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Jakarta Post

Hospitality: Dining at hotels adds to memorable stay

JP/Seto WardhanaWhile providing rooms is still the main focus of all hotels, more attention is being placed on the dining experience

Ruth Ninajanty (The Jakarta Post)
Thu, July 12, 2018

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Hospitality: Dining at hotels adds to memorable stay

JP/Seto Wardhana

While providing rooms is still the main focus of all hotels, more attention is being placed on the dining experience.

Hotel dining is often synonymous with special occasions, from birthdays and wedding anniversaries to special events and important business meetings. That is why both business hotels and family hotels in Jakarta take it seriously when it comes to offering their customers a dining experience to remember.

According to Colliers International Quarterly Report, comprising 39 percent of the market in 2018, most hotels in Jakarta are four-star and cater to business activities and meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE).

Different hotels use different approaches when it comes to dining. Most hotels regularly offer thematic promotions for seasonal occasions such as Ramadhan breaking-of-the-fast meals, Christmas dinners and Easter brunches. Some have special nights that feature a customized set menu or guest chef.

The idea of always having something for everyone at hotel dining facilities increases the chances that regular business customers who frequent hotels return on future dates with their families.

Using the concept Color of the World, GrandKemang Jakarta offers a variety of dishes at different dining outlets to cater to every palate. Its main all-day-dining restaurant, Sperta, serves international and Indonesian dishes, as well as an extended selection of Asian dishes.

Attached to Sperta Restaurant is Sparca Lounge, the perfect venue for business meetings during the day and relaxing after the sun goes down. Those who prefer sweets and coffee may find comfort at D’Courtyard, which is located next to the reception desk. Guests can also order their favorite cakes for takeout.

Just as the weekday shifts, becoming more casual on the weekend, GrandKemang Jakarta is adjusting its services for families. Sperta hosts Grill BBQ Night on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Brunch It Up Buffet on Sunday at noon, when children under 16 years old can eat for free with their parents.

Furthermore, this sophisticated four-star hotel is opening a new hangout spot called Melody Music Bar & Lounge this month. Located in a prime location in South Jakarta, the bar and lounge is expected to attract new customers and keep loyal ones entertained.

According to GrandKemang Jakarta general manager Bernhard Kammerlohr, Melody is special because it shows that the hotel supports the music industry, especially the indie genre. Melody offers a chill vibe that promises memorable experiences and interactions with live bands and singers every night.

Located further south is Mercure Jakarta Simatupang, situated right by one of the largest MRT hubs. Mercure Simatupang is one of the many hotels built and managed by AccorHotels, the most active hotel chain according to Colliers International Quarterly Report. As of the first quarter of 2018, AccorHotels is managing a total of 7,097 rooms in 29 hotels in Jakarta.

The four-star hotel features three dining facilities with exuberant atmospheres: Biztro Graffiti, Madelaines & Macarons and Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar. It is hard to miss the fun and fascinating ambience from the dining facilities available at this hotel.

JP/Donny Fernando
JP/Donny Fernando

Biztro Graffiti offers a unique culinary experience with classic international and traditional Indonesian dishes that match the hip atmosphere of the restaurant. Its tasty dishes would not bore frequent patrons — featured on the international menu is the signature Crusty Salmon and Graffiti Signature Burger, while Indonesian dishes include Buntut Bakar Rica and Nasi Goreng Special. Dominated by the bright blue color, framed pictures, clockwork art and, of course, graffiti, this place creates a different kind of dining experience.

Accompanying its main dining facilities, Madeleine & Macaron is a café that stays true to its name by serving brightly colored macarons. While still preserving the upbeat decorations of Biztro Graffiti, one can expect to find vibrant scribbles on the wall around this café. The last stop for dining is Karumba, arguably Jakarta’s best rooftop rum bar, on the 19th floor of the hotel.

Home to over 100 varieties of rum, Karumba’s music is as diverse as its drinks, with anything from reggae to soul, Latin to modern R&B. Popular dishes include West Indies-style pasta and Karumba Pizza.

With the rising popularity of Instagrammable places, hotels with a unique ambience, like Artotel Thamrin Jakarta, may attract younger, modern and tech-savvy customers who feel the need to snap and post.

The three-star hotel, strategically located across Sarinah Shopping Center and within walking distance of the city center Thamrin Main Street, is home to two popular dining spots, RoCA and BART. RoCA, short for Restaurant of Contemporary Art, is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant with local, Asian and international foods on its menu.

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this artistic restaurant is popular for breakfast and supper — and anything in between. It is good to visit when the sun is up if you are on a quest for social media content, but it is also relaxing to chill in the evening. RoCA is famous for its signature Nasi Goreng Kemangi Teri Medan, a green fried rice dish with a sunny side up egg on top.

RoCA also offers a bridal shower package in the form of a family dinner set. The set, which includes an appetizer, soup, main course, dessert and beverage, is valid every day all year long. Staying true to its name, the restaurant’s decorated walls are popular among visitors looking for a worthy background for their group photos.

Hotel dining is not complete without a bar and Artotel’s BART serves as the fun counterpart to the artistic RoCA. With its open-air luxury in the center of Jakarta’s hustle and bustle, located on the seventh floor is the venue, a sanctuary for those looking for a short escape after a busy day at work.

The hotel group, which also owns properties in Bali and Yogjakarta, is expanding its chain with similar artsy concepts in cities like Batu, Semarang and Bandung.

Hotel dining isn’t just about eating — it’s about different kinds of experiences, be it with your colleagues or your family. As each venue is unique, be sure to find the one that suits your taste buds, and your heart.

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