Jakarta is the busy and bustling capital metropolis of Indonesia and residential to greater than 11 million individuals. From enterprise travellers searching for a luxurious base to leisure travellers looking for an expensive escape whereas on the town, the selection of five-star lodges can really feel overwhelming, with all the key 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 conversant in each manufacturers, having stayed with them elsewhere within the area, and all the time loved our time with them. Learn on to find our luxurious dwelling expertise in Jakarta, and why we expect our decisions had been spot on – particularly if you happen to’re planning your subsequent journey to the Indonesian capital.
Keep at Raffles Jakarta
We had been friends of Raffles Jakarta, one of many metropolis’s main luxurious lodges and a model synonymous with refined service and stylish environment for many who benefit from the finer issues in life.
As large followers of each Raffles properties in Cambodia, we had been excited for Raffles Jakarta to be our ‘house away from house’ and intrigued to see the way it in comparison with Raffles Grand Resort d’Angkor in Siem Reap and Raffles Resort Le Royal in Phnom Penh. After our weekend staycation, we had been very impressed with our newest Raffles expertise and might’t wait to return.
Wellness and sustainability at Raffles Jakarta
Raffles Jakarta boasts a lot of sustainability initiatives, which had been defined to us by the passionate Sustainability Director, Mr Indra, throughout our assembly on the 14th flooring. That is additionally the situation of Raffles Spa, the place we skilled a {couples} therapeutic massage like no different. Arriving early, we made the a lot of the fashionable hydrotherapy and spa amenities, getting ready us to be luxuriously pampered in essentially the most memorable trend. The whole lot about our afternoon at Raffles Spa was first charge and have to be skilled to be actually appreciated.
The sustainability efforts at Raffles Jakarta go nicely past eliminating single-use plastics, in-room water filters, and biodegradable espresso capsules. This can be a resort that takes sustainability significantly and leads from the entrance. From utilizing gray water to maintain the plush gardens verdant to repurposing espresso grounds as fertiliser, there have been considerate improvements all through. Bathe caps comprised of cassava, toothpaste in paper sachets, and bamboo razors and toothbrushes in our room had been simply among the steps they’ve taken to make a distinction. Training and coaching underpin every thing they do, with employees inspired to grasp the influence of hospitality on the atmosphere. Company Social Duty 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, but it surely was the employees’s willingness to adapt and create bespoke dishes that actually 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 seemed, 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 wonderful service and heat welcome we obtained every time we dined at Arts Café by Raffles.
The whole lot it’s good to plan your journey in 2025
Keep at Le Méridien Jakarta
We had been additionally friends of Le Méridien Jakarta, a five-star resort within the coronary heart of the capital that provides a wonderful base for each enterprise and leisure travellers.
Located within the CBD, it gives handy entry to close by places of work, glimmering towers, and several other luxurious purchasing malls. The newly opened metro gives an effective 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, loosen up beside the inviting pool, or make a reservation at one of many on-site eating places to get pleasure from a big selection of inventive culinary choices – which we’ll discuss subsequent.
Wellness and sustainability at Le Méridien Jakarta
Talking with Common 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 toilet facilities are offered in refillable dispensers.
These efforts align with Marriott Worldwide’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Affect Objectives. Notably, Le Méridien Jakarta is the one resort within the metropolis with its personal in-house mineral water manufacturing facility, due to 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, vitality effectivity, and water use. Whereas there’s an inviting pool and a 24-hour health club 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 amenities.
Eating at Le Méridien Jakarta
We had been delighted to seek 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 under. Plant-based dishes can be found in any respect meals and beverage retailers, with Handi (Indian) and Al Nafoura (Lebanese) providing notably sturdy vegan choices.
These cuisines naturally lend themselves to plant-based consuming, with dishes reminiscent of 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 remains to be comparatively area of interest, the resort is proud to incorporate these choices to assist 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 reasonably priced – all whereas aiming to minimise environmental influence. For travellers wanting an genuine style of Indonesia, the partnership between Inexperienced Insurgent and Le Méridien Jakarta gives 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, one in every of Inexperienced Insurgent’s founders, he instructed us: “We imagine this collaboration permits friends to expertise Indonesian culinary heritage whereas making acutely aware decisions, whether or not by way of in-room eating or at one of many eating places.” We beloved sampling the culinary creations and applaud Le Méridien Jakarta for selecting to assist a neighborhood startup – and we’ve got to say, that rendang was significantly tasty.
Our luxurious dwelling 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 supply distinctive choices for an expensive metropolis break, combining considerate sustainability, glorious 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 concentrate on sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. Presently based mostly in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and among the most interesting golf programs all through the area.
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