Restaurants in Java
-
A
Ministry of Coffee
A landmark modernist structure, with a library (with English-language books and magazines) upstairs and a cafe below. It’s ideal for an espresso or latte, but the food (mainly snacks and cakes) is pretty average.
reviewed
-
B
-
C
Lara Djonggrang
An attractive selection of dishes from around the archipelago, stunning decor that mixes traditional Indonesian flair with North African charm, atmospheric lighting and a great wine list make this one stunning place to eat.
reviewed
-
D
Milas
This secret garden restaurant, located down a quiet side road, is a project centre for street youth. Offers tasty vegetarian cooking: healthy snacks, sandwiches, salads and organic coffee.
reviewed
-
E
Sate Khas Senayan
Excellent two-storey air-con restaurant at the northern end of Jl Jaksa, renowned for its superb sate, rawon buntut (oxtail stew) and other classic Indonesian dishes.
reviewed
-
Street Food
Indulging in Solo's Street Food should on be everyone's list of things to do. Roaming hawkers pack the streets at night advertising their wares by screeching, striking buffalo bells or clattering cutlery. Of the plethora of dishes on offer, try nasi gudeg (unripe jackfruit served with rice, chicken and spices), nasi liwet (a local speciality incorporating rice cooked in coconut milk and eaten with a host of side dishes) or srabi (mini rice puddings served on a crispy pancake with banana, jackfruit or chocolate topping).
reviewed
-
Café de Daunen
Inside the Bogor botanical gardens, this is the nicest setting in town for a meal, with sweeping views down across a meadow to the water lily ponds. It’s a little pricey, but the revamped menu has tasty food including fish and chips, pasta and good Indonesian dishes. For a refreshing drink try the bandrek (tea made with ginger and herbs).
reviewed
-
Sop Buah Pak Ewok
This is a great, very casual place popular with students for its inexpensive, delicious and refreshing bowls of fruit punch, which are tropical fruits of the season served up with ice. Other snacks including noodles and rice dishes are available.
reviewed
-
Omar Duwur Restaurant
Out in Kota Gede, this is one of Yogya’s best restaurants, with a lavish setting in a 150-year-old colonial mansion. Offers a wide selection of Western (try the rack of lamb) and Eastern dishes (the chicken masala is great).
reviewed
-
Relax Restaurant
Long-running Swiss-owned restaurant with a restrained, enjoyably formal air. The menu covers both Western and Indonesian fare, and service is prompt and efficient. Breakfast with the homemade bread is a treat.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
F
FM Café
FM Café has a great courtyard setting and an eclectic menu ranging from nasi goreng to pizza. Happy hour is gloriously lengthy, lasting from 1pm to 8pm; bands perform here on Friday night.
reviewed
-
G
De Boliva Kitchen & Lounge
A popular, if pricey, Western-style cafe with filling sandwiches (try the wholewheat BLT). Its desserts are famous, with crepes, sorbets and ice cream galore (including low-fat options).
reviewed
-
Simpang Raya Bogor
A huge Pandang restaurant serving up Sumatra’s finest and spiciest. Heaves with customers by early evening; stroll on in and find a seat wherever there’s room.
reviewed
-
H
Holland Bakery
Just across the road from Popeye's, Holland Bakery sells a menagerie of sticky buns and cakes from beneath its trademark rotating windmill.
reviewed
-
I
Warung Nasi Mang Udju
Just south of the alun-alun, this Spartan place is a good spot to sample some traditional Sundanese food.
reviewed
-
J
Kartika Sari
Next door to the Cupu Manik puppet factory; has an incredible array of sweets and a steady flow of customers.
reviewed
-
K
Popeye’s
Flies the flag for junk-food fetishists, serving an assortment of deep-fried fish and chicken.
reviewed
-
L
Kafe Pisa
Rustic Mediterranean décor, an outside area, and decent pasta, pizza and ice cream.
reviewed
-
M
Parsley
Attempts to serve cakes, pies and pastries with a healthier twist.
reviewed
-
N
VOC Galangan
Occupying the premises of a beautifully restored warehouse that dates back to 1628, this is a fabulously atmospheric cafe – enjoy a drink or meal inside the beamed interior or on the terrace, which overlooks a grassy courtyard where there’s a vintage car and horse-buggy carriage. Manager Derek Courbois runs a tight ship, and prices are very reasonable for dishes like gado gado (13,500Rp) given the setting.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
House of Sampoerna Café
The House of Sampoerna cigarette factory cafe, occupying a gorgeous colonial structure complete with stained-glass windows and classy seating, is the perfect spot for a meal. The menu is divided into east and west sections, with rawon and Singapore laksa from the former and fish and chips from the latter standing out. There are great desserts, a full bar, espresso coffee (and even a nonsmoking section!).
reviewed
-
Galabo
Galabo is a kind of open-air food court with around 90 stalls – tuck into local specialties like nasi gudeg (unripe jackfruit served with rice, chicken and spices), nasi liwet (rice cooked in coconut milk and eaten with a host of side dishes) or the beef noodle soup timlo solo here. It’s very sociable, though you’ll have to bring your own Bintang.
reviewed
-
Kiosk
This great little mini-food court on the ground floor of the Braga City Walk is ideal for sampling some unusual snacks such as pempek (fish or egg fried with sago in a rich, dark sauce) from Sumatra and noodle dishes. Drinks include milky teh tarik (cardamom chai) and loads of yummy juices, from blueberry to sirsak (soursop).
reviewed
-
O
Soto Ambengan Pak Sadi
If you're looking for chicken dishes, then look no further than Pak Sadi's. Be sure not to overlook the famed lemon grass and coriander Madurese chicken soup, which is sublime. The place is best known, not surpisingly, for soto, a typical Indonesian soup filled with chicken or meat and other bits and pieces. Service is fast.
reviewed
-
P
Vietopia
Authentic Vietnamese food, including steaming pho noodle broth, and plenty of delicious chicken, beef and seafood mains – green papaya with shrimp is gorgeous. All dishes are moderately priced and delicately spiced and the surroundings are very attractive, with Zen-influenced minimalist decor and bamboo plants.
reviewed
