“In this loud world, I think it pays to be quiet,” remarked entrepreneur Leonard Theosabrata on the idea behind En Par, the newly opened bar he founded with his friends on Suryo Street within the bustling Senopati area, home to a smorgasbord of nightlife establishments ranging from cocktail bars to nightclubs—or hybrids of the two. But even amidst fierce competition, “We’re just doing our thing, trying to present what we’re about, that’s it. We’re not trying to compete.”
Hence the name En Par—derived from French—meaning ‘on a par’, positioning the bar as an equal amongst its kind. Perched above a Southeast Asian restaurant, Folk, En Par doesn’t exactly strive for secrecy, but its hideaway location does add a low-key quality to the joint that would be hard to replicate elsewhere. The bar lies just beyond an antique Chinese screen door, so attractively adorned with carvings of a mountainous landscape and a glowing yin-yang symbol that one might second guess if they’re in the right place—if not for glimpses of the bar that appear through the wooden slits.
Inside, a massive, slanted window stands as the centrepiece within the bar’s intimate space. It frames a serene view: distant skyscrapers, the often-overlooked greenery of Senopati, to street coffee vendors (starling) weaving their bicycles through the busy traffic while the sun makes its gentle descent—lulling patrons into quiet relaxation as they settle into the bar’s deep blue sofas under the gentle, red-orange glow of orb-like ceiling lights.
The menu is presented on a striking riso-printed zine, which patrons can bring home as a memento. Listed inside, cocktails here spotlight Balinese arak through Marak and Ark, two arak brands (also founded by Leonard) that combine modern distillery processes with traditional local wisdom to produce spirits with high purity and distinct flavour profiles.
The first, Marak, nods to the acculturation of Balinese and Chinese influences on the Island of the Gods with an interesting blend of pure arak and oolong tea. It’s present in the Marakgroni cocktail to substitute gin in the classic negroni recipe, introducing a mix of floral, fruity and umami notes. Ark, meanwhile, presents the liquor in its purest form. En Par’s aptly named house cocktail, Fresh & Light, mixes Ark’s smooth, earthy character with Marak, lemon honey cordial and soda, resulting in a subtly sweet and easy-to-drink refreshment. But if you’re not in the mood for either, simply drop a request to the bartender or go with one of their bottled classic cocktails, like the timeless Old Fashioned, to last you through the evening.
There’s a clear intention here that En Par is not trying to be more than a casual bar, a place for relaxed pre-drinks before a night out, or an early nightcap over a cocktail or two. Yet, it is exactly this ease that makes the bar stand out. Conversations flow freely over gentle tunes, and even the DJ, when present, gets to share in this relaxed atmosphere—spinning records at their own pace, backs to the crowd, as if playing in the comfort of their own living room. Such is the kind of ease that En Par provides, one that invites patrons to keep coming back.
