Jakarta is another city in Asia that offers great shopping to all travelers. Prices here are said to be lower compared to some Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore. There are so many shopping destinations to include in your travel itinerary and these stops should include the city’s grand malls.

TAMAN ANGGREK MALL
Gatot Subroto St. Kav. 21 Slipi West Jakarta 11047
+62 21 564 3777

Locals would proudly tell you that this mall is one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. It is a place where you can find everything that you need. With over 400 shops and two department stores namely Galeria Matahari and Metro, what more can you ask for?

From the moment you walk through the huge revolving doors and step into the main lobby, you will immediately be mesmerized by this mall. After a few steps, you will find yourself in the middle of the spacious atrium where most mall events like product launches, concerts, fashion shows, etc are held.

Stores here cater to all kinds of shoppers. There are brand names that are affordable even for the young crowd. Of course, there are high end boutiques for those who are brand conscious and prefer designer brands. It is easy to lose track of time in all these shops where you can spend hours scouring through the finest merchandise.

If you go up to the higher floors, you will find dining and entertainment options. For entertainment, you can try the Olympic sized ice skating rink and see how long you can keep your balance. You can also catch a movie at the Cineplex Anggrek XXI. It would be a shame if you don’t explore and indulge in the various food selections here. There are over 100 cafes, food stalls and restaurants to choose from that it is impossible not to find one that can satisfy your cravings.

PLAZA INDONESIA
Jl. MH Thamrin Kav. 28 – 30, Central Jakarta, Indonesia
+62 21 3107272

It is quite easy to find the mall because it is so near the famous landmark in Jakarta, the “Selamat Datang” (meaning “Welcome”) statue at Central Jakarta.

They claim to hold the distinction of being the first high end shopping center in Indonesia when it opened its doors to the public back in 1990.

Plaza Indonesia is made up of four floors occupied by enticing designer boutiques that will make your eyes pop out of their sockets. These boutiques include different international fashion labels like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and even the very first Zara store in Indonesia.

Aside from these labels, there are other stores for your every need like banks, beauty and health stores, novelty or gift shops, jewelry stores, electronic stores, sports houses, etc. Of course, no shopping mall would be complete without having sumptuous food stops. At Plaza Indonesia, you can enjoy lunch at Secret Recipe then have a relaxing chit chat over coffee at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or at Starbucks. If you’re craving for some local dishes served in a casual setting then you must try the Sari Ratu Restaurant at the lower basement.

The mall had another breakthrough when they expanded and opened Plaza Indonesia Entertainment X’nter which was linked by a bridge to the main building. This mall is also located adjacent to an equally beautiful hotel, the Grand Hyatt Hotel Jakarta. This hotel has a notable reputation for providing superb service to its clients in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Such positive notes made this hotel a favorite among business and leisure travelers.

PLAZA SENAYAN
Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8, Gelora Bung Karno – Senayan, Jakarta Pusat 10270 Indonesia
+62 21 572 5555

In the Southern part of Jakarta, you must definitely check out Plaza Senayan. It is located just a few minutes away from the Semanggi intersection and is easily accessible to everyone no matter where in the city you’ll be coming from.

It is fondly referred to as the “Most Stylish Shopping Mall in Jakarta”. It has immense high end offerings when it comes to shop line up and the type of services that you can avail of. It caters to a wide range of age group but is usually visited by the younger group who go to the mall to check out the latest fashion trends and to meet with their friends just to hang out.

Tenants of this impeccably designed mall include two huge department stores — Metro Department Store in one end and Sogo Department Store on the other end. Another prominent tenant is Books Kinokuniya, the largest foreign bookstore in town.

Who says you cannot catch the latest movies during your trip? You can watch the current flicks in Plaza Senayan XXI Cineplex. After the movie, challenge your friends in a bowling game at the bowling alley at the third floor. You will also find it difficult to make up your mind when it comes to food because of the endless choices that you will find inside the mall.

PONDOK INDAH I & II
Jalan Metro Pondok Indah Blok III B, Jakarta Selatan 12310
+62 21 750 6750

Pondok Indah Mall, also called PIM, is a shopping mall that is located at Pondok Pinang South of Jakarta. It is divided into two major sections, PIM 1 and PIM 2, which are joined together by a bridge.

It also caters mainly to the upper class area of the city where most expatriates and wealthy Indonesian businessmen live. A thirty to forty minute drive from the city center will bring you to the Pondok Indah’s location which will make you feel like you are driving along the streets of Beverly Hills as the wide streets are lined with towering palm trees.

All of its five floors are occupied by key tenants like Gramedia Bookstore, Hero Supermarket, Metro Department Store, etc that make up the mall’s over 400 shops. For entertainment, you can check out the movie house called the Pondok Indah 21. There are restaurants, banks, etc. It is also home to the very first store in Indonesia of the famous American doughnut chain, Krispy Kremes.

With all these malls to visit in Jakarta, I highly suggest that you include shopping for an extra luggage in your budget. Grand malls like these would make you want to just shop and shop and bring home everything!

Posted in Indonesia, Things to do

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 at 2:15 pm and is filed under Indonesia, Things to do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.