How to get there

Those coming from Jl. Panjang can find this street easily, as it is located across Surya Utama church.

If taking the Transjakarta busway, get off at Kedoya Assiddiqiyah (stop K08-15) and take a short walk to Jl. Green Ville.

Public transportation options that operate along Jl. Green Ville and surrounding streets include the blue M45 minibus that serves the Grogol-Green Ville route and the area's blue bajaj (three-wheeled taxis).

Ride-hailing apps are an obvious recommendation, but try and order from somewhere in or near West Jakarta for a better chance at getting a driver who knows the area.

What to wear

Go casual in T-shirts and shorts, as the midday weather can be hot and trees are rare along the way. A hat and applying sunblock are practical suggestions.

What to do

One of the recommended beauty salons in the area is S.H.A.G. (Sonju Hair Art Gallery), which is known for its styling and coloring. Established in 2013, the salon consists of three floors: the first is for chemical and styling services, the second is for hair treatments, and the third floor is usually for beauty classes held by the salon’s owner-artistic director, Sonny Sonju.

The first floor of S.H.A.G. offers hair styling and chemical styling services. (S.H.A.G./File)

“Our customers' most favorite services are cutting and coloring,” Sonny told The Jakarta Post, adding that the requested hair color typically depended on a customer's personality, lifestyle and job. “As we’re approaching winter, the requested colors tend to be smooth, such as brown, like the color of the soil, mint-beige and matte aqua.”

It is highly recommended that those who want to use Sonny’s services first make a reservation. S.H.A.G.'s services start from Rp 50,000 (US$3) for a regular blow-dry.

Read also: Jakpost guide to Jl. Bumi

What to eat

Koultoura, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., offers good coffee brews and a quiet space to catch up on some work. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)

A foodie paradise, Jl. Green Ville hosts a wide range of eateries. Those who want to spend their time drinking a good cup of coffee or find temporary sanctuary to work undisturbed can consider visiting Koultoura. Taste the Manuka Honey Latte or Ice White while you are there. This place also has a counter offering artisan ice cream from Sore Sore, with its unexpected yet delicious flavors such as Tolak Angin and The Susu Marie, named after a local brand of milk cookies.

Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., coffee at Koultoura starts Rp 30,000.

Sore Sore's artisan ice cream can be found at an in-store counter at Koultoura cafe. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)

Meanwhile, those who want to enjoy a satisfying snack with their friends can pay a visit to Binatu An. Known for its otak-otak (fish cakes) and es kelapa muda (young coconut water), Binatu An has been around since 1958. Its otak-otak has a chewy, soft texture and is always accompanied by a mild, not-too-spicy peanut sauce. The establishment also offers different types of es kelapa, such as kopyor and a coconut-Sunkist orange blend. A piece of otak-otak starts at Rp 9,000, while es kelapa starts from Rp 23,000.

Binatu An is famous for its soft and chewe 'otak-otak' (fish cake). (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)

Another place to grab a snack is Kuo Tie 22 Sunny Sanjaya. Located in front of Rasane restaurant, the food stall provides kuo tie dumplings and other dishes containing pork. Those who like it crunchy can opt for the fried kuo tie, which comes with a dipping sauce as well as garlic oil. The stall opens from 4 p.m.

Kuotie 22 Sunny Sanjaya is a good place to grab a plate or two of pork dumplings. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)

Other recommended establishments are Bakmie Alok, known for its chicken noodles and open from 7 a.m., Saung Greenville for seafood enthusiasts and Gerobak Betawi, famous for its Indonesian cuisines.

Around the corner on Jl. Ratu Kemuning is a food court called XYZ District. It consists of many food stalls, including Grill & Bites, known for its chicken dishes, and TOT.Aw that has caused a sensation by creating a birthday cake made from noodles.

 

A post shared by XYZ District (@xyzdistrict) on Sep 25, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT

Tips:

• Be careful when crossing the street, as it lacks zebra crossings. The sidewalks are in a rather poor condition, except for those sections in front of food establishments or stores.
• Most eateries and stores have their own parking attendant (tukang parkir) who will help you park, but sometimes they will ask you for money. Prepare to pay Rp 5,000 for cars and Rp 2,000 for motorcycles (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/07/jakarta-may-increase-parking-fees.html).
• The road tends to get crowded after 4 p.m., even during weekdays, so you may want to visit the area before or after that time. (kes)