Dining & Entertainment in Jakarta

Jakarta Dining

Eating out is an integral part of life in Jakarta and all new comers will be pleasantly surprised by the variety and selection of dishes on offer at the numerous eateries around the city. There is so much to choose from that you are sure to find something to tempt your palette.

Indonesian Restaurants
Featuring Indonesian cuisine can be found all over Jakarta and other urban centers throughout the country. Many regional dishes are popular far from home … including spicy hot Padang food, delicious chicken from Kalasan in Central Java, grilled fish from Ujung Pandang and scrumptious Chinese seafood dishes. A good place in Jakarta to get a quick introduction to Indonesian cuisine would be at a mall food court. Here, you can actually see the various dishes being prepared and sample different specialties until you discover your favourites.


International Cuisine
Part of the experience of living in any large metropolitan city around the world is the variety of international cuisine available to the residents of the city. In this respect, Jakarta is no exception as there are diverse international culinary delights for all to experience.

Better restaurants are concentrated in five-star hotels and in the Golden Triangle area where business people are regular customers, as well as in residential areas such as Kemang, Menteng and Kebayoran Baru. Good listings of restaurants are available in the AWA's Jakarta Shoppers Guide and the Jakarta Dining restaurant guide.


Hotel Dining
Hotels offer a good selection of international and national fare. Major five-star hotels have several world-class restaurants each, with an international cuisine coffee shop and specialized national/international cuisine restaurants and theme bars. Lunch buffets are great way to indulge your taste buds!

Wine and drinks tend to be expensive and drinks may in fact cost you more than the food bill! Prices in hotel restaurants tend to be higher than other restaurants.


Tipping tips
If the restaurant doesn’t automatically charge 20% … a small tip may be in order. This is usually not calculated on a percentage basis, but averages from Rp 2,000 to 20,000. The amount depends on the type of restaurant, the number of diners, your generosity and the total amount of the bill.

There may be more than one waiter attending your table and the person who brings you the bill may not be the one that waited on you. The person that clears the table may be different again. So, instead of leaving money on the table or including extra with the payment ... you may choose to hand the money directly to the waiter to be sure it gets to him/her.


Corkage fees
Many better restaurants in Jakarta allow their patrons to bring a bottle of wine from home and will only charge a corkage fee. With the high costs of quality wine in Jakarta, this service is welcome! Corkage fees range from Rp 50,000 to about 150,000 (as of 2002). Be sure you agree on a price BEFORE the wine steward opens the bottle. The restaurant management may be amenable to reducing the corkage fee, if you are good at bargaining! Members of the Wine and Spirits Circle get free corkage in many restaurants.


Loyalty Cards/Frequent Diner cards
Many restaurants have their own “loyalty card” (looks like a credit card) to encourage frequent business by regular customers. If there is a particular restaurant that you like and frequently dine at, ask if they have a discount card. These cards are sometimes free, but more often nowadays a fee is required to get the card. If you do eat at the restaurant often enough, the savings will surpass this amount very quickly.


Hotel Loyalty programs
In addition to restaurant loyalty cards, most of the five-star hotels in Jakarta have loyalty card programs as well. For a small sum of money you will receive a "credit card" which is used for identity purposes only (not to charge) and/or a bunch of coupons. The card/vouchers entitle the member to a free night’s stay, free meals, two-for-the-price-of-one meals and varying discounts on meals, depending on the number in the party, as well as other services. There is a time limit in which you can use the benefits, usually a one-year period.


Invitations
In general, within the Indonesian culture, the person who invites others to dine out pays the bill. It would be more common for an Indonesian friend or business colleague to invite you to a restaurant for a meal than to their home. Don’t be offended if you are not invited to your Indonesian colleagues' homes to meet their families, it is just usually not done in Indonesia. If you are invited for a meal at someone's home...accept the invitation as an honour rarely given.


Going Dutch (BSS)
More common amongst young people is the practice of “going Dutch” or everyone paying their own way … known in Indonesia by the acronym BSS - bayar sendiri-sendiri. If you expect everyone to pay for their own meal, make that VERY CLEAR when you invite colleagues to eat together with you. If not, you may find that when it comes time to pay the bill … you, the “wealthy” visitor, are expected to pay. You may have thought that you “suggested” or “arranged” to eat together with the staff ... and they thought you were inviting them out at your expense!



Take Away Meals

Gerobak
At the other end of the scale from the world class restaurants, are the gerobak/kakilima carts that roam the city selling local fare. Their approach is heralded by a specific sound for each food item, be it the ting-ting of a spoon on a bowl, the tock-tock of a stick on a block of wood or the whistle of a steam kettle. Food from gerobak can provide a great mid-morning snack or a complete meal.

In general, it is only safe to eat from these food carts, if the food is thoroughly cooked. It would be advised though, to provide your own dishes and silverware as the food vendor’s dishes are washed in a single bucket of water over and over again throughout the day.

To avoid most stomach ailments due to lack of good hygiene in road-side food preparation: 1) eat only fruit that has been peeled, 2) drink only commercially bottled water or drinks, and 3) only eat food that has been thoroughly cooked … no raw vegetable salads off the streets are advised!


Warung
One step up from the roaming food carts is the semi-permanent warung, or food stalls, found throughout the cities. Due to the low overhead, warung offer cheaper fare than restaurants. Warung sprout up in the late afternoon and evening on roadsides, in parking lots, on sidewalks and in any open space (including outside your front fence) to provide meals to passers-by. Each warung offers a particular menu, often featuring regional specialties. Some of the best food in Jakarta is available from a warung…for those adventurous enough to seek it out! While dining from a warung, don't be surprised to be solicited by peddlers who are selling their wares, wanting to shine your shoes or someone wanting to provide musical entertainment ... for a small contribution. Be prepared ... bring small change.


The most popular Indonesian foods

Gado-gado
Which is salad with peanut sauce. It is usually served with krupuk crackers and if one chooses, steamed rice.


Soto



Soto is clear soup with slices of beef, veal of chicken meat. It is served with crisp potato chips. A little chilli sauce can be added. Popular varieties are Soto Kudus, Soto Madura and Soto Surabaya.



Sate (satay)
Sate (satay), is broiled skewered meat, with either soy or peanut sauce and, if desired, chilli sauce. It is served with either steamed rice or lontong slices of rice, packed and steamed in a banana leaf.


Sop



Sop, or soup, comes in many varieties. Perhaps the most popular in Jakarta is sop kaki, which is a soup, prepared from the boiled tendon of a cow's or goat's leg. Commonly served with rice. Also popular is the Jakarta version of oxtail soup, or sop buntut.





Nasi goreng
Nasi goreng is white rice fried and then spiced with ground onions, garlic, fish or shrimp paste, some red chilli peppers and salt. Prawns or shrimps, chicken meat, beef and sometimes (pork) and egg are added.


Bakmie Goreng
Bakmie Goreng or fried noodles are China's contribution to the Indonesian culinary treasury. As the overwhelming majority of Indonesians are Moslems, the Indonesian variety of the dish contains no pork and usually little beef, but often plenty if chicken meat. Perhaps even more Indonesian-ised is the boiled version of the dish, mie rebus.


Bakso



Bakso meatball soup is another dish that presumably hails from China. Common varieties are mie bakso, bakso kuah and bakso bihun.



Rendang
Rendang is a thick dark curry of beef slices, which come from the province of Sumatera Barat. It is, however, just one of the many dishes from that region that are very popular in Jakarta, and elsewhere in Indonesia, for that matter.


A very popular side dish in Indonesia is sambal, which comes in an endless variety. Most common is sambal terasi, a thick chilli paste of pounded dried fish or shrimp. Sometimes, lime juice or tomatoes are added for extra flavour. The sauce accompanies other dishes and is usually served with lalap, or fresh raw or steamed vegetables.


Jakarta Dining And Drinking

Jakarta is a world-class culinary hybrid where ethnic Indonesian and global influences come together to produce diversity and a spectrum of intercontinental fusion foods with a local twist. As the capital of a developing, predominantly Muslim country, it possesses an abundance of modestly-priced halal fare. That said, however, this is a city where you can eat anything from curried pork to grilled kangaroo and order drinks from a lychee mocktail to a glass of Chateaux Lafitte. On the same block, you can spend IDR8,000 on a hearty plate of fried noodles and IDR800,000 on an artful tableau of cold-water raw fish.


Food Stalls set the Scene

Most eating in Jakarta takes place in the street. Even the most casual observer cannot miss the mobile army of warungs (food stalls) and snack vendors in perpetual search of customers, weaving their way among jalopies, juggernauts and BMW sedans. These vendors sell nosh, the quintessentially Indonesian satay or bakso tok-tok (Chinese soup) from as little as IDR500 a portion.

Visitors are more likely to encounter this breed of vendors in office blocks, shopping areas and popular entertainment districts. And miraculously, these peddlers also spring up around more itinerant crowds at building sites, queues, traffic jams or even demonstrations! They serve Indonesians on modest salaries, foreign visitors on a very tight budget and long-term foreign residents with pride in their strong stomachs. As a rule, these stalls have no access to running water, and vendors either bring along non-refrigerated cooked food or cook in the open, dusty, humid, traffic-clogged street, where patrons also eat. Consequently, as quaint or exotic as this experience may seem, it is only recommended for the intestinally courageous.


Fast Food and Global Grazing

The city is home to the usual Third World assortment of First World fast-food franchises, plus a flood of inexpensive local clones and other modest eateries. They proliferate around busy shopping areas like Blok M and at food courts in fancier air-conditioned malls such as Plaza Senayan, Taman Anggrek and Plaza Indonesia. There you can graze your way around the world in minutes for less than the price of a sandwich on Madison Avenue or a gin and tonic in a London pub. Choose from a huge selection of foods such as pizza, quiche, tacos, kebabs, curry, sushi or hamburgers. Follow this with low-fat yogurt, ice cream, tropical fruit salad or chocolate-chip cookies. To accompany your meal you can order from a vast array of fresh fruit juices, soft drinks or a limited choice of alcoholic beverages, such as the local Bintang beer, and end with a cafe latte or a bowl of green tea.


Eating across the Isles

Alternatively, you can sample modest cuisines from across the country's 3,200-mile-wide archipelago, including safer versions of all the items offered by the warungs described above. Classics include bubur ayam, a chicken-and-rice porridge; the West Sumatran, Padang dish rendang, consisting of beef cooked in a dry, spicy coconut sauce; gado-gado, an assortment of blanched vegetables and fried tofu in peanut sauce; and the very spicy pork or chicken dish from Manado, rica-rica. Satay House Senayan, Mirasari Restaurant, Dapur Sunda, Warung Badung and Dapoer Tempo Doeloe offer a wide range, while spots such as Restoran Pulau Dua and Raja Laut Seafood Restaurant specialize in Indonesia's diversity of seafood dishes.



Gastronomic Ghettos and Swank

Smarter eateries can be found dotting the city and in major hotels. Again, they offer a local and international kaleidoscope of choice. Those located in and around the business district of Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Jalan Jenderal Gatot Sobroto, Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said and Jalan M.H. Thamrin cater to the lunch crowd and the affluent after-work diners and drinkers, local and foreign. Cinnabar for chic fusion, La Na Thai for Thai, Le Soufflé for French, Hazara for Indian, Tien Chao for Chinese and Chianti Classico Bistro for Mediterranean food are a few examples of the stylish central eateries popular with the business crowd. You can also indulge in even fancier eating experiences at Riva, Margaux, Asiatique, Zigolini or the Regent Steakhouse.

Many of the city's classier bars lie in this same city-center area, mostly in hotels. CJ's Bar, B.A.T.S. and Plaza de España are some which attract well-heeled city workers. More modest drinking establishments sprawl in less plush surroundings around busy shopping districts like Blok M.

To some extent, the demographics and living arrangements of expatriates drive the restaurant and bar business. Therefore, Japanese and Korean food and drink are readily available throughout the city, in office blocks and near centrally-located apartment complexes these communities tend to favor. Honzen Restaurant, Shima and Bushido Japanese Restaurant are particularly popular spots. In the meantime, an abundance of upmarket restaurants, cafés and bars targeting Western tastes sprout up in the residential expatriate enclave of Kemang, south of the city, especially along Jalan Kemang Raya. Café de Paris, William's, Toscana and Anatolia are just four of the dozens you will find along this busy stretch.


World-class Style

Jakarta offers a few absolutely matchless dining and drinking experiences. Two extraordinary spots which distinguish the city are Oasis and Café Batavia. Oasis is housed in an exquisite colonial mansion in the city center. The house and garden alone, with their noble proportions and nostalgic blend of East and West, justify a visit. It is, however, also arguably the most remarkable place in the world to enjoy the Dutch-Indonesian dining experience of rijsttafel.

Café Batavia, facing the splendid colonial Fatahillah Park northwest of the city, provides another memorable experience. Named after Jakarta's Dutch colonial antecedent, it captures the old city's elegance in its magnificent architecture and conveys a stylish, international assurance in its eclectic art collection and in the twin Hong Kong and Pacific Rim menus it presents. A visitor cannot fail to be charmed.



Entertainment

Jakarta is a fascinating city of wide contrasts, a melting pot of cultures from across the Indonesian archipelago and beyond. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that you can find a wide range of entertainment to suit most tastes, from cheap and cheerful bars in Jalan Jaksa to expensive nightclubs where Jakarta's flashy yuppies hang out. Plush cinemas in modern, air-conditioned shopping malls screen the latest Hollywood blockbusters, as well as Indonesian films and the occasional Hong Kong kung fu movie. For more highbrow options, check out the regular traditional Indonesian performances such as wayang kulit (shadow puppet shows) and gamelan (traditional Javanese) music, in addition to Western art forms such as classical music and ballet. Night Life

Very popular among expatriates, Tanamor prides itself as Jakarta's best-known discothèque. Although not for the claustrophobic, this unpretentious, down-to-earth and rather raucous disco makes the perfect place for letting your hair down, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when a full house ensures a great atmosphere. Only the most danceable techno music is played, so you should be on your feet all night. Other well-patronized discothèques include the stylish Jalan Jalan, drawing mainly the yuppie set, and Garasi, the favored haunt of financial executives and stockbrokers.

Jakarta's Chinatown, situated north of the city, plays host to many nightclubs and karaoke bars-- the RAP Club and HAZE, to name but three. Also in this area across the square from the Jakarta History Museum, but quite a different sort of establishment, is Cafe Batavia. A great place to enjoy a drink or two amid an unequaled historic setting, the cafe takes you a step back into Jakarta's colonial past.

Of course, a myriad of hotel bars exists in Jakarta. Pitstop Club in the Sari Pan Pacific, Chequers in the Mandarin Oriental, B.A.T.S. in the Shangri-La and O'Reilly's in the Grand Hyatt all come to life in the evenings, providing entertainment by local or foreign bands. Tiga Puluh Bar in Le Meridien claims to revive the 1930s' spirit of joie de vivre (joy of life), with its nostalgic decor and jazzy tunes. For something a little different, try De Laila Bar in Patra Jasa Hotel. Here you can dance to Spanish and Indian tunes in an Arabic setting and be served by bar staff wearing turbans!

Being the capital of Indonesia, international franchise bars are well represented. The most notable include Newscafe, Planet Hollywood Cafe, Fashion Cafe and, of course, Hard Rock Cafe!

The expatriate enclave of Kemang, south of Jakarta, boasts many cafes and bars, including Twilight Cafe, which plays jazzy and classical tunes. Salsa Club, Jakarta's first Latin club, deserves special mention. Many Jakartans come here to dance the night away to international Latin music such as mambo, cha-cha, samba and, of course, salsa.

A few bars appeal to homesick expatriates. The Irish theme bar in the Gran Melia Jakarta, Kelts, stands out as the best place in town for dark Guinness. Also check out Bugils Cafe, a Dutch-style bar located at Taman Ria amusement park, between the Jakarta Hilton Hotel and the Parliament Building. Overlooking a lake, this must be the only bar in Jakarta where you can down some ice-cold beer while relaxing on a Dutch-style terrace.

Tucked away in the vicinity of the Blok M shopping district are a few small bars. Enjoy live broadcasts of sporting events at Sportsmans or pop in to Oscars, which claims, with probably not much truth, to be the only bar in Jakarta with a smile!

Recreational Parks

On the north coast lies Ancol Dreamland, a huge marine recreational resort, which kids, especially, will love. A 40-lane bowling alley, an 18-hole golf course, a Fantasy World with fearsome rides like the big dipper, and a huge Water Park all guarantee endless fun and excitement. If you do go there, remember to witness the diversity of Indonesia's marine life at Sea World.

Taman Ria amusement park is centrally located and much quieter than Ancol. It offers a few rides like the big wheel, which affords spectacular views of Jakarta. Teenagers come here, especially during weekends, when live outdoor music often entertains. Wile away a few hours at Gardu, the excellent billiard/pool center, or tuck into a meal at one of the many restaurants, such as TGIFriday's.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah should be on every tourist's agenda. Here, full-sized replicas of traditional houses from all of Indonesia's provinces portray the incredible diversity of this vast nation. Each acts as a mini-museum, displaying many fascinating artifacts. The park accommodates many other attractions, including the Keong Mas Imax Theater, which features films focusing on Indonesian culture and nature; a huge bird park; and the wildlife and natural history museums.

Festivals and the Arts

Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Arts Center, the Jakarta Arts Center, is a complex of art galleries, cinemas and theaters. Get its programs from the box office, tourist office or at select travels agents and hotels. TIM also shares its premises with the recently refurbished Jakarta Planetarium.

Pasar Seni in Ancol showcases live gamelan music, dangdut (Indonesian pop music with a strong Indian influence) and occasional cultural performances. The annual arts festival at the Jakarta Arts Building presents one with a superb opportunity to see world-class dance, music and theater performed by local and foreign artists.

For the film buff, award-winning pictures from various countries are shown during the annual Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest), offering viewers a rare chance to enjoy quality films that would otherwise not make it to the big screen in Jakarta.