WORDS RIYADI SUPARNO PHOTOS ALILA SOLO

Rising above Surakarta’s main street, Alila Solo offers a stunning view of the cultural city’s luxurious tranquility.

What’s it like

Located on the leafy Jl. Slamet Riyadi, the city’s main street, Alila Solo is hard to miss as it is the tallest building in the city, and in fact in the whole Central Java. It gives the best views of the city, from multiple sides of the hotel’s rooms and public areas, especially from its Sky Lounge located on the top floor and its rooftop bar, the Agra.

The Lobby

Entering the hotel from the street level, you will pass the hotel’s spacious public area, where long tables and benches are lined up in the open space, where guests can have coffee or even do some work there.

When entering the lobby area, located on the second floor, you will immediately feel the hotel’s modern design with a Javanese ambience. You will be welcomed by an oversized floating batik sculpture made of rustic wood placed in the center of the lobby. While facing the reception area, you will see a tall image of Gunungan, a Javanese puppet shaped like a mountain.

Room rundown

The 40-square-meter executive rooms, all located on high floors, offer an unobstructed view of the city. The room, with a floor-to-ceiling window, is furnished with a contemporary tone, while also incorporating a traditional Javanese touch, especially its combination of rustic wood ornaments and batik design. The space above the bed’s headboard, for example, is filled with images of Javanese wayang characters.

The executive rooms, and the suites, offer a special bathing experience: not only because of its luxurious marble-clad bathroom with shower and bathtub, but more because you can bath while you are enjoying the city view.

“Don’t worry. People will not see you while you are bathing as you are located too high above the ground,” said Jack Widagdo, the general manager of Alila Solo.

Alila has three types of suites, with different characteristics: 70-square-meter executive suits, 90-square-meter Alila suites and one 200-square-meter presidential suite.

The executive suite has similar amenities of the executive room, plus a living room and dining table. The Alila suite, meanwhile, has its own outdoor private swimming pool, high above the ground and a cabana to soak in the sun.

The presidential suite features a separate bedroom, generous living room, a walk-in wardrobe and spacious dining room that can easily sit in up to 20 guests.

Earlier this month, when celebrating its first anniversary, Alila Solo hosted an exclusive dinner themed the “Taste of Sulawesi”, where chef Petty Elliott catered to 20 guests of the media from Jakarta and Bali.

Dining

In addition to its 24-hour room service, the hotel’s Épice restaurant offers all-day dining, from breakfast to supper. If you want to have a memorable dining experience with your special one(s), you better try the Sky Lounge on the 30th floor or Agra on the 29th floor.

Guillermo Varela Mata, who takes care of the hotel’s food and beverage, says the Sky Lounge, Agra and Épice all serve Central Java specialties, such as nasi liwet, mie godog and tongseng.

“We use a lot of local ingredients in our cooking. So, immediately you will feel you are in Solo,” Guillermo said.

If you want to eat something different, the hotel also hosts independent restaurants serving Italian and Japanese cuisines. Or, if you want to just sit down and have a coffee, you can go to Liberica Coffee just across the lobby.

Leisure

Alila Solo boasts a near Olympic-size landscaped pool on the sixth floor, where guests can swim and soak in the sun by the water. In this open and breezy space dotted with trees, guests can also chill out by ordering drinks at the Largo lounge.

If you like exercising or doing sport, you must try Alila’s gym on the same floor, featuring a wide range of cardio, strength training and other specialized equipment. It has a quiet area for yoga and pilates or just for general stretching activities.

Guests can also relax and rejuvenate themselves by getting a massage at Spa Alila. If you come with a partner, you can book a double treatment room. But if you come alone, it has single treatment rooms too. In addition, the Spa Alila also has dedicated reflexology and manicure/pedicure lounges, as well as separate ladies and gentlemen lounges complete with plunge pools, a sauna and steam bath.

“I always come to Alila Solo for the spa. It has the best spa treatment,” said Uli Panjaitan, a regular customer.

Business

Alila Solo has a complete set of meeting facilities, including 14 meeting and board rooms, fitted with all the necessary equipment. Most of all, it has the largest ballroom in town, which can accommodate up to 3,500 guests. In this ballroom, Alila regularly organizes public events such as exhibitions as well as concerts. The ballroom also is suitable for wedding parties.

***

Price
Rates start at US$70 midweek for the deluxe room or at US$100 for the executive room through online booking.

Verdict
Its modern architectural design and traditional Javanese touch with the best view of Solo makes for an ideal personal and private or even corporate escape.

Contact
Alila Solo.Java
Jl. Slamet Riyadi No. 562
Solo 57144
Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
Phone: +62 271 6770880
Fax: +62 271 6770999
Email: solo@alilahotels.com
Website: www.alilahotels.com

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