Step into Raffles Jakarta and it feels like you have entered a different world where everything here is grand, brightly coloured and classy. This luxury hotel’s high ceilings, evocative paintings and artwork by Indonesia’s late celebrated painter Hendra Gunawan, contemporary interiors designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, large spaces and a team of fine men and women who all ready to serve guests are all part of a memorable experience. In fact, the legacy of Hendra Gunawan comes to life at Raffles Jakarta.
It evokes a different kind of emotion from stepping into Raffles Hotel Singapore, the world’s first Raffles property. Whilst Raffles Hotel Singapore’s colonial architecture and low rise property gives a more homely four-storey residential compound type of living, Raffles Hotel Jakarta is a high-rise building which opened 16 March 2015. I went on a hotel inspection in August this year and was showed around the rooms and facilities, had a relaxation spa session and had Sunday brunch at Art Cafe.
Raffles Jakarta is located in the tallest tower of Ciputra World 1 in Jakarta’s emerging commercial hub Kuningan. The hotel is linked to the CiputraArtpreneur Centre, an art museum, gallery and theatre complex.
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An Epicurean Journey in Raffles Jakarta
The Writers Bar is located at the entrance of the hotel lobby. It makes a fabulous distraction when you enter the hotel. Enjoy a tipple or two before checking in. Or save it for a later part of your stay here. Perfect place to meet people, drink with friends or finding solace over a book and a Negroni. The Writers Bar has bee styled as an oasis of art, Indonesian history, literature and artefacts in a modern metropolis.
Arts Café by Raffles offers diners a full sensory experience with full sight of open kitchens, buffet dishes spread throughout the restaurant offering you time to walk around and digest your food for more as well as continental and Asia à la carte choices. But I got the chance to enjoy the Sunday brunch experience at Arts Café. They’ve called it Raffles Culinary Journey Around the World and it is available every Sunday from 12pm to 3.30pm.
The excessive buffet spread meant that there was a fabulous variety and spread from seafood on ice, sushi, dim sum and buns, cold cuts, hot dishes and also freshly prepared dishes at a number of live stations. Guests get to try dishes from different Raffles Hotels around the world here. The culinary journey takes you to France, Turkey, China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Middle East and also Singapore. There was a rendition of the Singapore Chilli Crab. Crab Meat and coriander leaves filled up a squid ink bun. We were told that over 67,500 such buns have been sold since it was on the menu when Arts Café by Raffles opened.
And the dessert section. There were cakes, a lot of cakes. There were kueh kuehs. Cheese and ice cream. The Sunday brunch is priced at IDR688,000++ per adult and comes with free flow of non-alcoholic beverages. For free flow of beer and house wines add IDR200,000++ and for free flow of champagne add IDR1,200,000++.
The Guest Rooms and Suites
Raffles Jakarta has 173 Raffles Rooms and Suites. There are 68 Raffles Rooms, 40 Raffles Garden View Rooms and 21 Signature Rooms that are at least 60sqm. There are four types of suites with sizes of up to 390sqm. There are 22 Artist suites, 11 Gallery suites, 10 Garden View suites and 1 Raffles suite.
All guest rooms feature feather top beds with 460 thread count linens, floor to ceiling windows, two interactive ZVOX audio-enhanced high definition LED TVs, DVD player, marbled bathrooms complete with deep soaker tub and separate rain shower, a writing desk with multi-media panel, in-room safe, extensive mini-bar refreshments and coffee machine, pillow menu, and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi or wireless high speed internet access. A 24-hour personal butler is at your back and call to attend to your needs and requests.
There are additional amenities when you stay at the Gallery Suites, Garden view Suites and the Raffles Suite. These suites come with a separate in-suite service pantry, separate in-suite guest wash room, walk in wardrobe, a la carte breakfast at the Writers Bar, Arts Café or in-room; non alcoholic beverages from In-Room refreshment centre, Writers Bar and Library throughout the day; evening cocktails at the Writers Bar, the Library or in the suite from 6 to 9pm with a selection of hors d’oeuvres; two hours use of the Raffles Boardroom at Level 11 and late check-out until 4 pm when available.
The suites here are huge enough to make you feel very at home. You can expect the same bright colourful scheme on the carpets and art work that is synonymous with Raffles Jakarta.
That One Raffles Suite
The Raffles Suite is the largest room category in the hotel. There is only one Raffles Suite.
The bedroom in the Raffles suite offers a panoramic view with floor to ceiling windows. It is so big, there are sofa chairs in the room so that you can enjoy put your leg up on the leg rest and enjoy the view. But that television did look a tad bit dwarfed in the huge room.
Photo frames and finishings decorate the living room while a work desk comes with a pen that is heavier and classier than most hotel pens I have seen. Perhaps I am easily impressed. A luxury hotel that looks into every small detail, even something as unimportant as a pen in the room, impresses me.
There really is no need to step out of your suite when you have practically all you need. The exercise room comes with a treadmill and stationary bike. No more unglamourous moments or bad hair look in a public gym.
By the way, the bathrooms are equipped with bidets and London’s Asprey hair and body products are provided. One other global hotel group that offers Asprey products is The Ritz-Carlton, another brand I would associate with luxury.
And if need be, you can engage a massage therapist to help you relax in your own private massage room within the Raffles Suite.
Raffles Spa
Step into the Raffles Spa in Raffles Jakarta and you feel like you have entered an oceanic world, with decor that reminds me of sand, ripples, and waves. The spa is inspired by the lotus flower with its daily transformation being a symbol of revitalisation and natural strength.
The Raffles Spa features six treatment rooms, 2 VIP couples suite and a hair and nail salon. Indulge in over 677 sqm of spa and wellness facilities. There are separate male and female relaxation areas, vitality pools and steam facilities. Products used at the spa include Australian skincare company Gaylia Kristensen, Kerstin Florian and Tropical Spa body care products that are inspired by ancient Javanese health and beauty rituals with great emphasis on the jamu remedy practices.
I was treated to a 90-minute Raffles Jakarta Signature Heritage Massage (IDR925,000) which uses a combination of Lomi Lomi, Balinese and Javanese massage techniques with a signature Ginger Oil. This traditional massage decreases muscle tension, indulges the senses, and relaxes the mind and body.
Other body massages available include a 90-minute traditional Jaipong Body Stretching, Balinese Herbal Compress Massage, Urban Stress Reliever, Tibetan Vibration Relaxation Massage or an Oriental Foot Reviver with pricing from IDR550,000 and more. Body treatments and facials are also available.
Appreciating Art
The hotel is linked to the Ciputra Artpreneur Centre. The three-level complex is devoted to the development of art in Indonesia. There is an art museum, exhibition gallery and a 1,200-seat theatre to showcase art and entertainment. Check with the Raffles Jakarta Art Concierge to find out the latest art happenings.
Raffles Jakarta is located at Ciputra World I, Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 3-5, Jakarta 12940, Indonesia.
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