Jakarta is the busy and bustling capital metropolis of Indonesia and residential to greater than 11 million folks. From enterprise travellers on the lookout for a luxurious base to leisure travellers searching for an expensive escape whereas on the town, the selection of five-star lodges can really feel overwhelming, with all the most important international manufacturers represented throughout town. We determined to separate our keep between two luxurious lodges, spending two nights at Raffles Jakarta and two nights at Le Méridien Jakarta. We’re aware of each manufacturers, having stayed with them elsewhere within the area, and at all times loved our time with them. Learn on to find our luxurious residing expertise in Jakarta, and why we predict our decisions have been spot on – particularly for those who’re planning your subsequent journey to the Indonesian capital.
Keep at Raffles Jakarta
We have been friends of Raffles Jakarta, one of many metropolis’s main luxurious lodges and a model synonymous with refined service and stylish environment for individuals who benefit from the finer issues in life.
As massive followers of each Raffles properties in Cambodia, we have been excited for Raffles Jakarta to be our ‘residence away from residence’ and intrigued to see the way it in comparison with Raffles Grand Lodge d’Angkor in Siem Reap and Raffles Lodge Le Royal in Phnom Penh. After our weekend staycation, we have been very impressed with our newest Raffles expertise and might’t wait to return.
Wellness and sustainability at Raffles Jakarta
Raffles Jakarta boasts a variety of sustainability initiatives, which have been defined to us by the passionate Sustainability Director, Mr Indra, throughout our assembly on the 14th ground. That is additionally the placement of Raffles Spa, the place we skilled a {couples} therapeutic massage like no different. Arriving early, we made the many of the trendy hydrotherapy and spa services, making ready us to be luxuriously pampered in essentially the most memorable trend. The whole lot about our afternoon at Raffles Spa was first fee and have to be skilled to be actually appreciated.
The sustainability efforts at Raffles Jakarta go effectively past eliminating single-use plastics, in-room water filters, and biodegradable espresso capsules. It is a resort that takes sustainability critically and leads from the entrance. From utilizing gray water to maintain the luxurious gardens verdant to repurposing espresso grounds as fertiliser, there have been considerate improvements all through. Bathe caps produced from cassava, toothpaste in paper sachets, and bamboo razors and toothbrushes in our room have been simply a number of the steps they’ve taken to make a distinction. Training and coaching underpin all the things they do, with workers inspired to know the influence of hospitality on the atmosphere. Company Social Accountability is not only a departmental initiative however a private achievement for every colleague.
Eating at Raffles Jakarta
Our eating experiences at Raffles Jakarta included lengthy and leisurely breakfasts (with loads of selection), an in-room eating choice from Navina Pool Bar, and a particular vegan set lunch served with type at Arts Café by Raffles. The menus listed each vegetarian and vegan choices, however it was the workers’s willingness to adapt and create bespoke dishes that really impressed.
From elegant plant-based sushi freshly ready on the breakfast sushi bar to a divine miso vegan lobster that tasted even higher than it regarded, our vegan journey journey was a delight. A flatbread topped with breaded native mushrooms, delivered to our room, made the right afternoon deal with. We’ll always remember the superb service and heat welcome we obtained every time we dined at Arts Café by Raffles.
The whole lot you must plan your journey in 2025
Keep at Le Méridien Jakarta
We have been additionally friends of Le Méridien Jakarta, a five-star resort within the coronary heart of the capital that provides a superb base for each enterprise and leisure travellers.
Located within the CBD, it supplies handy entry to close by places of work, glimmering towers, and several other luxurious procuring malls. The newly opened metro affords a good way to keep away from Jakarta’s notorious visitors and discover town. Throughout your keep at Le Méridien Jakarta, unwind in your well-appointed room or suite, chill out beside the inviting pool, or make a reservation at one of many on-site eating places to get pleasure from a wide selection of artistic culinary choices – which we’ll speak about subsequent.
Wellness and sustainability at Le Méridien Jakarta
Talking with Normal Supervisor Mrs Jennifer Suryadi about present and future sustainability plans, she highlighted three key focus areas: waste discount, water conservation, and sustainable certification. Single-use plastic water bottles have been eradicated, changed by refillable glass bottles, and loo facilities are offered in refillable dispensers.
These efforts align with Marriott Worldwide’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Influence Objectives. Notably, Le Méridien Jakarta is the one resort within the metropolis with its personal in-house mineral water manufacturing facility, because of a partnership with Tigris – a Singapore-based firm driving sustainability innovation within the business. This initiative additionally helps cut back the environmental footprint related to transporting bottled water. In March 2025, the resort obtained Inexperienced Key certification in recognition of its complete dedication to sustainability, together with rigorous requirements throughout waste administration, power effectivity, and water use. Whereas there’s an inviting pool and a 24-hour gymnasium on-site, we spent most of our time discovering vegan choices each in and across the resort so didn’t totally benefit from the leisure services.
Eating at Le Méridien Jakarta
We have been delighted to search out a variety of vegan choices at Le Méridien Jakarta, together with an thrilling partnership with Inexperienced Insurgent, which we’ll discover in additional element beneath. Plant-based dishes can be found in any respect meals and beverage shops, with Handi (Indian) and Al Nafoura (Lebanese) providing notably robust vegan choices.
These cuisines naturally lend themselves to plant-based consuming, with dishes equivalent to dal, vegetable curries, hummus, and falafel both already vegan or simply tailored. Throughout World Vegan Month in 2024, Le Méridien Jakarta partnered with Inexperienced Insurgent to introduce a particular plant-based menu at Al Nafoura, La Brasserie (the resort’s all-day eating venue), and thru in-room eating. Whereas demand for vegan dishes in Jakarta continues to be comparatively area of interest, the resort is proud to incorporate these choices to help visitor wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
Who’re Inexperienced Insurgent?
Inexperienced Insurgent Meals is Indonesia’s main plant-based meals tech startup, launched in 2020. They specialize in growing plant protein and dairy alternate options which are scrumptious, wholesome, and inexpensive – all whereas aiming to minimise environmental influence. For travellers wanting an genuine style of Indonesia, the partnership between Inexperienced Insurgent and Le Méridien Jakarta supplies the right alternative to expertise native consolation meals with a contemporary, sustainable twist.
This features a wealthy and flavourful plant-based rendang and a hearty spaghetti dish with plant-based meatballs and vegan parmesan, all served within the elegant environment of Le Méridien. Talking with Max Mandias, certainly one of Inexperienced Insurgent’s founders, he advised us: “We imagine this collaboration permits friends to expertise Indonesian culinary heritage whereas making aware decisions, whether or not by means of in-room eating or at one of many eating places.” We liked sampling the culinary creations and applaud Le Méridien Jakarta for selecting to help a neighborhood startup – and we now have to say, that rendang was critically tasty.
Our luxurious residing expertise in Jakarta exceeded all expectations. We’re already scanning our journey calendars to see after we can return. Each Raffles Jakarta and Le Méridien Jakarta provide distinctive choices for an expensive metropolis break, combining considerate sustainability, wonderful service, and scrumptious vegan eating. Whether or not you’re visiting for enterprise or leisure, Jakarta’s top-tier lodges are able to welcome you with type and substance – and a contact of plant-based indulgence for good measure.
Paul Eyers
Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Meals Quest who write about luxurious lodges and resorts in Southeast Asia with a deal with sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. Presently primarily based in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a number of the best golf programs all through the area.
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