The cafés, the long dinners and the hidden corners we love most - gathered for the friends and family flying in to celebrate with us.
So many of you are travelling a long way to be with us, and it means more than we can say. Between the wedding, the dinner, and all the preparation, our days fill up fast - which means we won't get to walk you around the city the way we'd love to.
So we did the next best thing. This is our Jakarta: the places we eat on quiet weeknights, the coffee we keep going back to, and the spots tied up in Margaret's world of food. Wander, eat well, and pretend we're right there with you.
You're based at the Sheraton Grand Jakarta at Gandaria City, in the south of the city. Almost everything here is a short, comfortable ride away - here's how it all sits.
Rough door-to-door drive times. Jakarta traffic has a personality of its own, so treat these as gentle estimates and leave a buffer at rush hour.
A few small things that make the city easy.
Get a ride with Grab or Gojek. Both apps are cheap, everywhere, and in English. Bluebird is the trusted metered taxi if you'd rather flag one down.
Book the big tables ahead. The tasting-menu spots (August, Soichiro, SU MA) fill up - reserve a few days out, especially for weekends.
Cash & cards. Cards work nearly everywhere, but keep some rupiah for warungs, markets and the smallest coffee bars.
If you only have a handful of meals in town, make them these. A few are woven into Margaret's work in food - all of them are the ones we'd take you to ourselves.
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Our hands-down favourite fried chicken in the city - the one we end up at again and again when nobody can decide. Unfussy, craveable and exactly the kind of comfort meal we'd want to share with you first.
Don't miss The fried chicken, obviously - go classic.
Comfort food
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The flagship of the Common Grounds coffee world - marble, rattan and soft light, with rare single-origin pours and chef-led pastries by day. After dark it slips into a quiet cocktail bar, so it works from morning flat white to evening nightcap.
Order A single-origin pour-over and whatever's fresh from the pastry case.
Coffee & all-day
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Said to be the first in Asia built around the traditional irori hearth, Soichiro grills dry-aged wagyu over open flame in a hushed, contemporary room. Chef Soichiro Hieda's seasonal omakase - whiskey-, sake- and koji-aged cuts - makes this a true occasion. Dinner only; book ahead.
Order The omakase, and let the hearth-grilled wagyu do the talking.
Special occasion
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One of Jakarta's brightest tables (and on Asia's 50 Best), August seats just fifty among bookshelves and warm wood - fine dining with none of the stiffness. Chef Hans Christian's fourteen-course menu is a whimsical tour of the Indonesian archipelago. Dinner, Tuesday to Saturday; reserve well ahead.
Order The full tasting menu - it's the whole point.
Date night
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The beloved Bali bistro - French bulldog mascot and all - tucked into a quiet pocket of Senopati. The glass sunroom is the seat to claim, made for stretching brunch deep into the afternoon, before it turns livelier at night. Easy French pleasures done properly.
Order The josper-grilled coquelet and a long, lazy brunch.
Brunch
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Named for Lyon's cosy neighbourhood eateries, Bouchon does unfussy, traditional French across two charming floors - a snug ground level and a mirror-lined, light-filled upstairs. The rotisserie is the heart of it, turning out tender, caramelised birds and meats. Open all day, pastries to late dinner.
Order Rotisserie chicken, then the French toast brûlée or an éclair.
All-day French
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A crowd-pleasing seafood house where crabs and whole fish arrive under bold Indonesian sauces - the namesake green-chilli treatment and a Singapore-style chilli crab lead the way. Free-flow rice and tea and generous portions make it the easy call for a hungry table.
Order Chilli crab, a whole grilled fish, and lots of rice.
Group dinner
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A small, social pizzeria that's built a loyal following on punchy, well-charred pies. It's the casual, no-agenda spot - round up a few people, order too much, and dig in.
Order The vodka-sauce pepperoni pie.
Casual group
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What began as a cult Basque cheesecake is now a polished bakery-café laminating hundreds of croissants a day. The bow-tied hazelnut "Knots" and that molten-centred cheesecake are the must-orders, with a tidy coffee programme to match. A pretty stop for pastries and a flat white.
Order The signature Knots and a slice of Basque cheesecake.
Coffee & pastry
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The Kyoto coffee name that brought genuine kissaten calm to Jakarta - soft music, precise hand-pours, beans flown in from its Nishijin roastery. The original is the quiet daytime brew bar; the newer Kurasu Kissa layers in cocktails and jazz for slower evenings.
Order A hand-pour of the single-origin of the day.
Coffee
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A salon-de-thé hideaway beside the Menteng post office, run by a chef duo who met in Perth. Floral tiles and warm wood set the scene for precise, classic pastry - the mille-feuille and citron pie are standbys - with a tidy brunch menu alongside. Quietly precious, and worth the detour.
Order The chocolate-hazelnut mille-feuille or vanilla citron pie.
Patisserie & brunchThe old district reborn as Jakarta's most exciting eating quarter - ambitious little rooms tucked down side streets, ten minutes from home base.
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Chef Rachel Tjahja's intimate counter is one of Block M's most quietly ambitious tables, reinterpreting East Asian flavours course by course. The black-and-white room seats only a few, so book ahead - the playful "Encore" fried rice alone is worth the splurge.
Order The chef's tasting menu; the Treasure Box and Nasi Goreng "Encore".
Celebration
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A sixteen-seat, reservation-only room devoted to itameshi - Japan's affectionate take on Italian comfort food. Two seatings a night, no walk-ins, with the team cooking in front of you, so expect warmth over speed. The retro Naporitan is pure joy.
Order Naporitan, and the mentaiko-butter Karubonara.
Cosy dinner
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A 2024 arrival reimagining Thai shared dining with a grill-forward, casually-fine spin and a bold hand with smoke and spice. Order family-style and lean into the massaman ribs. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options make it easy for a mixed group.
Order Beef massaman with 48-hour wagyu ribs; khao yum.
Group dinner
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Chef Theodore Darrel treats fish with the reverence usually saved for prime beef - hence the "ocean steakhouse" tag. The dim, rockery-strewn room glows warm, and the kombu-aged black cod is the dish you'll remember. Open Tuesday to Sunday.
Order Kombu-aged black cod with seaweed beurre blanc.
Date night
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Soren pulls flavours from across Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, Thailand and China and runs them over fire in a snug beige-and-wood room. The dry-aged curry porterhouse arrives sizzling and theatrical. Open daily, with vegetarian and gluten-free options on hand.
Order Dry-aged red curry porterhouse; Thai tea ice cream to finish.
Casual grill
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Perched above the Sir Loin steakhouse, SILO is an intimate Japanese grill where the chef cooks each premium cut at your table. Small and service-led, it's a quiet splurge - reserve ahead. (The name hints at bread, but this is all about the fire.)
Order Whatever wagyu the chef is grilling that night.
Quiet splurgeThe leafy heart of South Jakarta's dining and drinking - bakeries, bistros and speakeasies threaded along a few elegant streets.
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A Senopati anchor built on seasonal produce, live fire and pasta made fresh daily under chef Rapha Menchaca. The cooking is global rather than Indonesian, so come for the grill and the cocktails. Open late every day - a restaurant and bar in one.
Order Uni tagliolini; Korean short ribs; the signature fried chicken.
Dinner & drinks
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With its Parisian-blue façade and high-ceilinged, mural-walled courtyard, Le Quartier is the city's most thoroughly French brasserie. The menu runs from escargot and charcuterie to steak, pasta and stone-baked pizza, with tarts and soufflés to finish. A pretty pick for a long lunch.
Order Garlic-butter escargot, then the lemon tart or soufflé.
Brunch & French
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Born as a micro-bakery in Bali in 2014, Braud brought its cult sourdough and lavishly buttery croissants to Senopati, opposite District 8. Bread is the heart of the place, baked fresh daily - a dependable morning or afternoon stop.
Order The signature sourdough and an almond croissant.
Breakfast & coffee
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A slightly hidden ramen-and-izakaya spot with a quiet reputation (and a Japanese clientele) for rich, un-heavy paitan broth and firm noodles. Come for the ramen, stay for the izakaya sides and sashimi.
Order Chicken paitan ramen; a few izakaya plates.
Ramen lunch
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From the legendary Bubur Mangga Besar lineage, reborn as its own playful brand - build your own bowl of silky Pecinan-style congee, carbs to toppings. The bright, design-forward room stays open until 3am, the rare supper spot that's both nostalgic and cool.
Order A custom bubur with poached chicken and century egg.
Late-night comfort
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A hidden Senopati cocktail den for people who like detail and quiet nights over a scene. The focus is balanced, well-made drinks; it skews late and reportedly keeps a 25-and-over door. This one's a nightcap, not a coffee stop.
Order Tell the bartender your mood and let them build it.
Late-night drinksWagyu temples, a garden wine club and old-school noodle houses - the smart, leafy west side, an easy ride from the hotel.
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A slice of Senayan golf-course greenery turned all-day playground - morning coffee through late-night wine, with a pool and a Bali-esque calm. The draw is the atmosphere and one of Indonesia's deepest cellars (1,000-plus labels). A reliable crowd-pleaser.
Order A tropical cocktail, shared plates, and the Sunday brunch.
Long brunch
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The Jakarta sister of Hong Kong's Michelin-starred Sun Tung Lok, doing refined Cantonese in a dusky-blue-and-gold room inside the Fairmont. Expect rare imported delicacies, a serious dim sum spread, and private rooms built for celebrations. The address for a dressed-up Chinese dinner.
Order The dim sum spread; abalone and braised sea cucumber.
Celebration
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A longtime Senayan stalwart for Japanese tabletop BBQ, where you grill premium imported cuts over hot charcoal yourself. The karubi and beef tongue draw the loudest praise, and the A5 Miyazaki is the splurge worth booking for. Reserve - it fills up.
Order Karubi, gyutan (beef tongue), and A5 Miyazaki.
Wagyu night
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Enjyu bills itself as the only place in Indonesia importing whole cattle from Japan, and the A5 Tokushima cuts back up the swagger. Staff coach you through grilling each cut to its sweet spot in a calm, refined room. Premium, but a benchmark for serious wagyu.
Order A4-A5 Tokushima cuts and the jo tan tongue.
Wagyu splurge
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Warm, vintage-styled trattoria cooking - handcrafted pasta, high-heat pizzas and a proper wine list. The Permata Hijau original is the soulful flagship, all soft lighting and rustic charm; the Pacific Place outlet is closest if you're in SCBD.
Order Pappardelle con bistecca; lobster linguine; tiramisu.
Cosy pasta
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A tucked-away favourite where the egg noodles are pulled fresh every day - no MSG, no preservatives - and topped with organic meats and free-range chicken. Humble, affordable and quietly beloved: a great cheap, authentic counterpoint to all the fine dining.
Order Bakmi with kampung (free-range) chicken.
Local lunchThe glassy business spine of the city - where some of Jakarta's most-hyped rooms and most-awarded bars hide up high.
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The cult Vietnam-born chain landed in Jakarta in late 2024, bringing its in-house cheese-making and springy sourdough crusts to a 14th-floor perch. The half-and-half pizzas and local riffs are the move, and the burrata is the stuff of reputation. Book ahead - it's a hot ticket.
Order A half-and-half pizza; the beef rendang & sambal pie.
Trendy group
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A fuller-service ristorante leaning on traceable sourcing - Parmigiano and cured ham from northern Italy, local barramundi, garden herbs. Chef Jovan's sourdough-leavened Neapolitan pizzas and a share-friendly wagyu striploin anchor the menu. Polished and dependable.
Order Branzino all'acqua pazza; a Neapolitan pizza.
Italian dinner
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Behind nondescript doors hides one of Jakarta's most awarded bars, led by Japanese barman Yutaka Nakashima - reserve by WhatsApp and you'll be escorted up from the lobby. The wood-clad, red-banquette room channels a high-rise Ginza bar, with a "Dealer's Choice" cocktail built around your mood.
Order The Dealer's Choice - tell them your spirit and strength.
CocktailsA little further north, the city's grand old garden district - colonial mansions, leafy streets and some of Jakarta's most characterful tables. Worth the drive.
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Ismaya Group's love letter to the Indonesian archipelago, reimagining regional classics from Papua to Sulawesi with modern finesse and a spice-driven cocktail list. The room is handsome and the menu wanders well beyond the usual circuit - a confident choice for serious Indonesian food.
Order Sate maranggi; roti abon Papua; ayam Biromaru.
Regional Indonesian
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One of Menteng's most serious fine-dining rooms, where chef Craig Panizza lets pristine ingredients speak through restrained, elegant European cooking. Come for the five- or eight-course tasting with pairings - and save room for Chicory, the couple's patisserie next door.
Order The chef's tasting menu with wine pairing.
Special occasion
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Silk roams across Asia - Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese - from inside a beautifully restored colonial mansion, a former general's residence. The crispy pork and truffle gyoza are the crowd-pleasers, and the heritage building is half the experience. Atmospheric and easy for a group.
Order Kana moo krob (crispy pork); pork truffle gyoza.
Atmospheric group
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A genuine wood-smoker operation run by a French-Indonesian chef couple, hand-rubbing and smoking its meats on site for up to twelve hours, then playing them off local sambals. The most credible American BBQ in this part of town. Go hungry, and note it's only open Wed-Sun.
Order Brisket and ribs, with the house sides.
Meat lovers
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An old Menteng house turned buzzy all-day diner doing American comfort food properly - fat burgers, pastrami stacks, fluffy pancakes. Casual, family-friendly and reliably good for a lazy late breakfast, with a leafy garden that feels more retreat than restaurant.
Order The Bandit burger; pancakes or the pastrami sandwich.
Brunch
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Despite the steakhouse-sounding name, this is an elegant all-day brunch and pastry destination, famous for its maple-truffle-butter brioche and contemporary takes on brunch classics. The adjoining natural wine bar, MØ, carries it into the evening. Polished and design-forward.
Order The maple butter brioche; mushroom toast with sous-vide egg.
Brunch & wineWhen you've eaten your fill, here's how we'd fill the in-between hours - the games we're hooked on, the malls to escape the heat, and a few classic Jakarta outings.
The city's biggest padel facility - seven pro courts, an air-conditioned café and proper changing rooms. The flagship choice. Book on the Courtside app, roughly Rp 460k an hour.
Six courts and friendlier pricing (from ~Rp 300k). Book via the Ayo app, which also lists open-play "mabar" sessions you can drop into if you want to meet some locals over a game.
The closest to the Senopati / SCBD cluster, with a friendly community feel and regular casual matches. Book by app or WhatsApp; reserve a few days ahead for peak evenings and weekends.
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Walk Fatahillah Square's Dutch colonial buildings and the city's history museums, then pause at the atmospheric 19th-century Café Batavia. Jakarta's richest dose of history - go in the morning to beat the heat and crowds.
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Ride up the 132-metre National Monument for city views, then visit the excellent National Museum next door. The classic Jakarta landmark and the country's best museum, side by side.
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Book a Javanese lulur scrub or traditional massage at Martha Tilaar Salon Day Spa or Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa. Genuine, reputable wellness - ideal jet-lag recovery, close to home base.
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The city's best sundowners: SKYE (BCA Tower, 56F) is the iconic pick, Henshin at The Westin is the highest in Indonesia with Nikkei plates, and Cloud Lounge offers 360° skyline views. Arrive before golden hour.
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A speedboat ride off the coast lands you on easy islands like Pari or Tidung for a day of beach and snorkelling - a real escape from the megacity. Book ahead and confirm your departure jetty; boats leave around 8am.
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A living village of traditional Betawi houses around a lake, with free weekend performances and street snacks like kerak telor at the gates. The nearest slice of local culture to the hotel - best on a weekend.
However you spend your days here, we hope Jakarta is good to you - and that you save plenty of appetite for the celebration. We can't wait to see you.