The capital and largest city in Indonesia offers travellers a multicultural city experience like no other. While it’s known for its traffic, it also boasts a vibrant nightlife, thriving shopping scene and exceptional coffee. Here are five reasons why Jakarta should definitely be on your radar.
Sip on a good cuppa
Indonesia is the world’s third largest producer of coffee and has a rich coffee culture with many top-notch coffee beans coming from the country. It’s not hard to imagine how this has given rise to many specialty coffee shops.
Visit the Common Grounds set up by well-known names in the country’s baristas community – Yoshua Tanu and Iwan Irawan, the 2014 champions of the Indonesia Barista Championship and Indonesia’s Latte Art Championship. The vintage decorated café also serves an exceptional brunch with East-meets-West fusion dishes.
A Bunch of Caffeine Dealers, better known as ABCD, offers a unique coffee experience that differs from the usual fancy cafes. The kiosk at the traditional market of Pasar Santa functions primarily as a school for those who want to study the art of coffee making and has no fixed opening hours where it serves coffee. The best way to try their beans is to follow them on Instagram.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant contemporary art scene
Having been a former Portuguese and Dutch colony, and received many waves of Chinese and Indian immigration, the influences from these different cultures are present in everyday life as well as the modern arts scene.
Get a dose of the city’s modern art at Art:1. It was initially established in 1983 as Mon Décor and was awarded Best Gallery of the Year in 2010. It’s split into two buildings – the Art:1 New Museum has a permanent collection of works by prominent Indonesian modern art masters, including Made Wianta and Widayat, while Artspace:1 hosts a visiting range of contemporary works by emerging Indonesian and international artists.
The Galeri Hadiprana has more than 50 years of history and was opened by Hendra Hadiprana when he returned from the Netherlands with a vision of providing space for up-and-coming artists. The gallery has a large flexible space with moveable walls and is known for promoting the best of Indonesian contemporary art.
Shop till you drop
If you like shopping, you’ll love Jakarta where the shopping mall density is off the charts. From luxury brands and designer clothing to international cuisine and supermarkets, they have everything that you could need or imagine. Lippo Mall Kemang, for example, is the place to go if you need a dose of your favourite British brands such as Accessorize, Mothercare and New Look, while Grand Indonesia has well-known international brands such as Pull & Bear, Zara and H&M.
To stand out from the crowd, malls have established identities for themselves or built features into their buildings as novelty features. Ratu Plaza is known to locals as the place to go to for all IT-related items, including exclusive items like Razer gaming equipment and Alienware laptops.
For those who rather not take the stairs, check out the FX Sudirman mall, where a giant slide in the centre of the mall takes you from the 8th floor to the 2nd floor. Those with children would not want to miss out on Pacific Plaza, where kids can enjoy themselves at the indoor Kidzania theme parks as mums and dads head to the only Galeries Lafayette, an upmarket French department store, in Southeast Asia.
Be entertained all day and all night
Looking for an all-in-one, day-to-night destination? There is one place in Jakarta where there is always something to do – Taman Implan Jaya Ancol. Better known as Ancol Dreamland, the 24-hour resort destination has everything you can imagine within its premises. In the day, you can head to the beaches, the marina, an amusement park with 27 rides, a water park with artificial waves and an aquarium. There are even an art market, bowling alley and a golf course. At night, there are concerts, restaurants and bars that are open all through the night.
Be a culture vulture
Given the city’s rich history, there are numerous museums and historical sites scattered throughout Jakarta. Gain an understanding of the cultural heritage of the city, head to the National Museum where you’ll get to view artifacts from prehistoric times to the modern era, from stone statues and beautiful ceramic to intricate accessories. At the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, you get a crash course and overview of the diversity in the country – all the provinces of Indonesia are well presented with miniatures of key buildings and their unique architecture. There are also cultural performances, events and delicacies to sample from all parts of the country. Also head to Surabaya Street, which is a combination of an antique and flea market. Here you can buy a variety of items, from an old suit of armour to traditional handicrafts.
Main image: istockphoto/leolintang
