Why stay?

There is a tendency for newer properties in Jakarta to be high-rise havens in the sky, and St Regis Jakarta, the St. Regis brand’s sophomore outpost in Indonesia after its renowned Bali beach resort bucks the trend. It opened at the end of 2022 inside a revamped old favorite that has graced the city’s luxe hospitality scene since the mid-nineties. This stylish hotel boasts a “real” lobby, which doubles as a social spot and a place to be seen; another drawcard is the range of creature comforts (as well as signature butler service), while design details and commissioned works illustrate Indonesia’s boundless store of creativity and artistic talent.

The neighborhood

The St. Regis Jakarta takes up a 17-story building in Rajawali Place, a mixed-use development with a much taller tower for branded residences and an office block. It’s situated right at the northern end of the downtown Kuningan district, home to more than two dozen foreign embassies and a smattering of upscale shopping malls. The hotel is within walking distance of two elevated LRT stations (Dukuh Atas and Setiabudi), though chances are you’ll depend on the ever-reliable Bluebird taxis for more convenient point-to-point journeys around town.

A grand piano sits on the landing of the staircase at The St. Regis Jakarta’s lobby.

The feel

Prolific architect Bill Bensley’s whimsical touch is evident the moment you pull up to the new-look entrance. He was responsible for overhauling the outdoor areas — the leafy pool deck out back features anthropomorphic sculptures and canvas-roofed cabanas. Inside, public spaces were the work of New York–based practice Champalimaud Design, which worked closely with Indonesian creatives to give the property a subtle sense of place. Bandung-based art collective Tromarama did digital projections of indigenous flowers for the marbled arrival foyer, fashion designer Iwan Tirta adorned cushions throughout the hotel with his vibrant batik fabrics, while Eddy Susanto contributed a mural that melds jazz and Javanese shadow puppetry in the cocktail bar.

Guest quarters

A classic-contemporary aesthetic unites the 282 rooms and suites designed by the G.A. Group. Expect to be cocooned in absolute comfort and silence: multiple layers of glass insulate guests from traffic noise and the hurly-burly of Jakarta. Sliding wooden shutters and glass doors open out to enclosed private balconies in all room types. Also guaranteed is the 24-hour St. Regis butler service (Caroline Astor suites and above come with their own dedicated butler). Lead-in Deluxe rooms start at an already generous 46 square meters, and higher-category accommodations dwarf a typical Singapore or Hong Kong apartment. Couples seeking to entertain in private can splurge on the 154-square-meter Metropolitan Suite: given the plush living area, an oval island counter with a Miele induction cooktop and cocktail-making kit, and a circular tub in the master bathroom, you’ll be tempted not to leave this opulent den at all.

Food and drink

Servers wheel out a dessert trolley during afternoon tea sessions at The Drawing Room, which occupies half of the high-ceilinged lobby. Dainty treats such as miniature pandan scones are best washed down with Dammann Frères’ fruity Jardin Bleu tea, made exclusively for The St. Regis Jakarta. Nearby, Rosé Gourmand Deli is the place to pick up delectable pastries, salads, and baguette or focaccia sandwiches, while Bel Étage does indulgent buffets throughout the day. A specialty on the latter’s lunchtime à la carte menu is the fall-off-the-bone konro bakar (Makassar-style grilled beef ribs). Hosting live jazz performances six nights a week, The St. Regis Bar satisfies drinkers with its fine cocktails and Violet Hour martini ritual. An attached Malt Room houses a curated selection of whiskies and there’s also a wine vault filled with French vintages. Shorthand for John Jacob Astor, dinners-only J.J.A. is right upstairs: preface your Atlantic lobster flambé with Sumbawa crab dumplings in a rich soy-milk pumpkin sauce and smoked burrata from an Italian maker on the island of Lombok. Be sure to order the creamy kimchi mashed potato — it’s the perfect accompaniment to a juicy tenderloin steak.

Guests enjoying a cocktail at The St. Regis Bar.

Wellness factor

Tucked away on the ground floor, and with a separate side entrance, The St. Regis Spa features six treatment rooms including two for couples. A Himalayan salt sauna, steam room, vitality pool, and ice fountain are located in the changing rooms off the downstairs Iridium Lounge. Pampering facials utilize beauty and skincare products from high-end Parisian brand Sothys; the signature Performance massage is a full-body treatment that combines Balinese and Javanese techniques delivered with long, flowing strokes and expertly applied pressure to untangle muscle knots.

Family matters

While the St. Regis Jakarta draws a more suited-up clientele on weekdays, that’s not to say it doesn’t welcome the little ones. Bensley has incorporated a wading pool with quirky bucket fountains overhead, and upstairs on the third floor, a studio for yoga and Pilates transforms into a kids’ club on weekends. Bel Étage offers a children’s menu in addition to its extensive buffets. Stay packages for families come with perks like mini in-room teepees, kid-size bathrobes and slippers, plus complimentary scoops of ice cream.

Sustainability cred

All rooms have been fitted with body sensors to activate lights and adjust air conditioning levels to the guest’s internal temperature. Drinking water taken from Bali’s highlands comes in glass bottles, while the bar soap and facial cleanser by British brand Ren Clean Skincare were formulated with natural, ethically sourced, and sometimes upcycled ingredients. Leftover foodstuffs from buffets at Bel Étage are repackaged and sent to Scholars of Sustenance Indonesia, a nonprofit that provides nutritious boxed meals to the underprivileged.

What else?

A must-do is the “Sound of Light” experience at 6 p.m. every evening, when the custom-made Lasvit chandeliers in the lobby dim and brighten to a soundtrack of orchestral music created by Indonesian composer Andi Rianto. Written during the pandemic, the score “Cahayaku” is about looking forward to a better, brighter future. Its uplifting melody sets the mood for a four-minute spectacle that heralds the start of turndown time and a gradual transition to resting hours.

Reviewed by James Louie

stregisjakarta.com
+62 21 5094 8888
Rajawali Place, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. B/4, Setiabudi, Jakarta, Indonesia

The St. Regis Jakarta: Socially Sophisticated

Jakarta Hotels

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