Best Grand Hotels Hotels in Indonesia

Just 20 minutes from the airport and in the centre of town, the Shangri-La is a great choice for those travelling with children, but in need of some sophistication. A sizeable freeform pool has a slide (for use by kids and big kids), and there’s a playground and a programme of activities to entertain younger travellers. The hotel has three tennis courts, multiple dining outlets, cabanas, a full-service spa and its own nightclub, so you never need to leave, other than to explore the many historic sites on the doorstep. Book a club-level room for access to the club lounge.

Take a cooling dip in the long, river-style freeform pool at the JW Marriott, or laze on a lounger beside a palm tree at its side. Everything here feels lush; from the generously planted little man-made island within the pool to the conservatory-style Pavilion dining room with indoor trees and plants. Another restaurant has a live cooking station, and there’s a health club, salon and a gym onsite. King-size, twin, one and two-bedded suites are available, with teepees provided for younger families, adding a little magic for tots’ stays. The top-end Chairman Suite boasts incredible views and its own grand piano.

Stay in East Java’s highest hotel, with unmatched views that take in the tops of skyscrapers down to the network of canals (cocktails at sunset in its Sky Lounge are a must). Attached to Indonesia’s biggest mall, it’s a paradise for shoppers. But there’s also a strong emphasis on retreat at The Westin, with a wellness programme and spa services, along with a peaceful outdoor pool surrounded by trees and overlooking palace grounds. Guests can dine in Magnolia restaurant on an array of international cuisine, and enjoy large bedrooms and impeccable service.

Instantly recognisable on Jakarta’s skyline by its iconic fan emblem, the Mandarin Oriental is a big hotel with a boutique ambience. Dine on international cuisine beside an urban tropical garden at the all-day Cinnamon eatery, sample Chinese fare at Li Feng by night, and snack on lighter bites along with deliciously dynamic cocktails at MO Bar, accompanied by live entertainment. Bedrooms come with pillow menus, custom-designed furnishings, working desks with multi-hubs and bathrobes. Guests can also go for a dip in the outdoor pool, book spa treatments, go jogging on the hotel’s track and hit the gym.

Supremely elegant, Jakarta’s Raffles property is found in the city’s central business district. It displays a signature design across its 173 bedrooms, which was inspired by the renowned Jakartan painter Hendra Gunawan. Guests staying here benefit from butler service and amenities including an outdoor jogging track, a gym, a palm-flanked outdoor swimming pool, a kids’ club, two restaurants and the award-winning Raffles Spa. Those staying in a suite also have the option of access to the Raffles Club, an exclusive lounge serving breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Choose one of 526 intimate guest rooms, lagoon pool rooms and grand suites with apex ceilings, for your stay at the Mulia Resort. Here you’ll have access to many restaurants serving pan-Asian, Chinese, Japanese and French cuisine, multiple lavish bars, a spa, four swimming pools with cabanas (including one by the sea and one for families), a fitness centre, a tennis centre, a games room and a kids club with a packed schedule of activities. And it enjoys a setting as glamorous as its amenities, perched on the white sandy beach that’s dotted with palm trees and comfortable loungers.

This beach and thalassotherapy spa retreat from the renowned St Regis group is full-on luxe, with less of an emphasis on local authenticity and more on the high-end bells and whistles f an international resort. Expect chandeliers, marble, statement art, 24-hour formal butler service, a cellar of imported wines, wagyu beef and caviar. There’s a champagne bar, two very fancy restaurants, a Children’s Learning Center and a regal penthouse complete with a grand piano. Take a swim in the central lagoon and you’ll discover a submerged sitting room and beach beds in the shape of human silhouettes by landscape designer Bill Bensley.

Conveniently placed on a through-road (cutting down your time spent in traffic), the Four Season pairs a central location with an oasis-like vibe. Designed by Cesar Pelli, it takes some cues from Regency style, mixed in with Asian country motifs. Bedrooms (which are serviced twice daily) are equipped with Illy coffee machines, Bose sound bars, pull-out drinks fridges, Alexandra Champalimaud-designed large work desks and marble bathrooms, balancing luxury and practicality. Take a seat on a green velvet chair beneath crystal chandeliers and quaff champagne in Palm Court, eat Italian food at a restaurant 20 floors up, and sample fine French baked goods at La Patisserie.

A brand synonymous with European luxury, the Ritz-Carlton’s home in Jakarta links into the same building as the Stock Exchange and an upscale shopping mall. The Pacific Place houses the city’s largest ballroom, along with a spa offering organic treatments and an all-day restaurant, Pasolo, serving artisan food. As you might expect from this brand, the afternoon tea is something very special, and you can opt to book your own BBQ Butler for private poolside dining with a difference. Bedrooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows and sunken marble baths, and if you’re in town for an extended period or need more space, you can reserve an apartment.

If you’d like to stay in one of the most spacious rooms in the city, book one of the suites in The Ritz-Carlton’s second property, the sister hotel to the property on Pacific Place. Even the standard grade occupies 63 square meters with seating and work areas, a  marble bathroom, an iPod dock and either one king or two larger twin beds. There are two eateries; Asia Restaurant and Lobo Italian Bistro, as well as wine tastings, special brunches and chef-led events happening frequently. The spa is found among the tropical gardens, comprising 19 treatment rooms, including the city’s only four spa villas with private outdoor soaking tubs.

A huge stone W is set between a row of swaying palms and the white sandy shores of the beach, marking the spot for this trendy seaside hotel. Taking a cue from the local area, its centrepiece layered pool has been inspired by a rice field. Rooms come with terrazzo bathtubs, robes and 350-thread-count cotton linens, with villas adding private pools. Be sure to party at the outdoor Woobar accompanied by the sounds of resident DJs. And do brunch at Starfish Bloo’s; an epic and famous buffet spread featuring a BBQ smokehouse, a ceviche bar, a sushi and sashimi station, and oyster shucking stations, as well as mountains of puds.

Standing tall and unbeatably handy for the financial and business districts, the Fairmont in Jakarta is a foodie’s dream. It hosts a lobster night, a shopaholic afternoon tea and decadent Sunday brunches; it has a halal Indonesian restaurant, a steak bar, a deli, a ‘culinary theatre’ buffet with Wagyu nights, a CoComelon Café for the little ones and several other dining establishments. 380 bedrooms feature Japanese spa-inspired bathrooms and stylish New York Le Labo bath products – upgrade to a suite for Club Lounge access, daily drinks and hors-d’oeuvres and butler service. The Fairmont also has a swimming pool, a spa and three bars.