Best Luxury Hotels in Indonesia

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.

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.

An all-pool villa resort, Peppers offers everything from studios to a five-bedroom Presidential Suite catering for up to 14 guests. Each has indoor and outdoor living areas and bathrooms, with lashings of marble, top-notch sound systems and full kitchens. But if you don’t feel like cooking, you can dine on an international array of dishes while overlooking a rock pool at The Laneway Restaurant and Bar. Peppers’ day spa provides treatments, therapies and wellness programmes. Or you can relax in the Balè traditional pavilion set in the hotel’s tropical garden and swim in the 35-metre pool.

Meaning “inner sanctum of well-being”, this hotel’s name gives a clue as to what lies in store if you stay here. It’s on the same beach as the Anantara, but a quieter stretch and has two restaurants; Breeze, with indoor and outdoor seating on its lantern-lit deck, and the Brasserie for Balinese food. Afternoon tea is included in your room price, as are cultural activities, yoga classes and 24-hour butler service. Your villa will come with its own pool and a four-poster bed — larger villas in the Royal Courtyard area have additional outdoor daybeds with gazebos and gardens.

Right on the town’s main beach, this resort places you close to the action, yet with a secluded ambience. Rice paddy-style water features, an infinity pool, an eatery and manicured gardens separate guests from the public sands. Head to the rooftop for spa treatments and yoga classes, a restaurant serving Asian specialities and a bar with panoramic views. Book a higher-category suite for your own private bath, a living room with Bose speakers and an espresso machine. Kids will love it here too — there’s a range of dedicated activities, play spaces in the dining rooms and spa treatments for little ‘uns.

Indonesia’s own Jaya Ibrahim designed all 66 of the sleek suites, 13 pool villas and the stunning ocean view Beach House at The Legian; incorporating natural-fibre furnishings, polished wooden floors and artefacts from around the islands. Guests can dine in the main restaurant and at the pool bar, as well as nibbling on canapes at the thatched Champagne Bar which is nestled between the ocean and a lily-pad-covered pond. The lobby bar doubles as a library, with books in many languages, plus there’s a spa, a Grooming Lounge and a Wellness Concierge to look after you.

This elegant 150-bedroom property with antique furnishings and Javanese decor is evocative of a bygone era. Located a short drive from the palaces and close to excellent street food markets, it’s well-placed for tourists on the main artery of Surakarta. There’s an indoor/outdoor pool with the Tirtotedjo pool bar, catering for both the peak and wet seasons and the Mustika Spa. The Royal Surakarta Heritage has an all-day Srikandi Restaurant that serves a mix of western, Chinese and Indonesian dishes. King-sized and twin bedrooms are available across its superior, deluxe and executive categories.