Many would likely come home from a visit to McLovin in Grand Wijaya Center with the impression that it’s more of a community club than a bar—and it’s understandable, all clues seem to point in that direction. Tucked hidden above the izakaya Benizuru, the room is noticeably brighter than a typical nighttime joint, conversations tend to boom louder than music, and it’s common to see different groups of patrons greeting each other like old friends.
“It started with the idea of creating a place to hang and chat about our vintage toy hobby, not just among the three of us but also others who share our interest,” shared Dimas Radhitya, who co-founded McLovin (named after a character in the 2007 film ‘Superbad’) with friends Fandy and Fendy Susanto, the twins behind Sunset Limited.
As a clear proof of this intention, an eclectic collection of toys takes up residence across McLovin’s wooden shelves, brought together from the founders’ personal collection, travelling finds and even contributions from bar regulars. Soft vinyl monsters from Japan mingle with He-Man figurines. Elmo hides behind Darth Maul. And Batman leans against a sort of bootleg mecha robot that has been spray-painted by artist Mahesa Almeida.
It’s like a time capsule—and the ‘90s, in particular, felt vividly present inside the room. In addition to toys like rare TMNT action figures, there’s also NBA memorabilia, VHS tapes of the era’s blockbusters (such as The Lion King) and even games that patrons can play on the TV at the bar (McLovin may not have a DJ mixer yet, but they sure have a SEGA console).
“For us, who grew up in the era, the ‘90s were a peak moment,” gushed Fandy. “I could still smell the ‘90s from memories like cooling down in my father’s room after a game of basketball, the stink of my sweat meeting the smoky aroma coming out of the CRT television set. It was a pivotal era.”
Accompanying the trip down memory lane, McLovin serves no-fuss, easy-to-drink highballs as its main offering. There’s the Classic Highball, of course, but one will also find more fun flavours such as One Eyed Jack with sweet grapefruit syrup, further brightened with citrus notes from the yuzu and fresh lemon juice. The Chewbacca After Shave offers a bold and earthy punch through a layered mix of spiced rum, apple cider and maple syrup, while the lychee-bomb Cranky Franky from the low-alcohol Chu-Hi lineup is an easy choice for someone looking for a lighter buzz.
Looking around the room, it’s clear that McLovin’s appeal goes beyond toy enthusiasts or those growing up in the ‘90s. A mixed crowd of South Jakarta’s creative industry people, pre-drinkers, and even pensioners looking to wet their whistle find their way into the bar; whether allured by its close-knit community, its collection of curios, or the simple pleasure of pushing the rewind and rekindling a moment in time when things were less complicated and even merrier.
