An Unexpected Dinner That Turned Into One of My Best Meals in Jakarta This was honestly such an unexpected find. I had just arrived in Jakarta quite late and was already starving. I didn’t really have a plan for dinner, so I simply Googled for places that were still open and decided to let Google take me wherever it wanted. Jimbaran Lounge happened to be one of the few places still operating late that night, so I thought, “Why not?” When I arrived, I realised it was located inside Midplaza, a beautiful 5-star hotel. I’ll admit, I was initially a little hesitant and wondered whether we could actually just walk in for dinner without a reservation, especially that late at night. But the staff at the front desk immediately assured us that walk-ins were absolutely welcome and no reservation was needed. The lounge has both indoor and outdoor seating. Since it was already late and we were tired, my friend and I decided to sit indoors. We were given the freedom to choose whichever table we preferred, which was a nice touch. Then came the hardest part: deciding what to eat. We were both exhausted, hungry, and honestly struggling to decide what to order. That’s when Juan, the manager, noticed us struggling with the menu and came over to assist. He was very attentive and genuinely helpful without being pushy. He asked what we were in the mood for, and we told him we wanted something local and, most importantly, something filling because we were really hungry. We were craving rice, so he recommended the grilled chicken set with rice, which I believe was one of the newer additions to the menu. My friend went with the Wagyu fried rice, which was absolutely delicious. But the real highlight of the night for both of us was dessert. I’m honestly sorry that I forgot the name of the dessert, but it was a brown pudding infused with poached pear and topped with vanilla ice cream. That vanilla ice cream was genuinely the best vanilla ice cream I have ever had in my entire life. Juan told us that it was made using Tahitian vanilla beans, and honestly, if there had been a bucket of that vanilla ice cream available for sale that night, I probably would have asked for one. It was that good. As a daily coffee drinker, I also ordered a hot latte. I didn’t realise Indonesian-style lattes tend to be on the milkier side, so it was a little too milky for my personal taste. I mentioned it casually to Juan, and he immediately offered to make me a new latte according to my preference. That level of attentiveness really stood out to me. After we finished our meal, Juan came back and asked for our honest feedback. I was told that the grilled chicken was a new menu item, so I suggested that perhaps the chicken could be pre-cut or served in quarters or halves instead of as one whole chicken. It would make it much easier for guests to eat and share. Other than that, we really enjoyed the experience. The portions were generous enough to properly satisfy two very hungry travellers, the ambience was pleasant and relaxing, and most importantly, the service was superb. Juan and his team deserve a big round of applause. They were attentive from the moment we arrived and continued taking care of us right until we left the lobby. What started as a random late-night Google search because I was hungry ended up being such a lovely dining experience. Definitely coming back the next time I’m in Jakarta and looking for somewhere to nongkrong. And of course, a special shout-out to Juan. Thank you for taking such good care of us.

Unfortunately the iconic outdoor area was under renovation when I went there. Ordered few menu: - Pizza: Truffle and Omega3 Egg - delicious! - Dessert: Java Snickers - the portion was huge! plating was pretty! I like it! - Es Rujak Kota Tua: it tastes unique! haha. the ingedients consist of tabasco as well. good if you're in adventure mode, but I think I wont order for a second time. Overall, it was a nice experience having a dine in here.

+3

The Restaurant JimBARan lounge is the BEST in whole Jakarta! The food was absolutely delicious, the outside part of the restaurant looks like a magical forest and the service is IMPECCABLE! Special thanks to our waiters Ashari and Reggy, they were so helpful, friendly, fun, polite and made the evening a memory I’ll never forget 🙏🏼 I will be back for sure THANK YOU

Yesterday I stepped into a living story where the drinks are the protagonist’s fuel. Here are three distinct "vibes" for an immersive cocktail experience, depending on whether you want to solve a mystery, travel through time, or lose yourself in a CACAO Field. I call it a The High-Concept "Laboratory"- The Vibe: Chemistry of flavor. The Experience: You aren't just handed a menu; you’re handed a "prescription" of experience. The room might change temperature or scent as your drink arrives and bartenders in lab coats who speak in "formulas." and narrate the story of each and every drink. The Drinks: Kanana - Botanical, Refreshing sparkling Gin spritz with elderflower and bright citrus notes serve as a welcome drink. Cacao Pearl - Japanese whisky Reki - infused with Cacao Nibs served with a Freshly roasted CACAO Pearl. Amber Legacy - Single Malt Whiskey - Glenfarglas Aged 15 Years served Neat Rukun - Indonesian ARAK (Coconut Spirit) infused with Yuzu and Spices, Recalling mulled wine, bridging cultures in one pot. Cacao Murub - Spicy and Tangy Cacao cocktail featuring Jika’s signature chili chocolate - I tried this drink with Spicy level 3 The Verdict: Perfect for those who want to feel like they’re in a sci-fi film. It’s less about cozying up and more about the "wow" factor. Team - Their team is really good. All the cocktails are being prepared after trying 280 different variants. Hence the magic comes out very well. Bang Firas gave us a roadmap. He explained that he was using several ingredients to create all these cocktails. Watching him work while he narrated the layering of flavors felt like watching a chef in a Michelin-starred kitchen. If you want to actually understand what you’re drinking. please visit Jimbaran Lounge and meet Mas Farismuhammad.

+3

What a fantastic atmosphere at Jimbaran! Inside you can enjoy the live piano music but my recommendation is to sit on the outdoor patio which feels like a hidden oasis with trees and water features. Broad selection of food ranging from pizza to traditional Indonesian. I recommend the traditional Indonesian dishes with grilled duck and beef short rib. Good food, fantastic setting.

+1