Jalan Jaksa (jalan meaning 'street' in Indonesian) is a colorful street located in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Its name literally means "Prosecutors' Street", as it used to be a place where legal students congregated, due to the fact that it contained affordable lodgings which suited their student budgets. Today Jalan Jaksa is still one of the main budget accommodation and budget entertainment streets in Jakarta, with backpackers and expat teachers of English replacing the now long-departed legal students. Although the street is not particularly long, it is lined with numerous hostels, hotels, travel agents, cafés, bars and restaurants, and is often one of the first points of call for many visiting travelers. While it is nowhere near as touristy or as developed as its counterparts in Kuta, Bali or the Khaosan Road in Bangkok, it still manages to offer a selection of services helpful to the average tourist.
Accommodation
Jalan Jaksa and its surrounding areas have a wide range of accommodation options. The street itself offers mainly low-end accommodation from US$4-$15 a night, with hostels often situated off the main street on alley (gang) running out to the side. Wahid Hasyim Road, the road which dissects the lower end of the street, offers plenty of midrange options including the Ibis Hotel. For something a bit more upmarket a few minutes' ride in a taxi brings one to Thamrin Road, where four- and five-star hotels are plentiful.
Food
As with many places in surrounding Jakarta and throughout Indonesia, when the sun sets, the pavements become home to countless temporary lean-to eating places known as warungs. Grilled and fried food are the main fare here: armed with a gas burner, old beaten up wok and small grill fueled with coconut shells, this is Indonesia's version of fast food, with most dishes being cooked and ready in a few minutes. Fried rice (nasi goreng), fried noodles (mie goreng), satay (small beef kebabs with peanut sauce), grilled fish (ikan bakar) and other Indonesian dishes are offered for around US$0.30-0.50 a dish. The street also has several cafes and restaurants that offer reasonably extensive western menus.
Nightlife
Jalan Jaksa has several bars and cafés. Unlike a lot of places in Jakarta, where the price of alcoholic beverages can often be higher than in European capitals, all the places in Jalan Jaksa offer a selection of beer for little more than it costs to buy from a local supermarket. It is also one of the places where every roadside vendor also seems to sell beer, with ice-packed, beer-filled cool boxes being a common sight. Apart from just being able to drink until late in the night, there are also a few places to listen to live music, and a pool table.
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