Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city, offers an intoxicating mix of culture, charm, and chaos. It’s true that traffic chokes the roads and smog veils the skyline, but this city of 10 million people is Southeast Asia’s rising star.
Expect a vibrant culture and stand-out food offerings, from roadside vendors serving steaming bowls of Mie Goreng noodles to stylish rooftop teppanyaki bars. As tourism grows, hoteliers are catching on – brands including The Langham, St. Regis and Park Hyatt have recently opened, offering super-luxe rooms at a lower price than in most cities. We checked into the Park Hyatt Jakarta a year after opening to sample their sky-high views and spacious suites.
Hotel
Luxury is a given across the Park Hyatt portfolio (which includes 45 hotels globally), but for their first Indonesian property they’ve taken things to new heights. The hotel occupies the top 17 floors of Park Tower, a gleaming monolith of glass and steel in the heart of Jakarta’s financial district.
Business travellers are drawn to its central location and meeting rooms, and a myriad of bars, restaurants, and the spa brings couples and families looking for a tranquil base among the throng of the city. The drive from the airport is a convenient 40 minutes (if the traffic is behaving) and a short walk takes you to main attractions like Monas (Indonesia’s National Monument) and the Istiqlal Mosque (the largest in Southeast Asia).
Interiors combine Park Hyatt’s contemporary style with Indonesian crafts and natural materials like handwoven ikat textiles, intricate wood carvings and lava stone (a nod to the volcanic island of Java on which the city resides). As you explore the hotel, take a moment to appreciate the artwork curated by Jakarta based Hadiprana design. It includes striking pieces by local artist John Martono, who uses woven silk within his abstract design.
Room
Park Hyatt drew inspiration from high-end residential properties rather than the traditional hotel blueprint; the result is 220 spacious rooms and suites, each with their own living area and powder room. Even the smaller king rooms are 57 square meters, almost twice the size of the average hotel room.
We stayed for two blissful nights in a Park Suite, where we enjoyed more space than in our London flat. We admired excellent views from the floor to ceiling windows, including the Monas monument visible in the distance. A separate dining area was dominated by a solid Trembesi wooden table (from the Indonesian Albizia tree) and in the bedroom was a chaise lounge and walk-in wardrobe. The rooms are exceptionally quiet save for the call to prayer which sounds across the city at regular intervals, but complimentary ear plugs and black-out blinds ensure you’ll sleep undisturbed.
It’s not usual for a toilet to make it into review, but it deserves a mention. Forget lifting the lid and sitting on a cold seat, these futuristic orbs are digitally controlled with settings for temperature, front or rear cleaning and even massage. Toilet talk never felt so high-tech.
Food and drink
There are five restaurants and bars to keep guests busy at the hotel. The Dining Room serves all-day dining from its live kitchen. Breakfast is buffet-style with smaller a la carte options also available. The fresh juice bar was a great way to start the morning and we particularly enjoyed the fresh honeycomb which we slathered atop slices of buttery sourdough.
Afternoon tea (from £20 pp) is served in the Conservatory. The themed menu changes regularly but includes scones and a selection of Petit Gateaux from the in-house patisserie.
Don’t miss a Teppanyaki experience at the KITA Restaurant on floor 37. We chose the Miya-Gawa menu (from £60 pp), which included a perfectly seared Tuna Tataki with a citrus soy dressing and a deliciously tender Australian Wagyu Tenderloin served alongside crispy beef fried rice.
For evening drinks, head to KITA Bar on floor 36. It’s one of the highest rooftop bars in the city. This popular spot buzzes with well-heeled locals winding down post-work. There’s a DJ until late and Asian inspired small plates (try the KITA Popcorn Shrimp). Smoking is permitted inside but the outdoor balcony offers fresh air and city views.
The Bar has a good selection of whiskey and scotch plus live music at the weekend.
Spa
Let the sounds and stress of the city melt away as you ascend to The Spa with its low lighting and gently trickling water fountains. Treatments are influenced by ancient Indonesian wellness practices, and include muscle melting massages, foot reflexology and glow enhancing facials.
I sampled The Signature, a full body massage with essentials oils chosen to revitalise body and mind. Expectations were high – I was fresh off the plane from Bali where massage had become a daily indulgence – but as I settled onto the heated massage bed, my body cocooned in warmth, I was instantly calm. My therapist guided me through three deep-breaths and for the next 60 minutes I melted into deep relaxation.
Continue the post-massage zen in the hydro-pools (which are separate for men and women). There’s a sauna and steam room plus a salty flotation pool (women only) and a Wim Hof style cold immersion pool (men only).
Outside you’ll find a sundeck with cabanas and a large swimming pool with views across the city (the best time for swimming is at dusk when the kids clear out and the city lights start to twinkle).
In a nutshell
From its lofty heights, the Park Hyatt Jakarta offers a calming retreat away from the clamour of the city. It swaddles guests in luxury, with attentive staff – who arrive at exactly the right moment – to spacious rooms and city views. When it comes to choosing a hotel in Jakarta, the Park Hyatt should be at the top of your list.
Getting around
Navigating Jakarta can be challenging given its sprawling size. The speediest way to travel is by motorbike taxi, though remaining calm as your driver zig zags through the traffic requires nerves of steel (book on the app via Gojek or Grab). For a more comfortable – and far more relaxing – experience ask the concierge to book you an executive Silver Bird taxi.
Factbox
Rooms start from £191 per night based on two people sharing.
Address: Jalan Kebon Sirih 17-19, Jakarta, Indonesia, 10340
Phone: +62 21 3111 1234
Website: hyatt.com
Photography courtesy of Park Hyatt Jakarta.
