Jakarta is so freaking hip, it does not surprise me that there are a multitude of hipster hotels now. I stayed in two different ones on each end of the conference (Artotel Thamrin and Morrissey), and also had lunch and went to the rooftop bar at another one nearby (Kosenda). I would highly recommend all three, though I can’t speak to the rooms at Kosenda (I can speak to the fun rooftop bar, Awan Lounge, very highly though! The food was also very good at their Waha Kitchen).

Here’s a rundown and some snaps of the two I stayed in.

Artotel Thamrin

I got a great deal here, only paying about $37 AUD for a night on Agoda. This hotel is in a great location, just next to Sarinah and in walking distance to Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia, as well as good eating spots in Menteng (walking in Jakarta, I know, I must be crazy…).

The outer facade is splashed with art, the lobby and restaurant area has a great design, and the rooms are all painted with murals by local artists. There is also apparently a rooftop bar opening there soon. It doesn’t have features like a pool or gym, but it is a great place to base yourself when you are going to be out on the town. Also, convenient to car free day if you stay on the weekend and fancy a Sunday morning wander with thousands of others! The rooms had free WiFi (of course, like all affordable Indonesian hotels… why have other parts of the world not caught on to this?) and as a nice touch, a Dolce Gusto espresso pod machine for coffee. My room was designed by Oky Rey Montha. I really love the concept of using the hotel rooms for showcasing the work of Indonesian artists.

Morrissey Jakarta

This place is too cool for school, so of course I loved staying here. Also very conveniently located on Jl Wahid Hasim, just by the corner with notorious Jl Jaksa, there’s lots of food and stuff nearby and it is only a short taxi or ojek to the Bundaran HI area or Menteng (or Monas and other attractions, if you are actually a tourist in Jakarta rather than a returnee like me).

My room had its own kitchen, which would have been great if I was staying longer as eating out all the time can get dull (wait, no… it never does in Jakarta. That is a lie!). I don’t think my photos do it any justice, so check out their website instead. I absolutely loved the pool area, and the gorgeous residents’ lounge on the roof. The lobby was charming, they had bikes that brave guests could use, and free WiFi. The included breakfast, served next door at Ocha and Bella, wasn’t amazing I have to say (though I had just come from four nights at the Mandarin Oriental), but it was fine. Ocha and Bella’s lunches and dinners though are very good. Really good value–I paid around $75 AU a night booking through Agoda.

Residents’ lounge (there was also a gym, I didn’t photograph lest person working out there felt I was being pervy!)

Residents’ lounge

Ocha and Bella restaurant, downstairs

Giant salad at Ocha and Bella for lunch. Managed to pretty much stick to my low carb diet (except for a couple of cocktails and a little bit of rice and one croissant at brunch at Koi when there were no low carb options at all) for the whole week. Quite an achievement in the Jakarta context!