Surabaya is a donut city with most of the best areas in the middle. The pace of life is very high in Surabaya and there's not that much to do if you don't like shopping malls. Plenty of night life options from café/bars through to big nightclubs. A good place to book trips to Malang, Bromo or by bus or train to Bali, Yogyakarta or Jakarta. Locals are less friendly (but generally still friendly) than Central Java or Bali. Most longer stayers are here on business or because they have friends/family in the city.
