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Staycation amid refined artworks at InterContinental Pondok Indah
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Art and design: The 'Kasmaran' golden statue (front) by Balinese artist Ketut Winata and the colorful 'Stand by Me' painting (center) by Haryanto “Bletuk“ Gunawan adorn The Lounge and lobby area, amid a luxury interior design by HBA Singapore. (Courtesy of InterContinental Pondok Indah) (Courtesy of InterContinental Pondok Indah)
T
em>The luxury hotel presents a comfortable place for business and leisure, featuring club-inspired meeting spaces and a series of paintings by Indonesian artists.
Located adjacent to Pondok Indah Mall 2 in South Jakarta, the InterContinental Pondok Indah (ICPI) hotel welcomes guests with eye-catching artwork.
A golden statue titled “Kasmaran” (Falling in Love) by Balinese artist Ketut Winata acts as a centerpiece in the main lobby. The art depicts a couple in love with a harmonious composition and represents warmth, comfort and protection.
Haryanto “Bletuk” Gunawan’s painting titled “Red Roses” also adorns the reception wall. Striking red, blue and green symbolize sensuality, calmness and hope, respectively.
These artworks intertwine well with warm lighting and modern, luxurious interior design by HBA Singapore.
“We want to support Indonesian artists. [Bletuk’s painting], for instance, aligns with the interior design,” director of marketing and communications Marlene Danusutedjo told The Jakarta Post on Sept. 28. She pointed out that the colors of the carpet on the lobby reflected Haryanto’s painting.
“[Through the art pieces], we want to showcase Indonesian culture and artists, and we want to blend [the hotel design] with the modern culture of Indonesia,” Sofia Ng Sok Hia from the sales and marketing department added.
Welcome to the Club
ICPI offers 311 guest rooms and suites, ranging from the 46-square-meter Classic Room to a 272-sq m Presidential Suite with a living and dining room. The hotel also presents the Club InterContinental Suite and Club InterContinental Room – the latter was where the Post stayed during a media invitation from Sept. 27 to 29.
The 47-sq m Club InterContinental Room is spacious for relaxation.
The marbled, spacious bathroom presents amenities from Byredo, a luxury product made of quality, environmentally friendly raw materials to nourish the skin. The bathroom also features a shower room and a bathtub, with a clear glass window separating the bedroom. With a quality surround-sound audio system, guests can enjoy a relaxing hot bath while watching the TV on the bedroom wall.
Guests staying at the Club suite and room can access the Club InterContinental lounge on level 25 for private check-in or check-out. Sok Hia noted that the Club lounge features two balconies overlooking the city.
“This is the only club lounge in Jakarta with balconies,” added Marlene, remarking that the outdoor areas are perfect for guests needing fresh air.
The Club InterContinental also serves breakfast with healthy dishes like quinoa and berry porridge, Indonesian dishes like fried rice, and international dishes like eggs benedict.
The Club guests have the privilege to enjoy an exclusive afternoon tea from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and evening cocktails from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Meeting spaces
At one of ICPI’s meeting venues, business travelers can get their work done while enjoying a relaxing staycation.
Levels 2 and 3 have four and five meeting rooms, respectively. Dubbed “The Studios,” Jakarta’s first club-inspired spaces present exclusive interactive kitchens offering delicious snacks and on-site baristas serving coffee.
The pillarless grand ballroom on level 6 accommodates up to 3,500 people with a glamorous chandelier hanging in the foyer, making it a luxurious venue for any occasion.
Dine and unwind
After taking part in meetings, enjoying delicious dishes and relaxing treatments is only fitting.
On level 1, the all-day Sugar & Spice restaurant presents a buffet and a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner, with selections of Indonesian and international dishes. Meat lovers can visit the Carving Station to try the delicious signature 72-hour braised short rib and roast chicken.
Sugar & Spice also has a designated room for cheeses sourced from France, such as reblochon, brie and camembert. There are options for Italian-made cheese alongside mozzarella, burrata and other cheese products from Malang, East Java.
Tucked within the Sugar & Spice is the SHIO Japanese restaurant. Hailing from Nagano prefecture, Japan, chef Hidemaro Hodaka presents delicious teppanyaki dishes at the private dining place that only accommodates up to 22 people.
The eight-course SHIO Omakase dinner is the highlight of the menu. The courses include fresh sashimi of the day, delicate chawan mushi (savory egg custard) with ikura (red caviar), tender Australian wagyu beef M8 and New Zealand lamb cutlets. It ends with a delicious dessert of the day, such as green tea panna cotta.
The Lounge on the ground floor, meanwhile, offers fashion-inspired high tea in the afternoon and refreshing cocktails in the evening.
Highlighting local heritage, the spa offers traditional treatments with natural elements. For instance, the 60-minute Robust Sasak Lombok Massage features long strokes and acupressure to improve blood flow and enhance the center of energy. The treatment will leave guests recharged before continuing their activities.
