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The directors of Jangas celebrate their journey and vision for the restaurant. From left: Ron J Young, Khari Murray, Alicia Murray, Jordan Weller, and Richard Samough.

WHEN it comes to music, nightlife, and experiences, Kingston stands unrivalled as Jamaica’s entertainment capital. It’s the birthplace of reggae, many landmarks and movements, all things that make Jamaica unique. Adding to the capital’s cultural landscape, 2019 saw the birth of another staple: Jangas Soundbar and Grill.

The Kingston restaurant and bar was the brainchild of two friends, Jordan Weller and Ron Young, who wanted a place that felt like a culmination of Jamaican culture. “We didn’t want to water anything down,” Weller recalls. “We wanted to encapsulate every aspect from food, art, and culture. If someone steps into Jangas, they must feel the raw energy of Jamaica.”

Not long after the concept was born, they set up shop on Belmont Road, alongside a band of directors.

The location carried its own history. Once Kyle’s Café, later a Downsound Entertainment venue, it was a natural fit. Young, an entertainment lawyer with a passion for hosting events like “Gin and Juice”, had always been tied to the nightlife fabric of the city. With his background, the transition of the site into a cultural hub aligned perfectly with the energy he envisioned.

Weller, by contrast, built his path through food. Trained at Sandals Resorts and crowned Red Stripe’s Grill Boss Champion in 2022, he has always had a love for food and the grill. He often refers to himself as “the head chef and bottle washer”, a nod to the hands-on approach he takes to running the restaurant. Before Jangas, he studied marine navigation, worked as a brand manager, and hosted events, but his heart was set on a bar and restaurant.

The mission was clear from the start: to create a place where guests can experience the energy of Jamaica in one stop. A plate of curried goat or jerk chicken is served in a space where local art adorns the walls, with music filling the space to complete the rhythm of the culture.

Weller, by contrast, built his path through food. Trained at Sandals Resorts and crowned Red Stripe’s Grill Boss Champion in 2022, he has always had a love for food and the grill. He often refers to himself as “the head chef and bottle washer”, a nod to the hands-on approach he takes to running the restaurant. Before Jangas, he studied marine navigation, worked as a brand manager, and hosted events, but his heart was set on a bar and restaurant.

The mission was clear from the start: to create a place where guests can experience the energy of Jamaica in one stop. A plate of curried goat or jerk chicken is served in a space where local art adorns the walls, with music filling the space to complete the rhythm of the culture.

Weller, by contrast, built his path through food. Trained at Sandals Resorts and crowned Red Stripe’s Grill Boss Champion in 2022, he has always had a love for food and the grill. He often refers to himself as “the head chef and bottle washer”, a nod to the hands-on approach he takes to running the restaurant. Before Jangas, he studied marine navigation, worked as a brand manager, and hosted events, but his heart was set on a bar and restaurant.

The mission was clear from the start: to create a place where guests can experience the energy of Jamaica in one stop. A plate of curried goat or jerk chicken is served in a space where local art adorns the walls, with music filling the space to complete the rhythm of the culture.

“We want guests to take it back with them, whether they’re from here or visiting from overseas,” Weller explained.

Jangas’ early days were not without trials. Just eight months after opening, the pandemic hit. The partners were forced to re-imagine the business, shifting from late-night gatherings to a lunch crowd that complied with the Government’s restrictions. It was a hard pivot, but it kept the doors open. By 2021, the night energy returned, and so did the crowds.

Since then, Jangas has steadily established itself as one of Kingston’s cornerstones. Locals treat it as a casual meeting point, while visitors add it to their itineraries alongside the Bob Marley Museum and Port Royal. What started as two men with a dream of owning an entertainment spot has evolved into what they describe as “a cultural icon”, where food and music merge seamlessly.

Dishes lean on tradition with a mix of international cuisine from jerk chicken, pork, fried fish, barbecue pigstail, and others. Rated as a must-try are their alfredo fries and JamGoat burger. Each dish contributes to the atmosphere they’ve built, a place where dining feels like part of the wider experience.

Entertainment has been central to Jangas since its inception. A partnership with Red Stripe gave that vision greater reach, with regular events hosted alongside brands like Heineken, Smirnoff, and Johnnie Walker drawing large, vibrant crowds.

“We’ve wanted to work with Red Stripe from the moment we opened,” Weller said. “There is a natural synergy, and the values of the brand align with what we have built here.”

Looking ahead, Weller and Young see the future not simply as preserving what they’ve built but as pushing Jangas to evolve with Kingston’s pulse, introducing fresh experiences, deepening partnerships, and continuing to merge food, art, and music in ways that keep it relevant for years to come.

Six years on, the restaurant stands as a bar, a grill, a stage, and a gathering point. It has quickly become the mecca for entertainment, drawing people into its orbit with the promise of good company and good taste. As the directors continue shaping its path, Jangas is no longer simply their vision; it has become part of Kingston’s story, and a place the city proudly calls its own.