Jakarta is the busy and bustling capital metropolis of Indonesia and residential to greater than 11 million folks. From enterprise travellers in search of a luxurious base to leisure travellers searching for an expensive escape whereas on the town, the selection of five-star accommodations can really feel overwhelming, with all the key international manufacturers represented throughout the town. We determined to separate our keep between two luxurious accommodations, 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 residing expertise in Jakarta, and why we predict our decisions have been spot on – particularly when you’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 accommodations and a model synonymous with refined service and chic environment for many who benefit from the finer issues in life.
As huge followers of each Raffles properties in Cambodia, we have been excited for Raffles Jakarta to be our ‘dwelling away from dwelling’ 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 have been very impressed with our newest Raffles expertise and may’t wait to return.
Wellness and sustainability at Raffles Jakarta
Raffles Jakarta boasts numerous 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 probably the most memorable style. All the pieces 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 effectively past eliminating single-use plastics, in-room water filters, and biodegradable espresso capsules. This can be a lodge that takes sustainability significantly 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 created 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 grasp the impression of hospitality on the setting. 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 alternative), 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 workers’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 regarded, our vegan journey journey was a delight. A flatbread topped with breaded native mushrooms, delivered to our room, made the proper afternoon deal with. We are going to always remember the superb service and heat welcome we acquired every time we dined at Arts Café by Raffles.
All the pieces it’s worthwhile to plan your journey in 2025
Keep at Le Méridien Jakarta
We have been additionally friends of Le Méridien Jakarta, a five-star lodge 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 workplaces, glimmering towers, and a number of other luxurious procuring malls. The newly opened metro provides an effective way to keep away from Jakarta’s notorious site visitors and discover the 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 take pleasure in a big selection of inventive culinary choices – which we’ll discuss subsequent.
Wellness and sustainability at Le Méridien Jakarta
Talking with Basic 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 Influence Targets. Notably, Le Méridien Jakarta is the one lodge 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 scale back the environmental footprint related to transporting bottled water. In March 2025, the lodge acquired 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 gymnasium on-site, we spent most of our time discovering vegan choices each in and across the lodge so didn’t totally benefit from the leisure services.
Eating at Le Méridien Jakarta
We have 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 robust vegan alternatives.
These cuisines naturally lend themselves to plant-based consuming, with dishes resembling 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 lodge’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 lodge 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 concentrate on creating plant protein and dairy alternate options which might be scrumptious, wholesome, and reasonably priced – all whereas aiming to minimise environmental impression. For travellers wanting an genuine style of Indonesia, the partnership between Inexperienced Insurgent and Le Méridien Jakarta supplies the proper 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 advised us: “We consider this collaboration permits friends to expertise Indonesian culinary heritage whereas making acutely aware decisions, whether or not via in-room eating or at one of many eating places.” We liked sampling the culinary creations and applaud Le Méridien Jakarta for selecting to assist a neighborhood startup – and we now have to say, that rendang was significantly 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 supply 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 accommodations 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 accommodations and resorts in Southeast Asia with a deal with sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. At the moment based mostly in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a number of the best golf programs all through the area.
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