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Expat Communities in Jakarta

March 24, 2014, 11:09 pm
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The population of Jakarta is predominantly made of Indonesians from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi or any of the other islands of Indonesia. The first ethnic minority would be Indonesian Chinese. Expatriates represent a fraction of the population, with the main communities being Japanese, Korean, American, Australian, and European.

Expats in Jakarta are spread in the whole city, but as each community tends to stay in the same areas and frequent the same spot, it is possible to get a general mapping of where they live and hang out:

- Indians in Jakarta (Expat or Indonesians): Many live in Pasar Baru or Sunter area. You will find them in clubs like Immigrant or Cloud or in one of the restaurants listed here: Indian restaurants in Jakarta.

- Japanese and Korean Expatriates: Most live in South Jakarta in Kebayoran Baru area (Pakubowono, Senopati, Dharmawangsa, Pondok Indah). Many offices from Japanese companies are located in Thamrin or in the Northern part of Jalan Sudirman so there are quite many Japanese/Korean restaurants there too. There is a Little Tokyo in Jalan Melawai (Blok M), which is a combination of Japanese restaurants and karaokes.

- Americans and Australian Expats: With the Australian School and Jakarta International School being located in South Jakarta, many American and Australians live in the Kemang/Pondok Indah area. Even though Americans are one of the main nationalities in Jakarta, they are not so visible. Most often, they will go out in 5-star hotel bars/restaurants, expats bars in South Jakarta, in Blok M (Jalan Falatehan), X2, Red Square.

- Arab (Saudis): Saudis I've met in Jakarta come mostly for tourism. Many come to enjoy drinking alcohol and meeting with girls, far away from their wifes. Jakarta is usually a stop on their way to Puncak. In Jakarta, they will hangout in Cikini area (Arabian Tent Cafe) or in Gatot Subroto in the club De Leila.

- European Expats in Jakarta are not a single community, but since each nationality is small, I prefer to group them: You will mostly find them in Kemang, Cipete, Pondok Indah, and in the Golden Triangle (Surdiman, Rasuna Said, Mega Kuningan). Naturally, they will hang out in clubs in those areas, particularly X2, Red Square, Immigrant, SKYE and all the expat bars.

- Indo Chinese are not expats obviously but still I wanted to include them on this listing: They are to be found mostly in Pluit, Pantai Indah Kapuk and Kelapa Gading for the wealthiest. In Glodok, the Chinese Glodok are supposed to be from a lower level. You will find them in many places in Jakarta, for instance Sun City, Club 36, Empirica, Da Fu.

- African: I haven't been there in a long time so I'm not sure if it is still valid, but in 2007 there was a small Nigerian community living in Jalan Jaksa/Wahid Hasyim area.

- Russian expats: I have rarely seen Russians in Jakarta except in Dragonfly and SKYE. According to my taxi driver, there are two big Russian expat compounds in Senopati and Tebet.

Warning: This post is full of generalities and stereotypes. It is not a scientific study about Expats in Jakarta, but merely observations I made while living here. I would be more than happy to receive your comments.
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Jakarta Nightlife 2014

March 26, 2014, 9:43 am
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Jakarta nightlife has changed quite a bit since my previous guides: "Jakarta Nightlife 2011", "Jakarta Nightlife 2012" and "Jakarta Nightlife Tips". Before you head out tonite, these are the latest trends in the Jakarta's partying scene:

The new center of Jakarta nightlife in 2014 is in SCBD (Sudirman Central Business District), in the ex-Bengkel area. In 2 years, many bars and clubs have opened there and they attract the wealthy, trendy youth of Jakarta:
To have a drink, try Lucy in the Sky, Potato Head Garage, Beer Garden, Canos in Foundry 8
For clubbing: Fable (Young crowd, Jakarta International School) or Empirica (Upper Class Indo Chinese). 
These places do not have too many tourists or expatriates yet.
Apart from that area, two new clubs worth trying have opened in 2013: Alibi on Rasuna Said (replacing JackRabbit) and the popular Exodus from the Stadium group.

Immigrant was still on top of the game when it closed down for renovation a few months ago. We can expect it will still be popular with a more mature crowd (25-45 years old) when it reopens.

Dragonfly, Red Square and X2 now attract mostly foreigners and girls looking for foreigners, with a varying proportion of working girls in each (high in Red Square, lower in X2 and Dragonfly). Equinox in X2 is always full on weekends but the crowd is not as upper class as it used to be.

The following bars/lounge/restaurants are usually always busy with expats on weekend nights: Loewy, Bluegrass, Aphrodite, Liquid Exchange, Social House, Cork & Screw, Union, Potato Head, Eastern Promise, De Hooi, Fez, Face Bar, Awan Lounge, Molly Malone's, Murphy's, Black Cat, Melly's, Vin +. Level 5 of Grand Indonesia is nice too with many new cafés like Warung Kopi Tinggi, H5, Ismaya Catering Co.

There are 3 popular rooftop bars in Jakarta: SKYE is the best one with regular events. It is a good place to start a party night and it is busy every day. Cloud is very similar. You also have Awan Lounge in Kosenda hotel but for a younger, cheaper crowd

Hard Rock Cafe has moved for a third time in 10 years. It is now in Pacific Place but it isn't really happening.

Blowfish has been renovated. It is smaller and has become more quiet. Domain as well has some good nights but it is mostly quiet.

Prices have increased. It is not uncommon to pay a 200,000rp entrance fee in the most popular clubs.

Prive, Luv's Bar and Tribeca have closed. Jaya Pub hasn't and it is still the oldest bar in Jakarta nightlife.

BATS, CJs, Blok M are pretty much the same as before: They have live music, expats and businessmen, and lots of working girls. You can go there pretty much any day of the week and it should be busy. Some other hotel bars are not really happening but they are ok for a drink: Burgundy (Hyatt), MO (Mandarin Oriental).
Tiga Puluh (Le Meridien) and Tempus (Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan) have live music has well but aren't too crowded.

Bars in Jalan Jaksa change name regularly, but the atmosphere hasn't changed. It is a mix of young indonesians, working girls, professional girlfriends, backpackers, budget expatriates, gays and random people.

7/11 stores are becoming the new cheap bars in Jakarta. On Weekends, they will be full everywhere.

Off the beaten track but very popular too, De Leila is where Saudis go to party in Jakarta.

In Kemang, it is hard to keep track but Nu China, 365 and Triple Nine are still there and crowded. There is a new strip of bars on Jalan Taman Kemang with many recent openings: Umbra, Beer Brother, Parc 19, Liberica, Cowboys Saloon. Hipsters may want to check Treehouse or Cafe Mondo.

In North Jakarta, the music is changing: Techno Kota/ Techno Dangdut/ Funky House is slowly becoming a thing of the past. They don't have it anymore in Mille's and Millenium (but still in Crown, Exotis, Puja Sera). The popular places are still the same: Stadium and Crown are the busiest ones even during the week. Still packed as well are Club 36, Malio Club, Alexis, Mille's and Millenium. Sexy dancers and striptease (full naked or boobs only) is the norm in many places: Classic, Malioboro, Crown, Club 36, V2, Emporium, Sumo, etc etc... Even in Stadium during the week...

Prostitution and massage parlours are still operating freely in the capital of the largest Muslim country in the world (Travel Hotel, Classic, Fortune, Malioboro, Alexis, Emporium, Orchardz, etc... basically all the clubs outside of the city center). Drug use is also massive in North Jakarta even though the prices have tripled in a few years.

The only major new nightlife venue in North Jakarta, 1001 (Colosseum) is a surprising success. I consider it to be one of the most impressive nightclubs in the city. Great lighting, great music and good crowd. On the other hand, Illigals, even though it has some interesting events is still rather quiet.

There is also some nightlife that has emerged outside of Jakarta's city center: In particular, in Central Park Mall near Taman Anggrek and in Pantai Indah Kapuk, near Pluit. Those are Cafés/lounges, no real nightlclubs to my knowledge.

Closing hours for the night clubs is very unpredictable. Officially, it is 3am but it seems to change every week. Normally, clubs in the South close at 5am maximum, and clubs in Kota around 7am-9am. Clubs that can be used for afters are Mille's and Exotis. It is very common to rent a karaoke room to keep the party going in some clubs like Stadium, Millenium, Crown.

Since I cannot be everywhere all the time, please drop a comment if I missed something! Thanks a lot!

More pictures of Jakarta Nightlife's new venues (Empirica and Exodus):




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Blue Monkey Restaurant & Bar Jakarta

March 17, 2014, 3:43 am
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Blue Monkey Restaurant & Bar is located in Foundry 8, next to Empirica. It opens in April 2014 and attracts the typical crowd of the area: Trendy Jakartans, hipsters, young executives, etc...

The food is Asian/Western and one of the co-founders is a European expat.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 11am to 11pm

Blue Monkey Jakarta
Kawasan Niaga Terpadu Lot. 8
Jalan Jenderal Sudirman kav. 52-53
SCBD South Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 5150 533
Email: blue.monkey.mgmt@gmail.com
Website: http://www.bluemonkeyjakarta.com
Facebook: Blue Monkey Foundry 8
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Townhouse Bar, Club, Lounge (Bali)

March 23, 2014, 4:25 am
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Townhouse is located on Jalan Oberoi, between Seminyak Square and Kudeta. It is the trendy spot in Seminyak in the beginning of 2014, especially among Bali expats and regulars. It is a single multi-storey building with a restaurant (Canvas), lounge, bar, club and gallery. The kitchen is headed by an Italian chef, Adriano Ricco.

The place is owned by Mark Baker, who has opened night clubs in New York especially. He has modeled the club in Townhouse to resemble the Double Seven club in New York.

There are weekly events with foreign DJs or bands that I invite you to check on their facebook page Townhouse Bali or their twitter Townhouse Seminyak/ Townhouse.

Recommended for a night out in Seminyak. Happy crowd, good music and drinks, and beautiful girls.

Townhouse Bali
151, Jalan Laksmana (Jalan Oberoi)
Bali, Indonesia 80361
Phone number: +62 8 57 396 83 850
Email: info@thetownhousebali.com
Website: Town House Bali

Opening hours:
Everyday from 8am to 3am (Townhouse closes at 8pm on Monday and Sunday nights)


More information about party and clubbing in Seminyak, Kuta, Legian: Bali Nightlife
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Riverview Spa (Bali Massage Plus Plus)

March 23, 2014, 7:03 am
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Riverview Spa is a discreet sensual massage parlour located just near Jalan Nakula (500m from Double 6 beach). I heard about it from a friend who told me it was one of the only "Jakarta or Thai style" spas in Bali. There are many massage venues in Bali, but they normally offer standards massage, without plus plus or sexual services, and if they do, it is not luxury massage parlours catering to tourists or expatriates.

I haven't tried the place, but the information I could gather is the following:

It is owned by an Italian man, in cooperation with Balinese from Laskar Bali (Balinese mafia).

It offers sexual spa services of 3 kinds:
  • For 450k, you will get a standard massage with a happy ending: Massage Plus Plus (handjob).
  • For 950k, you would apparently get a room with a jacuzzi, where the girl would go naked with you. It would then be followed by a massage, then sex (full service).
  • For 1,7M, you would get 2 naked girls going in the jacuzzi with you, then it would turn into a massage and ultimately a threesome.
I live in Legian and I had never heard there was massage parlours  in Bali offering sexual or sensual services before. I will not try this place but if one of the readers go there, I would be happy to receive the feedback!

The place is a bit tricky to locate so I put in the map (look for the arrow with River View Massage Parlour Bali).
Riverview Spa  Bali Sex Massage
Jalan Kresna 04 (by the river of Jalan Nakula)
Legian, Bali

Phone number: +62-361 4013078
Email: riverspamanagement@gmail.com
BB Pin: 2B4AED27

Opening Hours:
The spa is open from 11am to 11pm, everyday of the week.

On their website (River View Massage Bali), you can see the pictures of the massage girls (if you have member access). I took all the pictures from their website, if you have your own pictures of the facilities, do not hesitate to send me more realistic shots...

Check also their facebook for more information: River View Sex Massage Bali or their twitter @Riverview_spa
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Tous Les Jours (Jakarta)

March 26, 2014, 1:49 am
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Tous les jours is a European style pastry/bakery which has spread rapidly in Jakarta in the past 2 years. It is now located in 14 malls in Jakarta and since their shops are quite successful, we can expect more openings ahead. The brand is originally from South Korea (http://www.tlj.co.kr) and it has expanded to the US, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia.

I ate thousands of delicious croissants in France, but it is rare to find good ones abroad, and especially when they come from bakery chains. For that reason, I didn't have very high expectations when I tried one in Tous les Jours (at the Emporium Pluit branch). I also bought a Pain au Chocolat. The price is rather high, between 15,000rp and 25,000rp for the basic pastries.

The taste was not bad, but they sugar coated the croissant and pain au chocolat which was really not needed. In the end, they both felt heavy on my stomach.

The staff seemed very happy to work there and was very friendly. They greet by a phrase in Korean anyone who enters they store (that's like every minute).

Overall: Tous Les Jours is a decent bakery / pastry shop in Jakarta, much better than Bread Talk anyway. I didn't try the bread but it looked good.

Tous Les Jours Indonesia
Phone: +62-21 5299 5000
Email: touslesjours-id@cj.co.id

Jakarta Branches so far:

Tous Les Jours
Senayan City Mall
Phone number: +62-21 7278 1209

Tous Les Jours
Mal Kelapa Gading
Phone number: +62-21 4529 539

Tous Les Jours 
Emporium Pluit Mall
Phone number: +62-21 66676 619

Tous Les Jours
Mall Kota Kasablanka
Phone number: +62-21 29465 184

Tous Les Jours
Plaza Indonesia Mall
Phone number: +62-21 29923 929

Tous Les Jours
Summarecon Mall Serpong
Phone number: +62-21 29310 620

Tous Les Jours
Central Park Mall
Phone number: +62-21 29200 287

Tous Les Jours
Mall Alam Sutera
Phone number: +62-21 30448 715

Tous Les Jours
Supermal Karawaci
Phone number: +62-21 54211 968

Tous Les Jours
Pondok Indah Mall Street Gallery
Phone number: +62-21 29529 749

Tous Les Jours
Summarecon Mal Bekasi
Phone number: +62-21 29572 491

Tous Les Jours
Margo City
Phone number: +62-21 29049 255

Tous Les Jours
Baywalk Mall
Phone number: +62-21 29629 502

Tous Les Jours
Cilandak Town Square
Phone number: +62-21 29042 814
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Delta Spa (Bali) Massage Parlour

March 21, 2014, 8:41 pm
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Just a few days after discovering there was a massage parlour with plus plus in Bali (Riverview Spa), I found out that there was a Delta Spa planning to open in Bali in the middle of 2014.

For those who are not living in Jakarta, Delta Spa is the most famous brand of man massage parlour in Jakarta. What made their success is that they do offer good quality massage with trained young therapist at a reasonable price. The massage also includes a happy ending (handjob) with special techniques. The facilities are usually quite complete: Jacuzzy, Swimming Pool, Hammam, Gym, etc...

Delta 's first branch in Bali will be located on Jalan Dewi Sri, about 10 minutes from Kuta center. For now it is still a project as you can see on the following pictures taken in March 2014. It seems that it will be more than a spa and also include a hotel, a karaoke, and a club.

One funny thing about the picture above is that their advertising sign is shared with the Police of Bali (Polda Bali).

Delta Spa Bali
Jalan Dewi Sri No 99Z
Kuta Bali

Delta Spa Bali project pictures:
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10 Stereotypes About Jakarta (and why they are inaccurate)

March 31, 2014, 8:53 am
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Jakarta was named as one of worst expat cities to live in by BusinessWeek in an article published in 2009. Among long term expatriates living here, this ranking could not have been more inaccurate and it was laughed at widely. Jakarta is a city facing many enormous challenges, but it is not the hellhole some people like to describe.

To bring back some justice to this city, here is the list of 10 stereotypes that I hear about Jakarta, and why they aren't true:

1) "Jakarta is one of the most polluted city in the World"

Jakarta is polluted of course, but it is far from being among the most polluted in the World, especially if you stay in South and Central Jakarta.

According to this document (click on "2011 air pollution in cities database"), from the UN World Health Organization, which compares the annual measurement of PM10 (particulates that have a diameter of up to 10 μm) by cities, Jakarta is less polluted that most other cities in Asia. It is for instance less polluted than Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Beijing, Shanghai,

2) "Jakarta is not safe"
There is crime in Jakarta, but it is still a safe city if we consider the statistics, especially for murder. I invite you to look at these numbers coming fom the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Click here, and then on the link "Homicides in the most populous city". They give you the figures for the intentional homicide count and the rate per 100,000 persons in the world's biggest cities (between 2000 and 2010).

On average, Jakarta has 0,7 murder for 100,000 inhabitants. Bangkok has 4 murders, Kuala Lumpur 4.4, New York 5.6, Seoul 2.4, Paris 1.6, Berlin 1.8, London 1.6, Sydney 1.1.

In fact, Jakarta is the safest city of the list except for Tokyo (0.4) and Reykjavik in Iceland.

3) "Jakarta is below sea level".

Jakarta is on average at a height of 8 meters above sea level. But it is true that around 40% of the city is under that level, especially in the North.

The most worrying part is that the city is currently sinking at the speed of up to 12 centimeter per year. This is due to the combination of several factors: Over-pumping of the city's water resources, the growing weight of the city (all those new towers do make Jakarta more fat), and excavation of the ground for new projects.


4) "The traffic in Jakarta is unavoidable"

This is part wrong as it depends where you live and how you are organizing your transportation. If you stay in Bekasi and you have to work 9 to 5, then you are screwed. If you have some flexibility about your working hours, and if you don't live too far from the city center, then you should be able to avoid the worst of the traffic jams.

My general rules:
- Use your legs as much as possible.  For instance, to avoid riding an extra kilometer to turn around ("putar balik), it is often better to be dropped on the wrong side of the road and to cross it by foot.
- Avoid being on the streets at the following time: 7am to 10am, 5pm to 8pm
- Avoid Kemang on a Friday and Saturday night
- Avoid shortcuts during peak hours as you are very likely to be stuck
- Always use the major roads (Sudirman, Gatot Subroto, Thamrin) and if possible the toll roads.
- Choose very carefully your hotel or accommodation. The location should be one of your top considerations.
- For long trips across the city, do not hesitate to take the Transjakarta and its dedicated lines.

5) "The only taxis that are reliable are Blue Bird taxis"

Blue Bird taxis are generally reliable, but so are most of the companies in Jakarta: Gamya, Express, Prima, Taxiku, are all good taxis in my opinion. Rule of thumb: If the taxi looks old and is not in good condition, do not take it.

6) "Jakarta girls are easy"

If all you know about Indonesian girls are those going to CJs or Bats, you will indeed have the impression that it is easy to get Indonesian girls. It is a bit like saying that Dutch girls are easy because you went to the red light district in Amsterdam. Try your luck again in trendy places such as Fable or Lucy in the Sky and you will see that it takes more than a full wallet to get a date.

7) "Prostitution in Jakarta comes from Westerners"
Prostitution in Jakarta for Westerners is rather limited and not organized. It often takes place in the confines of a few 5-star hotels bars (or in Blok M), and the girls are free-lancers. They choose who they want to sleep with and they don't have to share the money with anybody.

Prostitution for Indonesians is massive and controlled by large groups under the protection of local authorities. There are huge brothels and red district areas in Jakarta, where you will never see a foreigner. They cater to all the stratas of society and to all religions. Girls in those places have contracts and get only a fraction of the money paid by the customer. Drug is also widespread, mostly in local clubs in Kota/Mangga Besar area.

8) "Jakarta is a poor city"
 
There is a lot of poverty in Jakarta, and a wide gap between the rich and the poor. But Jakarta is wealthy: According to this study, it is the third richest city in Southeast Asia behind Singapore and Bangkok, with a total GDP of US$ 224,000,000,000.

9) "There is nothing to do in Jakarta"
 
It depends who you are, what you are looking for, how you are looking for it, and what you compare Jakarta with.

If you are on a short term expatriation of 2 or 3 years and a minimum open-minded, you should have enough things to do to fill those years. Jakarta has shopping centers, restaurants, spas, nightlife, theaters, a zoo, an ice rink, concert halls, stadiums, dozens of different neighborhood, a beachfront, a colonial area, museums, traditional markets, festivals, expat clubs, golf courses, friendly people, huge parks, etc...

People criticize the lack of activities in Jakarta. But how many among those have actually been to one of the city's museum? How many have been to an art gallery in Jakarta? How many have been to one of the events organized on a weekly basis by the foreign cultural centers?

10) "Street food in Jakarta means Nasi Goreng"

There is so much more than Nasi Goreng in Jakarta's street. One of the best things about Jakarta is to go around the city to try the hundreds of foods from all over Indonesia. Read my review about Street Food in Jakarta to get some ideas...
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Hotel Kristal Jakarta

March 17, 2014, 10:01 pm
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Hotel Kristal (or Kristal Hotel) is located in South Jakarta, near the Jakarta International School. It is rather big with 328 rooms. Many people know it for its bar "Satu Lagi", located near the main entrance, close to the pool. This is a very friendly bar with good music and many expats.

1. The Location
Hotel Kristal is located in the South of Jakarta (Jakarta Selatan), close to Pondok Indah Mall, the most popular luxury shopping center in the area. Kristal Hotel is very convenient if you work in TB Simatupang. Many of the customers actually come from Oil & Gas companies whose head offices are in South Jakarta. It is often used for a business trip as it is only one of the 2 biggest hotels around with Mercure Jakarta Simatupang (232 rooms). The other ones are mostly in Kemang: Grand Kemang, Swiss-Belhotel, Amarrossa Hotel or Fave Hotel/Pop Hotel for budget travelers.

2. The Design
1-Bedroom Suite in Hotel Kristal

2-Bedroom Suite in Hotel Kristal

Lobby of Hotel Kristal

The design of the rooms is modern with wood furniture and wide spaces. The decoration is similar to other contemporary hotel chains, with no eccentricity. The lobby of the hotel is not too big, even though it has more than 300 rooms. It makes it a more cozy place with easy access to the Front Desk, the Coffee place "Kafé", the Restaurant and the Pool.

3. The Rooms
3-Bedroom Suite in Hotel Kristal

Hotel Kristal used to be an apartment building, the rooms are thus more spacious than in other similar 4-star hotels. That's the first thing that struck me when I entered my room. All rooms have a kitchenette which make you able to cook something. The kitchenette area does not really match with the rest of the room and would need some refurbishment. There are 3 types of rooms in Hotel Kristal: 1-Bedroom Suite, 2-Bedroom Suite and 3-Bedroom Suite. The last one being actually like a real apartment and is advised for long-stay in South Jakarta.

4. The Breakfast / Restaurant

The Kafé at Hotel Kristal

During my stay here, I went to the restaurant a couple of times, and I found it very good. The lunch buffet offers a wide variety of food, mostly Western but also Japanese. The Kafé has a very modern look and is very busy during lunch time, mostly with businessmen and expats. The pool, which you can sea while seated at The Kafé, is also a nice addition to this restaurant.


Overall: I would recommend Hotel Kristal for the huge pool, the Satu Lagi Bar, the friendly staff (the GM is a foreigner and has been in charge for 19 years!) and the size of the room which are pretty generous. This hotel is very convenient if you work in Simatupang area (mostly Oil & Gas companies) or in South Jakarta in general.

Drink in the area ? Satu Lagi Expat Bar (within Hotel Kristal) or De Hooi Café (Pondok Indah Plaza)
Eat in the area ? Koi Gallery & Restaurant in Kemang

Hotel Kristal
Jalan Tarogong Raya, West Cilandak
Jakarta 12430, Indonesia

Telephone: +62-21 7507050
Fax: +62-21 7507110
Website: Hotel Kristal
Facebook: Hotel Kristal
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Gran Magnolia Spa (PIK, Pondok Indah)

March 19, 2014, 8:06 pm
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Gran Magnolia Spa is a clean / affordable massage parlour for man only. It is located in Pantail Indah Kapuk, in Pluit.

The spa opened just recently and I haven't visited it yet. The information I could gather about it so far:

The facilities include a whirlpool, a sauna, a lounge, and various thematic massage rooms (Hawaiian, Egyptian, Cosmic, Library... see photos of the rooms below).

When you choose a thematic room, the masseuse will also wear a special uniform matching the style of the room.

The prices are currently at 118,000rp for 90min in Deluxe and 168,000rp in VIP room, but this is because of the Soft Opening. The normal ones should be double of that.

There is also a Magnolia Spa in Pondok Indah which offers similar services with Delta, but cheaper. We can expect that Gran Magnolia in PIK will be the same. Please comment if you visit.

Gran Magnolia Spa and Men's Health Club (PIK)
Jalan Pantai Indah Utara 2
Komplek Ruko Galeri Mediterania No. N8K
Pantai Indah Kapuk-Pluit
Phone number: +62-21 5880 895

Magnolia Spa Pondok Indah
Jl. Arteri Pondok Indah No.6C, Pondok Indah
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Phone Number: +62-21 7291181 / 7291182

Photos of the spa in Pantai Indah Kapuk (provided by the management):
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DoubleTree Hotel Jakarta

March 19, 2014, 10:01 pm
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DoubleTree by Hilton is a new 4-star hotel scheduled to open in May 2014. It is the second time the Hilton group ventures in the city. The group opened its first Hilton in Jakarta in 1976, but the hotel changed its name in 2006 after the 30-year management contract had expired. It is now called the Sultan Hotel.

DoubleTree will be located in Menteng, close to the CBD, close to Jalan Diponegoro with its numerous  embassies and government offices. The hotel will have 253 rooms, which makes it rather small compared to other chain hotels in the city (usually 350 and more rooms). It is aimed to be a big convention hotel with several meeting rooms and a business center. Food-wise, there will be a fusion-style tapas restaurant: The Vicolo.

DoubleTree Hotel Building

 Room in DoubleTree Hotel Jakarta

Hotel Lobby

Menteng is getting a few nice new hotel openings in 2014, particularly with that of the Hermitage Hotel Menteng, along with Fraser Residence Menteng. The location is perfect in my sense, since you are very close from Thamrin and the CBD but you are in a more preserved area of Jakarta. In Menteng, you can sometimes feel that you are not in a gigantic city...

Complete Hotel review soon.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jakarta-Diponegoro
Jalan Pegangsaan Timur No.17 Cikini
Menteng, Central Jakarta

Phone: +62-21 3190 4433
Fax: +62-21 3192 4877
Website: DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta
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Liberica Coffee (Pacific Place Mall and other locations)

March 24, 2014, 10:00 pm
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In Pacific Place Mall, on the fourth floor, you have the possibility to enjoy a nice coffee at Liberica. That's what I did last time I went there. This place really looks like Starbucks but in a more elaborated way: Modern decor, cozy area, coffee to order at the counter, american pastries... This small coffee chain is Indonesian and currently has 5 outlets (Pacific Place, Kemang, Gandaria City, Central Park and Cilandak Town square). The name Liberica is taken from a rare coffee bean variant of Liberica beans. The main difference with Starbucks is that you can buy Beers and Wine. This is a weird concept when you think about it, Coffee and Wine ! 

Liberica Coffee in Pacific Place

Pastries & Beverages

Barista area

I went there many times now and it was always crowded. I assume people like going there instead of going to Starbucks where you can go pretty much in any mall. In Liberica Coffee, the seats are oriented towards the mall, that means you can enjoy your beverage and looking at people walking in the mall, which is pleasant in my opinion.

I would recommend the beverages here and some of the food but the pastries are not really worth it...

In the same Mall, you can go to Paul Bakery & Patisserie or Odysseia.

 

Liberica Pacific Place
Jalan Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53
4th Floor
South Jakarta 12190
Phone number: +62-21 5797 3375


Other Locations:
Liberica Gandaria City
Gandaria City Mall
Ground Floor (Main Street
Jalan Sultan Iskandar Muda Kebayoran Lama
South Jakarta 12240
Phone number: +62-21 2900 7986

Liberica Central Park
Central Park Mall
Ground Floor
Jalan Let Jend S. Parman Kav. 28
Jakarta 11470
Phone number: +62 828 1705 7626

Liberica Colony Kemang Building
Jl Kemang Raya No 6A
Ground Floor
Phone number: +62-21 2952 9914

Liberica Cilandak Town Square (Citos)
Jl TB Simatupang Kav. 17
Ground Floor
Phone number: +62-21 7592 0235

Website: Liberica Coffee Jakarta
Twitter: Liberica Coffee Jakarta
Facebook: Liberica Jakarta
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Sombrero Mexican Restaurant Jakarta

March 21, 2014, 4:52 am
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Sombrero is an affordable Mexican restaurant located in the third floor of Grand Indonesia. It belongs to Michelindo, the same group who imported the BonChon Chicken franchise from Korea to Indonesia.

I had the Mexican Tapas Sample for 45,000rp++, which included a taco, a burrito and a quesadilla. Naturally, the portions were tiny, but it was good and I found it fair value for money. The service was also friendly.

Regarding the place in itself, they really kept the design to a minimum. There are a few paintings on the wall with latin dancers, a small cactus on every table, and tiny Mexican flags.

My big problem was the music. It was a playlist with mostly Latin-American singers such as Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, etc... (also Justin Bieber). I had the speaker just behind me and it was so painful to hear them that I left quickly after finishing my meal.
 
Sombrero Mexican Restaurant Grand Indonesia
3A Floor, West Mall

Phone Number: +62-21 235 80272 (they also do delivery on that number)

Facebook: Sombrero
Twitter: @Sombrero_ID
Corporate website: http://www.michelindo.com

Opening Hours:
Every day from 10am to 10pm
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The Far Away Nightlife of Tanjung Priok (North Jakarta)

April 3, 2014, 2:21 am
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In 10 years in Jakarta, I had never been to Tanjung Priok at night. For those who don't know, Tanjung Priok is located in the extreme North of the city and it is home to the city's main harbour. It is not a very recommended area to hangout. Don't bring your girlfriend here on a date.

Anyway, we were actually planning to go to Senen from Kelapa Gading, but our taxi driver was tricky and he tried to extend our journey (and fare) with him.

My friend looked at his GPS and it was clear that we were completely off-track, going North West instead of going South East.

We started to argue and after a little fight with him, he dropped us off at the corner of Jalan Laksamana Yos Sudarso and Jalan Raya Enggano.
We were waiting for a new taxi back home, when we saw there were several bars, clubs and massage parlours in that area. I suggested we had a quick look as we had little chance to ever come here again.

We started our visit by the karaoke and massage parlour of the hotel MH Sepinggan, which surprisingly is not listed on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
The back entrance of the Hotel MH Sepinggan
Finding the karaoke was a real challenge
The facilities of the rooms include a floor, a ceiling, and 4 walls. The lock on the door is optional.

The karaoke was very quiet. It is a lounge with sofas and a big screen, nothing special. Some girls were waiting a bit everywhere in the hotel.

We then decide to visit all the bars of the street, which took us about 2 hours as there were about 15 of them.

To be honest, they are all very similar, they are dark, smokey and there are a lot of prostitutes. Their sizes vary, the biggest and most busy is probably Monalisa Café. The music is either live band playing dangdut and Indonesian favourites, or clubbing music that I like to call Techno Kota (but is also known as Funky House or Dangdut House).
Cafe Dream
Metropolitan
Monalisa Café (the best club in the Street)
Moonlight Cafe
Tu' Mou Tou (A Manadonese Cafe - The customers are mostly seamen from Sulawesi)
Inside Tu' Mou Tou café
Morena Café and Navigator
Celebrating a birthday in Morena Cafe
Santana Cafe
We ended up for a last Bintang in Morena Café, which was a very friendly place. There was a birthday for one of the customers on that evening and we were invited to share a piece of the cake. We also had the privilege of being interviewed by the MC of the evening, who shed a tear when we left.

Overall: Excellent evening but I will probably not go back. It can be a way to experience a different side of Jakarta nightlife if you live in the North of the city. Be careful though it didn't seem like a super safe neighboroud (even though everyone was welcoming).

Where?:
Bars, Cafés, Clubs, Discos of Jalan Enggano
Jalan Enggano Raya
Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta 14330

The only phone numbers I could find were the ones of Monalisa Café: +62-21 43932507 and of MH Sepinggan Hotel +62-21 4352222.

If you are interested in local Jakarta nightlife venues, you may want to read on Jakarta100bars: Pasar Rumput Nightlife and KSC 117.
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The Best Spanish & Mexican Restaurants in Jakarta

April 5, 2014, 5:23 am
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In just a few years, the number of Mexican/Spanish/Latin restaurants in Jakarta has exploded. 5 years ago, to my knowledge there was only Amigos, and now I counted over 10 of them. I know it doesn't really make sense to mix Mexican and Spanish food into one single review as they are not related at all but I think they are part of a similar trend. 

Jakartans are craving for convivial ways to eat: Restaurants that are modern without being uptight and where the food can be shared with friends. Latin countries also have a positive image in the mind of many. Tell them Spain, and they think Party, Sexy, Friendly or Fun (and probably Soccer).

Most of those new Spanish/Mexican restaurants are located in the expatriate areas of Jakarta: Kemang, Cipete, Sudirman/Thamrin. Only Caliente (Mexican) has a branch in Pantai Indah Kapuk and Tapas Movida has one in Cilandak (CITOS).

I ranked the restaurants according to several criteria: Food, authenticity, value for money, atmosphere, consistency.

Here is my list of Jakarta's Best Spanish and Mexican restaurants:

1) Plan B (Senayan): Good, reasonably-priced authentic Spanish cuisine and tapas by a Spanish Chef. Popular with Spanish expats.

2) El Asador (Kemang): Latin-American restaurant specializing in grilled meat (and therefore rather expensive). Owned and managed by an Uruguayan Expat. It also has live music, and Cuban/Salsa nights.

3) Casa Espana (Kemang): Spanish-owned fine dining Spanish restaurant, it has evolved recently to include more variety in its menu (lower priced items and Asian food). It is popular for its salsa nights on Saturday.

4) Entrada: Upmarket Spanish restaurant in SCBD. A bit expensive for what you get, but the design and atmosphere is nice.

5) Hacienda: First authentic Mexican restaurant to open in Jakarta. Good food and cozy atmosphere.

6) Tapas Movida: Homey Spanish Restaurant in Cipete Raya. Decent food at a reasonable price. A second branch has opened in CITOS.

7) Canos: New trendy restaurant in SCBD, it is a popular hangout place on weekends before clubbing. I found the food average for the price and not really Spanish: Many dishes are Western and just translated into Spanish.

8) Amigos: The pioneers of Tex-Mex food in Jakarta, popular with expats and families. They have salsa nights on Tuesday and Friday in Kemang. It also has a branch in Mall Bellagio in Mega Kuningan.

9) Sombrero: Cheap Mexican restaurant in Grand Indonesia. Good value for money but not authentic.

10) Caliente: Affordable Mexican food in a modern atmosphere. 2 branches in Jakarta in Lippo Mall Kemang and Pantai Indah Kapuk.

11) Cuadrilla: Cute restaurant Jalan Benda in Kemang. It serves Tapas but also Italian and Greek food.

12) Taco Express: Specializing in Tacos with delivery in Kemang area. Decent food and good value for money.

13) Tapas de Espana (Central Park Mall): I haven't tried it yet, but I passed in front of it. Popular with Indonesians, it is more a bar and drinking joint that a restaurant it seems.

I am not the Ambassador of good taste, so if you disagree with me, please leave a comment!
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The Top 10 Best Clubs, Bars and Restaurants in Jakarta 2014

April 6, 2014, 12:58 am
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These rankings of Jakarta's best bars, restaurants, lounges and clubs should be read with my article "Jakarta nightlife 2014" for more information.  I visited all the places listed below (and more), and I ranked them in the order by which I would recommend them to a friend.

I may have missed some great venues. Don't blame me, just add a comment and I'll revise if necessary:

Top 10 of the Best Nightclubs in Jakarta in 2014:

1) Empirica: From what I've seen, it is the most happening club in Jakarta at the moment. It is huge, attracts a beautiful/trendy crowd, and it is a really fun place to party. Easy number 1.

2) Immigrant: Still under renovation but we can expect great parties as soon as it reopens in June.

3) X2: Massive club, always packed but the music is very commercial and it is the same every week.

4) Colosseum (1001): The best lighting and nightclub design in Jakarta, but still missing the crowd.

5) Fable: Good crowd, a bit young for me though.

6) Potato Head Garage: Could be number one if they had events more often.

7) Dragonfly: Still crowded but not as happening as it used to be. Fewer special DJs.

8) Stadium: Used to be number 1. Maybe I'm getting too old for this now. The music is still great but the place could use a refurbishment as it is starting to look old.

9) Exodus: Middle size, new club. Good music and crowd but not full all the time.

10) Golden Crown: Most popular club in North Jakarta, it is not for everybody as there are many prostitutes and drugs. Full every night of the week.


Top 10 of the Best Bars, Lounges and Small Clubs in Jakarta 2014
Safehouse in Bellagio
1) Lucy in the Sky: Young and trendy crowd, good music, perfect place to chill before hitting the other clubs in SCBD.

2) SKYE: Highest bar in Jakarta, great view and crowd, happening events.

3) Awan Lounge: For hipsters, good music and unique atmosphere.

4) Safehouse: Bar with also a very good restaurant, young expat crowd, great music.

5) Cloud: Similar with Skye. Rooftop bar.

6) Cafe Mondo: Odd cafe owned by a Japanese in love with Indonesian music. Unique events and concept

7) 365: Same as Lucy and Awan Lounge but for Kemang.

8) Treehouse: Super-small bar with good music and crowd

9) Umbra: One of the newer bar/lounge/clubs in Kemang and the most active to organize events.

10) Red Square: Still super crowded, but more and more prostitutes and the music is a let down.


Top 10 of the Best Restaurants/Lounges to go to before Party in Jakarta in 2014: 
I considered mostly if the place is busy or not, and if the crowd is a partying crowd. I then considered the atmosphere (music and design). The food came in third. It is a blog about nightlife after all.

1) E&O: From the man behind Sarong and Mamasan in Bali, neat concept and design with a unique food experience.

2) Loewy: Good french food, with a busy bar area. Many Expats and girls. It is the best pre-clubbing pick-up place.

3) Luna Negra: Italian food with events organized regularly on weekends.

4) Bluegrass: They just had their renovation. Always busy and good food.

5) Cork & Screw: Wine shop with decent food. Less expatriates than the previous venues.

6) Social House: Ismaya's ever successful wine lounge in Grand Indonesia. Very popular with Indonesians. If the food was better, it could be on the top.

7) Union: Disappointing food and difficult to get a table, but it is the busiest restaurant in Senayan. Upmarket crowd.

8) Canos: Spanish Tapas restaurant closed to SCBD nightlife. Only busy on weekend nights.

9) Potato Head: It suffered from the openings of many competitors in Pacific Place so it is not as crowded as it used to be. They were the first ones to have an open-air restaurant area concept for lounges.

10) Vin+: Mostly a wine shop with tables, it is often busy on weekends but the food is only average.


Top 10 of the Best Sexy Bars and Sexy Clubs in Jakarta 2014
Inside King Cross Jakarta (thank you CZ for this picture taken at your life's risk)
1) King Cross: Wherever you live in Jakarta, if you are a guy, it is worth the ride up to Kelapa Gading... Sexy dancers on 2 floors and live music..

2) Malioboro: It has 2 areas, Malio Club and Malioboro Spa Lounge. Both worth having a look but very expensive. Only sexy dancers.

3) Club 36: The only (?) coyote bar in Jakarta. Still super popular. Sexy/Sensual dancers from Thailand and Indonesia.

4) Golden Crown Lounge: They have live music and sexy dancers every night. Always crowded.

5) Emporium: Upper class joint similar with Malioboro. Sexy dancers.

6) Illigals: One of the most luxurious spas in Jakarta but not happening. It has sexy dancers but not on a daily basis.

7) Classic Club: It has 2 areas: Classic Club (Sexy Dancers and Live Music, more expensive and fewer girls) and Terminal Classic (Sexy Dancers and Live Music, less expensive, more girls).

8) Alexis: The most expensive and probably overrated venue in Jakarta. But it's always impressive especially for new people in the city. No sexy dancers but the 7th floor is famous for featuring high class prostitutes from at least 7 countries.

9) Sumo Lounge. They have Sexy Dancers.

10) V2: Live Music and Sexy Dancers.

Note: In Jakarta dialect, Sexy Dancer means the dancers will get at least topless if not fully nude. If they do not get nude, they will be advertised as sensual dancers or fashion show.

Top 10 of the Best Expat and Traveller Bars in Jakarta 2014
Canadian band in BATS
1) Eastern Promise: Busy on week ends, good live music and food. Mixed crowd of younger and older expatriates, male and women, and always groups of Indonesian girls.

2) Molly Mallone's: Newest Irish Bar in Senayan Arcadia, close to Red Square and X2.

3) De Hooi: Busiest expat bar in Pondok Indah area.

4) Murphy's: First Irish bar in Jakarta, younger Expat crowd.

5) BATS: Mostly businessmen. Live music from foreign band and many prostitutes.

6) MO Bar: Not happening too much but nice design and music. Perfect for a quiet drink.

7) CJs: Similar with BATS but more expensive and even more prostitutes.

8) Tempus: Good live music and salsa events twice weekly.

9) Burgundy: Super quiet, but classy and with a nice view of Bunderan HI.

10) Jaya Pub: Oldest bar in Jakarta,  very friendly with regular live band

These rankings are completely independant and based on my own personal preferences. I did not accept any money nor invitations from  any of the bars, clubs or restaurants listed above. I am a male expat in my early 30s, so I imagine this  article will be particularly correct if you are also a male between 20 and 40. If you are a woman in your 40s, you will probably have to find another Jakarta nightlife blog.
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Holy Gyu (Kebayoran Baru)

April 8, 2014, 12:43 am
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Well, I was supposed to go to Taco Local on Jl Panglima Polim, but it was closed, under renovation. so I decided to go to the restaurant right in front "Holy Gyu". It is a Japanese Grill, but in a more casual way. The place is very small and looks more like a fast-food chain.

I went there on a Saturday night and the place was almost full, mostly Indonesian crowd. I really liked the meat I had. Both the meat and the vegetables were tasty 

This place is for meat lovers, especially people who love Japanese-style meat, with Soy Sauce and vegetables on the side. Considering the high price of meat in Jakarta and in Indonesia in general, this place offers very affordable dishes. For 2 people we only paid 200 000 Rp. Usually, this can be the price of one dish in some Jakarta Restaurants. You also can have some Kobe Beef, which is known to be one of the most delicious beef in the world...
 
Holy Gyu
Jalan Panglima Polim V #21,
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan
Phone:021 97990370

Website: Holy Gyu
Facebook: Holy Gyu
Twitter: Holy Gyu

Opening Hours
Monday-Friday: 11 AM- 3 PM   5 PM - 10 PM
Saturday-Sunday: 11 AM - 10 PM
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Circle K vs. 7/11: Which Take-Away Food Tastes Better?

April 8, 2014, 3:48 am
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I could have called this article: Circle K vs 7-Eleven: Which take-away food will not make you sick?

At the bottom of my residence, I have a Circle K on my left, and a 7-Eleven on my right. Both about 100 meters away from each other and they didn't exist just 1 year ago. As they are open 24/7 and serve some take-away food, it can be quite convenient for everyone from the busy executive to the reveling expat. For that reason I decided to make a food trial to compare which one you should prefer for take-away food.

The first item I tried was their Spaghetti Bolognese.
Eating the Spaghettti Bolognese of Circle K (21,500rp) is probably the closest you'll ever come from eating actual plastic. The sauce was ok, even though it is hard to see any meat from the Bolognese (at most you'll notice some bakso crumbs). The ingredients mention "daging" on the box, which means "Meat". We don't know if it is beef (as it should in a Bolognaise sauce) or chicken or pork or most likely something else that must not be very expensive to produce (and may live in a  sewer). The spaghetti in itself had no taste and they had a very strange, chewy texture.
Spaghetti Bolognese from Circle K
The Spaghettti Bolognaise of 7/11 (19,500rp) are actually fresh and they must be eaten within a few days. They do not mention any ingredients though which I always find a bit scary. It didn't taste like homemade pasta of course, but it was very decent and eatable. Even better, I didn't feel sick after eating it.
Spaghetti Bolognese from 7/11
The second item I ate was one of their Sandwiches:
I took the Tuna Spread Egg Sandwich from Seven Eleven (18,000rp). The bread looks like it is whole meat, I wouldn't know for sure as there is nothing on the label. It is not bad: The vegetables feel fresh and it is not too heavy on the sauce. There was just a one of the ingredients which had a strange taste, as if it had already expired. Overall, not too bad and it seemed healthy.
Tuna Spread Egg Sandwich from 7 11
I compared it with the Beef Salad Sandwich from Circle K (9,500rp). This sandwich was a total disaster. It doesn't look nice, it is just two poor pieces of bread with a brown paste in the middle. The bread and the filling had no taste, except for onions. It may have had some irritating chemicals inside as my mouth was feeling itchy afterwards.
Beef Salad Sandwich from Circle K

The third item was their Hot Dog:
The Hot Dog from 7-Eleven had a disgusting appearance as you can see on the picture. It looks like the last thing someone would ever want to put in their mouth. I overcame my fears though and after I added a lot of ketchup, I had a big bite. The Hot Dog has a sort of plastic shell, but once you reach the inside, the taste is not too bad. The bread as well is decent. Overall, the whole thing almost tasted like a normal Hot Dog.
Hot Dog from 711
At first glance, the Hot Dog from Circle K (17,500rp) seemed like a superior product. It has a nice round sausage and the bun is well-shaped. However, there is no taste, or at least not the taste of a hot dog.They added some mustard that looks just as if a dog had peed on the bun.
Beef Hot Dog from Circle K

The last item on trial was the Beef Lasagna:
In 7/11, the Beef Lasagna (16,000rp) comes in small portion and the presentation is relatively good. It has very little pasta, tomato and beef, but way too much cheese and fat. The first bite feels ok, but then it starts to feel quite heavy.
Beef Lasagna from 7-Eleven
In Circle K, the Beef Lasagna, comes in a very large portion. It is not really following the recipe for lasagna. It rather looks like Bolognese Sauce topped up with cheese. The taste is very boring, the same as eating tomato sauce out of a can.
Beef Lasagna from Circle K
Final result: 
My general opinion is that those convenience stores are not selling proper, edible food. It is in your own interest to avoid them.

If I had to choose a lesser evil, I would go for 7-Eleven as they have more choice and their products are in general more fresh (though slightly more expensive). It is not good enough to repace a normal meal or food taken on the street I think. Circle K is a big NO for me, I will never buy any take away food from them again.
I felt unwell after eating their food, especially the Beef Salad Sandwich: Mild migraine, discomfort in my mouth, stomach pain that required a trip to the bathroom.

Another thing that bothered me a lot is that there is no label indicating which ingredients were used to make these products. I am especially curious about the origin of the meat of the hot dogs and that of the bolognese/lasagna sauce.
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Beer Brother Bar and Kitchen Kemang

April 8, 2014, 8:57 pm
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Beer Brother Bar + Kitchen is located in Taman Kemang, a residential area of Kemang which has seen a recent surge in bars and restaurants. This new nightlife area comprises Umbra, Cowboy Bar, Parc 19, and the Colony Building.

Beer Brother opened about a year ago and it has managed to become successful rapidly. It is quite similar with other joints such as Bremer or Beer Garden, but there are a few notable differences: The design and marketing of the bar is more sophisticated and original, the music louder, and the choice of food and drinks really extensive (the menu must have 25 pages). The prices are not that cheap though except for basic beer.

I was there just before a Champion's League quarterfinal, on a Tuesday, and it was full with a crowd ranging from young expats to hip Indonesians and high school kids. Most people come with a big group.

I enjoyed my time there, but a few things could be improved: The service and cleanliness was too relaxed. The waiter just unloaded all the drinks at our table and left. We then had to sort out which ones were for who and to distribute them ourselves.

We also had a pizza which was really poor: Over salter and undercooked, even though the price was high (74k for a Margarita). Really not recommended for food.
Overall: Beer Brother is recommended to have a drink in a laidback, busy atmosphere. Do not go for food or if you expect something chic.

Beer Brother
Jalan Taman Kemang 2 No. 28
Kemang, South Jakarta
Phone: +62 (0) 817-170-799
Email beerbrotherkemang@hotmail.co.id


Opening Hours:
Everyday from until late. Happy hours from 4pm to 8pm.
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El Greco Greek Restaurant Jakarta

April 8, 2014, 10:43 pm
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El Greco is a Greek restaurant located in Setiabudi One building on Jalan Rasuna Said. I was surprised to find such a restaurant there, as it stands out from the other typical chain café/restaurants in malls (Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Solaria, etc...).

The owner/chef is a Greek Expat, Panos, who came to our table after a few minutes only to give some tips and recommendations.

We had a Greek Salad (60,000 rp) and a dish with Baked Lamb and Potatoes (I forgot the greek name: 95,000rp). Both were satisfactory, even though the potatoes had a lot of pepper. I could not eat more but I would love to come back to try some other dishes, especially the gyros, the tabouleh and the Greek yoghurt.

Overall: Recommended for a lunch if you are in Setiabudi One. It is not fine dining but cozy, friendly and affordable. Another plus for me is that Greek restaurants serve healthy food in general, which is hard to find in Jakarta.
El Greco Gourmet Cafe
Ground Floor B-103, Setiabudi One B103
Jalan HR Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 521 2272
Email: cs@elgrecoindonesia.com

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