The National Monument (Monas) may have a grandeur that rivals other great monuments in the world, but paying it a visit in the daytime, especially around noon when the sun is at its peak, might be too much for some.

Luckily for would-be sunburned visitors in the same complex the city administration has opened the Lenggang Jakarta food court, which offers food and beverages that can be enjoyed while waiting for the heat to subside.

On Tuesday, one visitor, a 27-year-old woman from Bekasi in West Java, hopped inside one tent set up beside an ice coconut beverage vendor in the food court, which was located just 200 meters from the iconic monument.

“I am waiting for my family who are currently sightseeing. I better sit here because it is so hot out there in the sun. Besides there’s a lot of local food here,” said Ana, who visited Monas with eight of her family members.

Located within Monas’ parking lot, the food court is a must-visit for both local and foreign tourists who want to get a taste of traditional delicacies like kerak telor (spicy omelette) and ketoprak (rice cake with vegetables and tofu in peanut sauce), as well as Jakarta-style bubur ayam (chicken porridge) and mie ayam (chicken noodles).

Another big draw is that the food and drinks are very cheap. Kerak telor for instance, which is popular among tourists, is available for Rp 20,000 (US$1.5) per serving.

For tourists who want to bring a piece of Jakarta home, they can find souvenirs, which range from miniature figurines of Monas and becak (pedicab), being hawked in nearby stands at prices starting from Rp 150,000.

For tourists on a tight budget, they can get a T-shirt with “Jakarta” or “Monas” printed on the front for only Rp 15,000.

Until recently, food, beverages and souvenirs were freely hawked by street vendors who roamed Monas’ grounds sometimes to the annoyance of tourists who wanted to enjoy their time at the monument in private.

After prolonged negotiations, in May 2015 Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama convinced at least 300 street vendors to relocate to Lenggang Jakarta.

Ahok also commissioned the establishment of a playground so that children could further enjoy their time at Monas by taking rides on odong-odong (mobile amusement rides), komidi putar (merry-go-round), a mini train and a mini windmill.

On Tuesday, these children could be seen playing on the playground while their parents sat under shady trees, taking a break from January’s unusually scorching heat.

The city administration considers Lenggang Jakarta a success and plans to implement the concept in each of the province’s municipalities.

Late last year on Dec. 29, the city administration launched a similar setup in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The Lenggang Jakarta in Kemayoran can accommodate at least 230 street vendors, 108 of which are food sellers, while the rest are souvenir vendors.

Another Lenggang Jakarta is being planned for Cipulir subdistrict, adjacent to a child-friendly integrated public space (RPTRA) in South Jakarta.

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