative, and always deliberate. Standouts include Untitled (2025), a layered rum cocktail inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s raw-meets-refined legacy; The Beagle, a freezer martini that evolves as a brined ice sphere slowly melts—a nod to Charles Darwin and transformation over time; and The Whizzer, a clarified, carbonated creation built with garam masala gin and chicken stock, unapologetically unexpected and entirely intentional.
“These are not cocktails designed to impress quietly,” the team notes. “They’re meant to spark conversation.”
A Platform for Energy and Expression
More than a cocktail bar, Vagabond is a stage for expression. The venue features a dedicated performance space and evolving programming, from curated DJ sets and music journeys to ritual-led moments and interactive experiences. Carefully timed rituals subtly shift the room’s energy throughout the night—some planned, others spontaneous—ensuring the experience never feels managed, only alive.
Vagabond enters Jakarta’s nightlife scene not in competition, but in conversation. Worldly without being aloof. Refined without rigidity. Confident without needing to announce itself.
Vagabond is for those who live between places, conversations, and plans. For those who value atmosphere over attention, memory over performance, and nights that resist replication.
