Must-see restaurants in Jakarta

  • Main bar at Loewy side shot.

    Loewy

    South Jakarta

    One of Jakarta’s most popular dining spots, this casual 1940s Paris–meets–New York bistro is located right in the middle of the busiest business district…

  • Interior of OKU

    OKU

    Jakarta

    Inside Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, OKU is an outstanding Japanese dining experience. Its Zen-like minimalist dining room allows the food to stand out. Chef…

  • Interior of Common Grounds

    Common Grounds

    Jakarta

    Common Grounds is a pioneer of Melburnian third-wave coffee culture in Jakarta. Its award-winning baristas brew fine coffees roasted in-house, while the…

  • Blue Terrace

    South Jakarta

    Counteract some of Jakarta's toxins at Blue Terrace, which crafts beautifully presented dishes for the health conscious. The menu is chock full of…

  • Kunstkring Paleis

    Jakarta

    High tea or cocktails? You can have both, plus a divine Indonesian dinner in between at this alluring re-imagined Dutch colonial mansion, once Batavia's…

  • Nusa

    South Jakarta

    Inside this grand old 1920s colonial house is one of Jakarta's best upmarket Indonesian restaurants. The menu changes nightly depending on what the chefs…

  • Lewis & Carroll

    Jakarta

    There are more than 70 types of artisanal tea on offer at Lewis & Carroll. The tea lounge serves locally sourced teas with names like Batavia Grey and…

  • Din Tai Fung

    South Jakarta

    This branch of the Michelin-starred Taiwanese dumpling restaurant, one of many in Jakarta, is well hidden and has a relaxing ambience. It specialises in…

  • Waha Kitchen

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    A fittingly fashionable bistro occupies the lobby of the designer Kosenda Hotel, with a 24-hour bar and a menu of modern Asian. Food appears to be served…

  • Historia

    Jakarta

    Served in a hip Kota warehouse with soaring ceilings, big art murals and a retro-industrial vibe, Historia's dishes hail from around the archipelago. Try…

  • Plataran Menteng

    Jakarta

    This excellent restaurant in a grand, old, light-and-airy mansion has plenty of ambience. There's a live pianist, birdcages and reminders of a bygone era…

  • Lenggang Jakarta

    Merdeka Square & Central Jakarta

    One of Merdeka Square's best features is this well-organised assortment of food stalls. Sample foods from across the archipelago from more than 50 cheap…

  • Por Que No

    Jakarta

    A tucked-away, uberhip rooftop tapas bar with terrace in the De Ritz Building in Menteng, this spot is popular with those in the know. Try the grilled and…

  • Warung Ngalam

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    A warung (food stall) for a new age, this narrow, open-sided cafe with single seating serves up delicious Indonesian dishes with a panoply of Asian…

  • Tjikini

    Jakarta

    On one of the best coffee strips in Jakarta, this appealing cafe has an alluring vintage style with bentwood chairs and tiled floors. Coffee drinks are…

  • Kaum

    Jakarta

    One of Jakarta's more tasteful dining options is this midcentury Dutch house set in a leafy neighbourhood that offers respite from the surrounding mayhem…

  • Interior of Plan B

    Plan B Spanish Resto

    Jakarta

    Plan B is a humble Spanish eatery serving authentic delicacies courtesy of Basque chef Oskar Urzelai. Locals love this out-of-the-way-but-buzzy…

  • Bar area of J. Sparrow

    J Sparrow's Bar & Grill

    South Jakarta

    A nautical art deco interior, bespoke cocktails and an excellent seafood menu make J Sparrow's one of the most stylish places in central Jakarta to grab…

  • Bar area of Atico by Javanegra

    Atico by Javanegra

    South Jakarta

    Hip Atico has warehouse-style exposed cables, pipes on the ceiling and hardwood floors. There's a relaxing outside terrace with skyscraper views from…

  • Lara Djonggrang

    Jakarta

    It's easy to think you've stumbled across an enchanting lost temple at Lara Djonggrang. Its dimly lit, incense-filled space is decorated with traditional…

  • Crystal Jade Palace

    Jakarta

    Expand your culinary palette at this branch of the acclaimed Michelin-starred Singapore chain, located at Grand Indonesia mall. The high-end Chinese…

  • Three Buns

    South Jakarta

    Sometimes you've got to satisfy that urge for a dirty burger, and Three Buns, voted Asia's best burger in 2019, in South Jakarta is just the place to do…

  • Mamma Rosy

    South Jakarta

    Mamma Rosy is often in the kitchen at this very authentic (and popular) Italian trattoria. With her son Daniel, Mamma has brought a taste of the old world…

  • Queen's Head

    South Jakarta

    Seminyak meets Islington in this popular lounge-pub that combines Balinese style with hip geometric design and a modern take on British pub fare. Fish and…

  • Honu Poké & Matcha Bar

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    Jakarta has joined the poké revolution. This cool little local chain serves 10 varieties of the Hawaiian protein bowls. The 'torched' bowl comes with…

  • Mie Chino Pasar Santa

    South Jakarta

    The hipster haven of Pasar Santa has a charming little independent market on the top floor. Here, stalls sell food that stems from the culinary dreams of…

  • LoCarasa

    South Jakarta

    Inside this industrial-chic cafe choose from several handmade super-thin-crust (or thick-crust if you prefer) pizza varieties, or craft your own. You can…

  • Warung Daun

    Jakarta

    This re-imagined warung (food stall) attempts a modern and healthy take on classic dishes. Expect delectable Sundanese and Chinese Indonesian dishes,…

  • Shanghai Blue 1920

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    Dine like you've time travelled to 1920s Shanghai in an atmospheric room loaded with tapestries, wood carvings, red lanterns and flamboyant furnishings …

  • Maple & Oak

    Jakarta

    With modern, Scandi-esque design incorporating pastel tones and plants in terrariums, this cute spot around the corner from Barack Obama's old school…

  • Honu Poke

    South Jakarta

    Find this hip little poke joint next to the dia.lo.gue artspace. It serves 10 varieties of the popular Hawaiian-style rice bowls heaped with a choice of…

  • Seribu Rasa Menteng

    Jakarta

    An excellent low-key local chain restaurant just a short walk from glitzy malls and hotels. Classic Indonesian dishes from satay to beef rendang are…

  • Henshin

    South Jakarta

    Modern dining room and bar with a futuristic tunnel entrance and gaudy geometric mirrored ceilings. The stunning patio has magnificent views across the…

  • Kedai Seni Djakarté

    Jakarta

    One of several similar places around Taman Fatahillah, this restaurant is housed in a cute old Dutch building with green shutters. You can eat inside…

  • Santong Kuotieh 68

    Jakarta

    You'll see cooks preparing fried and steamed Chinese pork dumplings out the front of this ramshackle but highly popular little place in Glodok, dating…

  • Café Batavia

    Jakarta

    This 200-year-old building overlooking Kota's old Dutch quarter pulls crowds. It certainly looks the part, with its classy bistro styled with colonial…

  • Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    Named after the alley that this much-loved food stall occupies, this Jakarta institution has been cooking up its unique take on Indonesia's national dish,…

  • Sate Khas Senayan

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    Air-conditioned Indonesian chain restaurant known for its decent sate (skewers of chicken, beef and lamb), plus Indonesian favourites like ayam goreng…

  • Lulu & Kayla Cakes

    Merdeka Square & Central Jakarta

    Éclairs, cupcakes, croissants and other irresistible goodies are baked on site at this cute mint-green stand-alone cafe. Cakes are beautifully presented…

  • Restoran Garuda Sabang

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    A smoky, no-frills, fluorescent-lit, all-day, all-night depot of locally loved Padang food goodness. It's sometimes throbbing with Bollywood tunes or Indo…

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