Like Manila, Jakarta can be all sorts of chaotic—the worst traffic jams, the crowded trains, the throngs of people that get into your face—that after a day of exploring Indonesia’s capital, I find myself surrendering and wanting to get a full rest. In my last visit, I chose to stay in one of its best hotels, Fairmont Jakarta, and inside, it was so different that I felt like I was already out of the city.
Fairmont Jakarta is located in Senayan City, a prime real estate development that hosts a big shopping mall (which is connected to the hotel via an underground passageway), a golf course, office towers, and apartments/condominiums. Though technically located in South Jakarta, Senayan City is practically adjacent to Central Jakarta and the Thamrin CBD area.
As my Uber pulled up at the hotel’s porte-cochere, I was unable to hide my astonishment—the stark lobby was grander than most other hotels I’ve been to. I would later learn that the hotel’s owners are Japanese, which explains why the hotel’s overall design scheme is clean and elegantly minimalist.
Right after I was handed my keys by the friendly front desk associates, I made my way to my Fairmont Room, which was facing the golf course. After staying in so many hotels across different brands, there had only been a few rooms that I extremely liked, and my room at the Fairmont Jakarta was one of them. I liked the spacious room’s layout, the Javanese-inspired design, the colors, and the furnishing—everything about it, basically.
As expected of a luxury five-star hotel, the room had all the conveniences, starting with the Fairmont Bed, which obviously gave me a good night’s slumber. The bathroom was immaculate, and it came stocked with toiletries from Le Labo, which were among the most fragrant I’ve tried.
I had breakfast at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant called Spectrum, which shares the same name as the one in Fairmont Makati. It had a sizeable array of Western, Asian, and Indonesian fare that I enjoyed.
I also had the chance to have dinner at Sapori Deli, a casual café and restaurant that serves affordable Italian cuisine. My four-course dinner consisted of asparagus al forno (asparagus, cured egg, and parma ham), risotto (wild porcini mushrooms, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and rocket), USDA Prime sirloin (with charred leeks, romesco, and and parmesan zeppole), and truffle chocolate melt (with coffee crumb and pistachio cream). Honestly, all the dishes were excellent.
Despite my limited time in the hotel, I was able to check out its facilities like its fitness center and swimming pool.
IN A NUTSHELL: WHY STAY THERE
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It’s one of the most highly-rated hotels in Jakarta and one of its most beautiful.
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Its rooms are appointed to five-star luxury standards.
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Rates are value-for-money and can be quite affordable on certain periods.
FAIRMONT JAKARTA
Jakarta Asia Afrika, Gelora, Tanah Abang, Jakarta, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 21 2970 3333
Email: Reservations.Jakarta@fairmont.com
Website: www.fairmont.com/jakarta/
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
