Jakarta Travel Guide
Ready for a bit of adventure? Take a whirl around the big smoke of Jakarta.
Jakarta or The Big Durian, as it is affectionately known, is in an exciting state of change. Surrounded by thousands of islands, the city has a pumping nightlife, loads of super talented local designers, and plenty of undiscovered adventures. Take a deep breath and dive in!
Do
It would be fair to expect a good cup of java when on the island itself.
Kickstart your morning at Anomali where they take their coffee seriously and roast their own beans.
If you’re in the Kemang branch, pop a few doors down to Le Souq and check out their funky homewares in pop colours. We love their printed linen cushions and durian-shaped food storage containers.
Upstairs is Dyrt where you will find cleverly designed bags and other small items fashioned from recycled plastic.
Spas
Too much city?
Take refuge in one of the city’s many fantastic spas and indulge in a traditional Indonesian cream bath – a Jakarta institution.
Two hours of pure indulgence which has nothing to do with taking a dip in a pool of cream will leave you feeling recharged. All for the price of a standard pedicure in Singapore, too!
We like the privacy at Feliz and Puri Santi. You might pick up some interesting local gossip at Mil and Mat (ph. 021 719 8030).
Shop
Looking for something special to take home with you? Trundle through the antique shops of Jalan Surabaya. You’ll find an eclectic mix of treasures including Dutch colonial silverware, stone carvings, and barnacle-encrusted crockery from old shipwrecks.
Nearby Dharmawangsa Square houses a few gems. We love the brightly printed tote bags and wall canvases at Tulisan. Find your next party frock upstairs at Tomodachi (Dharmawangsa Square, #01-22/23).
Drink
Kick off your first evening with sunset cocktails at Skye, a spectacular rooftop bar and restaurant. Get a sense of the immense size of the city as you look out over its twinkling lights. Stay here for dinner or head downstairs to the more casual Social House, which accommodates both eastern and western palates. For sophisticated Indonesian food, try Seribu Rasa or quirky Lara Djonggrang, as much a museum of old Indonesian artifacts as it is a restaurant.
Not ready for beddy-byes? Super sleek Dragonfly is always pumping. Or if you’d prefer to wind down, try the old library atmosphere at Nip and Dram, a specialist whisky bar. Further afield in Kemang, Shy Rooftop hosts an uber-cool crowd and some great local bands on weekends.
Sleep
Rest your weary head at the tranquil, uniquely indonesian Dharmawangsa Hotel.
Or follow our lead and indulge in the urban oasis of the Shangri-La. With its award-winning restaurants (choose from the Italian Rosso, the Chinese Shang Palace, and the authentic Japanese Nishimura, not to mention the famous B.A.T.S bar and the famous Satoo Sunday brunch) – this is a real-life Hotel California, the kind of place you check into but may never leave.
In the Senayan area, go for Hotel Mulia which has fantastic dining options.
There is something a little bit addictive about The Big Durian. Having had a small taste of the place we are beginning to understand what they mean. Stay tuned. We think you’ll be hearing a lot more from us on the rapidly developing city of Jakarta.
Why limit yourself to just Jakarta? Explore more destinations with AirAsia’s handy downloadable guide to Indonesia. It’s free!
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