Visiting Jakarta? Here’s where to stay, eat and shop
At first glance, Jakarta can seem like a loud, relentless and impatient city. But finding your bearings will help to uncover a metropolis in motion.
STAY
25Hours Hotel The Oddbird, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru
A new addition to Jakarta, 25Hours is conveniently housed on top of the Ashta shopping mall. Indonesia’s take on the expanding Hamburg hotel chain is called The Oddbird and embraces every opportunity to be bold and a bit whimsical. Rooms are equipped with Freitag bags and Schindlehauers bikes.
25hours-hotels.com
FOOD & DRINK
Modernhaus, Senopati, Kebayoran Baru
Modernhaus feels more like an architect’s lounge than a cocktail bar. The mid-century-inspired space by Union Group hums with low-lit warmth, an inviting bar and cocktails from mixologist Mirwansyah “Bule”.
+62 817-7233-3368
Kaum, Menteng, Central Jakarta
Kaum distils Indonesia’s culinary heritage in an unpretentious experience courtesy of the Potato Head Family. Recipes including lamb drizzled in pickled greens, beef slow-cooked in red lado, and rice laced with green stinky beans, are given a polished edge and sit with inventive new ones.
kaum.com
Scarlett’s House Blok M, Melawai, Kebayoran Baru
Scarlett’s textural riot of sugary delights was the talk of the town during their time in Pantai Indah Kapuk: patrons started queuing at 09.00 for a slice of its poured tiramisu. Their latest in the vibrant Blok M/Melawai sees the patisserie take on another mantle as a bistro-cum-listening bar.
+62 812-9272-1601
SHOP
Archie, Selong, Kebayoran Baru
In the quieter end of Gunawarman, Archie showcases a curated line of tailorings and ready to-wear pieces from names such as Drake’s and made-to-measure clothes from Flannel Bay and Sartoria Melina. Founder Michael Wong regularly hosts trunk shows, with the latest from Japan’s Lecteur (Yuki Igarashi flew in) and Florence’s Leonardo Simoncini (hosted together with Wong’s other venture Soroi in Panglima Polim). The collaboration pieces with Alden are perfect for Jakarta’s unending summer.
archiestore.com
Sarinah, Gondangdia, Menteng
Jakarta’s oldest department store, first envisioned by Soekarno in the 1960s, is now a dynamic cultural and retail space housing everything local (well, almost). Its post-renovation offering spans from heritage-rich batik ateliers to new homegrown brands alongside an extensive selection of local food and beverages (all worth sampling), while the plaza often holds events and performances.
sarinah.co.id
SEE
ROH Projects, Menteng, Central Jakarta
A maverick gallery that took its permanent space in 2022 in a converted mid-century colonial house on Jalan Surabaya. Notable names it represents include Maruto Ardi, Kei Imazu, Bagus Pandega and art collective Tromarama.
rohprojects.net
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Nusantara (MACAN), Kebon Jeruk
Museum MACAN (founded 2017) is the country’s leading institution for modern and contemporary art with a growing international significance. While it offers a window to the world – bringing in heavyweights such as Chiharu Shiota and Yayoi Kusama – it also brings forward local names through major exhibitions.
museummacan.org
