1 The Dharmawangsa
The premier traveller's address in Jakarta, the Dharmawangsa is an inspired blend of colonial-style comfort and classical Javanese civilisation, with a museum-quality collection of art and antiques on display in its cool, hushed halls and lounges. Guest rooms are the biggest in the city, with private balconies and 24-hour butler service that is more than a catchphrase.
2 Cafe Batavia
The most popular and dependable international restaurant in Jakarta, open 24 hours, this handsome establishment is decorated from floor to high ceilings with framed period photographs of film stars that double as menus. The fare comprises Chinese, Indonesian and continental cuisine, well cooked and elegantly presented (if on the pricey side for Indonesia).
Superbly located on Taman Fatahillah, a generously proportioned plaza that was the centre of old Batavia, the Dutch colonial capital, Cafe Batavia is also one of the best places in town for cocktails, with more than 60 to choose from. Downstairs is a dim, romantic nightclub, with frequent live jazz performances. The restaurant's a great choice for lunch, before or after a visit to the neighbouring Jakarta History Museum, more interesting for its architecture than its collection, and the pleasant little Wayang Museum, with its free performances of the shadow-puppet drama every Sunday morning at 10am (Taman Fatahillah, Kota,