A concierge’s guide to Jakarta

Kota Tua (Jakarta’s Old Town) gives a glimpse of the city’s colonial past. Stop for a drink at local institution Café Batavia, an airy, elegantly traditional restaurant, set in the Dutch East India Company’s former headquarters. First-time visitors should also check out the old port, Sunda Kelapa, which is still very much a working harbour where the day’s catch is hauled in.

In Menteng, close to Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta, you’ll find the Jalan Surabaya flea market. It’s lined with vintage and antique shops that have been here since the 1970s. You can shop here for everything from ornate wood carvings to vinyl records. Just don’t forget to haggle.

The towering National Monument, in the centre of Merdeka Square, is the most famous landmark in Jakarta. It’s a beloved symbol of Indonesia’s fight for independence, which was declared in 1945 after years of Dutch colonial rule. The main draw is a trip to the observation deck at the top, which affords 360° views across the city. Back at ground level, stroll to the vast Istiqlal Mosque and the city’s spire-topped Catholic cathedral, which stand almost directly opposite one another.

There’s a modern twist to the Cantonese fine dining at Li Feng. Its menu was created with Chef Fei of the two Michelin-starred restaurant Jiang at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. Every plate is beautifully considered, whether it’s crispy crab claw with Avruga caviar or sweet, sticky pork char siu.

Beyond the hotel, it’s a few minutes’ walk to Kaum, a stylish restaurant with dishes from around the archipelago, which has a low-lit, gold-accented dining room. Seribu Rasa is another atmospheric pick, serving Peranakan-style cuisine in a striking, colonial-style house.

For a drink with panoramic city vistas, claim a window table at MO Bar, whose signature serves include the Opera House Negroni, made with umeshu (plum wine).

The recently renovated Museum Wayang (the Puppet Museum), also by Fatahillah Square, is a fantastic place to discover Indonesia’s tradition of wayang shadow puppetry. But the best-known family outing in the city is to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. It’s a sprawling park, with full-scale replicas of traditional regional houses, plus cable cars, an Imax theatre and a miniature model of the archipelago.