What is in a name? The term ‘retro' might conjure up images of the ‘50s or ‘60s, but that is not so with the Retro Club in Crowne Plaza Hotel Jakarta. The youths who flock there and the trendy music are surely far cries from bygone eras.

Since its opening in the mid-nineties, the club has had its fair share of moments of fame with patrons from the older generation. However, for a brief period, it was drowned by the other new clubs and lounges which were sprouting up, and earned quite an undesirable reputation as a club for ‘oldies'. Recently, the Retro took on a different approach and started to have tie-ups with Event Organizers to host quite a number of events and thus, managed to allure the younger crowd of socialites in Jakarta . Even the music has switched from “retro-house” music to more Rap and Ballads, progressive techno music.

Perhaps the only trait that lives up to the Retro's name is its décor. All patrons have to enter the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Gatot Subroto street in order to access to the Retro. Located near the large stairs at the lobby of the hotel is the eye-catching red entrance of the Retro which is a beautiful icon to behold. The walls are adorned in red velvet, and magenta curtains along with large, antique-style mirrors which looks inviting. The sexy and elegant boudoir interior is akin to entering the Moulin Rouge theatre.

Once inside the club, you will be greeted with private tables adorned in similar tones. It is as close as you can get to have your own Victorian dressing room. The rest of the interior is modern minimalist and clean-cut. At the left side of the room is a fair-sized monitor playing numerous advertisements and videos throughout the night, alternated with party-themed graphics, serving as entertainment for patrons. At the other end of the room just behind the dancing tables is the DJ table. A large disco lamp with alternating colours of lights beaming through adds a funky feel to the ambience.

The Retro is not a spacious club. In fact, the place tends to get packed rather easily especially on weekends and ladies' night. The crowds are mostly teenagers who hang out with their friends or those who are finding an outlet to vent their pent up frustrations through dance and drinks. At the Retro, college boys and girls dressed in the latest fashion-wear, either sprawled on the floor from drunkenness or leaning on the walls for support after having a little too much to drink, are often common sights. Those who are more sober will be posing in such dignified manner as if they are celebraties waiting for the paparazzi to capture their red-carpet stances.

The music chosen by the DJ for the night depends on the Event Organizer's schedule and theme of the party fpr that night.

With a little transformation and change in direction, the Retro has managed to keep its loyal followers coming back for more. They will do fine as long as they keep those gorgeous interiors, it is retro enough for the party people.