The recently-opened property in South Jakarta marks the return of the InterContinental brand to the Indonesian capital. Mimi Hudoyo checks into the high-end hotel and reveals why it's worth a stay.
Location
The hotel is located in Pondok Indah, south Jakarta, where upmarket residences, international schools, reputable hospitals and entertainment facilities call home.
South Jakarta has increasingly becoming a popular location for companies to open their businesses, but only a few upmarket hotels are currently operating in the area.
The hotel itself is strategically integrated within a high-end commercial complex where the well-known Pondok Indah Mall, an office tower, a water park and a 18-hole golf course are interconnected.
Room
My Club InterContinental room on the 23rd floor offered a clear view of the surrounding area through the full-length windows. The colour scheme and the elegant interiors combine to make the 47m2 room feel even more spacious than it already is.
The room is equipped with a large screen IP TV and mobile platform access to a range of personal experiences, such as the sound bar.
The bathroom is not only large but also has features expected of a luxury property, such as separate bathtub, shower and toilet.
F&B
The all-day dining Sugar & Spice is located on the Level 1, serving buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with cuisines from across the five continents. A teppanyaki ‘speakeasy’ bar will come soon be added.
The Indonesian selection offered authentic tastes and for spice lovers, the chefs are not shy about playing things up with the variety of sambal chilli sauces. (A word of caution: the chilli is really hot.)
The Indian food is sumptuous and the papadam is so light and crunchy, not to mention the creamy home-cured salmon.
I had a taste of the chef’s new menu item of the BLT soup (bakso meatball, lidah ox tongue, tunjang tendon), which was still in its test kitchen. The soup was surprisingly light and fragrant, while the ox tongue was tender and the tendon melted in my mouth. This dish, in my opinion, should be included in the menu.
I checked on the breakfast spread at the restaurant and found such a tempting selection that I chose to dine at the Executive Lounge, just so that I could rein in my appetite by tucking into the fresh and healthy options – and equally delicious food.
The Lounge at the lobby level is a great spot to connect with friends or business partners. Trolleys feature a variety of single-origin coffee and tea throughout the day as well as gin in the evening, plus a selection of canapés. DJs and live bands will perform on Wednesdays to Fridays, but the sound system is set in such a way that patrons could easily talk over drinks and music.
The Lounge also serves daily afternoon tea and on weekends, offers a buffet of light meals like sate, dim sum, samosa and mini chocolate fondue.
Two additional F&B facilities, The Aqua Lounge by the pool and a rooftop dining venue, are coming soon.
Facilities
The most outstanding facility is the meeting and banquet facilities. Not only does the hotel have a huge ballroom with an 11m-high ceiling that can host up to 3,500 people and multiple breakouts, it also has a dedicated wedding lounge, and wedding gallery displaying wedding elements as well as bridal changing rooms. A Chef Table, a dedicated food-tasting room is available for planners of big events, with direct access to the banquet kitchen.
Other facilities include the Inaria Spa with Jacuzzi, steam and sauna, fitness centre and swimming pool. The Planet Trekkers, the signature children’s facilities include swimming pool and playground on Level 8, and an indoor play area near Sugar and Spice.
Service
The hotel soft-opened last December but it has been keeping a low profile in the past months to overcome any glitches a new hotel might have. And based on my stay, this strategy worked out fine. The services are top notch: smooth check-in and out, quick response to enquiries, requirement and orders.
Verdict
A business hotel boasting luxury comfort, surrounded by playgrounds for children and adults.
No. of rooms 311
Rates from US$149
Contact details
Tel: (62) 21 3950 7355
Email: rsvn.intercontinentaljakartapondokindah@ihg.com
