10 Best Restaurants in the Busy & Historical City of Jakarta

By HellonolanEditors

We offer a selection of diverse cuisines and excellent service, perfect for whatever brings you into the city.

Jakarta is a highly dynamic city that moves rapidly to keep pace with change—and your lunch or dinner plans in this bustling metropolis should be no different. Whatever the occasion or atmosphere, our curated list of restaurants suits every mood, whether you are on the go or simply looking to unwind.

1. Sofia at The Gunawarman

(Western & Indonesian food)

Sofia at The Gunawarman is a luxurious, European neoclassical-style restaurant located within a hotel at Jl. Gunawarman No. 3, Selong, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Open daily from 07:00 to 23:00 WIB, the establishment offers an international menu featuring Italian, French, Asian, and Indonesian dishes, and is renowned for its magnificent interior adorned with glittering, opulent chandeliers. The atmosphere is romantic and upscale, making it an ideal setting for dates or special occasions. The menu includes a variety of pastas, steaks, and seafood platters, alongside Asian and Indonesian cuisine. Beverages include a full bar, coffee, and cocktails. Special dietary options are also available for vegetarians and vegans.

2. Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Jakarta

(Western cuisine)

This steakhouse is named after the legendary chef Wolfgang Zwiener, who has spent over 40 years in the culinary world and established 21 successful steakhouses across the globe. In Jakarta, the restaurant is located in the prestigious SCBD Elysee area (Unit 06-01, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Lot 21, South Jakarta). Wolfgang’s Steakhouse serves authentic dry-aged steaks made exclusively from USDA Prime beef, catering to steak lovers and culinary enthusiasts alike. The venue features a classic, luxurious ambiance, with a menu comprising appetizers, prime steaks, chops & entrées, seafood, and side dishes. There is also a special lunch steak menu featuring the “Taste of Jakarta” and “Taste of New York”.

3. Natrabu

(Padang/Indonesian Cuisine)

This Padang-style restaurant has a long-standing history and considered as one of the most iconic Padang eateries in Indonesia. It’s located on Jalan Agus Salim in Central Jakarta, an area popularly known as Sabang. Padang is the capital of West Sumatra province, which is the region where this cuisine originated. Its authentic flavors, backed by years of experience, make this restaurant a go-to spot for travelers in Jakarta. The restaurant’s unique interior design further enhances the authentic atmosphere of West Sumatran culture. Notably, the restaurant’s standout dishes are rendang (beef) and ayam pop (chicken steam).

4. Plataran Resto

(Indonesian, Asian & Western Cuisine)

Plataran Resto is a premier venue for those wishing to enjoy authentic Indonesian cuisine in a comfortable setting, conveniently located in the heart of Jakarta. The Indonesian menu is deeply authentic and traditional, featuring a variety of classic dishes from Indonesia, Asia, and Western that blend local flavors with international touches. It’s located on Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto in Menteng, the restaurant occupies a historic art deco-style colonial building that offers a pleasant dining atmosphere. Although reservations are required, the resto—backed by extensive experience in the tourism industry—knows exactly how to delight the palates of travelers and visitors. Beyond its authentic dining operations, the Plataran brand is also renowned for the hotel and tourism attraction businesses.

5. Kafe Betawi

(Authentic Jakarta Cuisine)

While you’re in Jakarta, if you wish to savor authentic traditional cuisine from the city—specifically Betawi/Jakarta dishes—this restaurant is the place to go. Their signature dishes are Soto Betawi and Nasi Uduk. Other Betawi specialties are also available, such as sop buntut (oxtail soup), gado-gado (Indonesian mixed vegetable salad with peanut sauce), asinan pengantin (mixed sweet-salt of vegetable), goat or chicken satay, empal (fried beef), nasi rames (mixed-rice), lontong, es campur (mixed-ice), and both traditional and modern-style coffee. The interior features a distinctive Betawi design to enhance guest comfort. The restaurant enjoys a highly strategic location in the heart of Jakarta at Grand Indonesia Mall (West Mall, LG Floor, Jl. MH Thamrin No. 1).

6. Pagi-Sore

(Authentic Padang/Indonesian Cuisine)

In our opinion the restaurant—serving authentic cuisine from Minang, West Sumatra—excels in both the flavor of the dishes and the quality of the service. Its signature dishes include rendang bumbu hitam (black-spice beef rendang), gulai kepala kakap (red snapper head curry), and ikan nila dabu-dabu (tilapia with dabu-dabu salsa). The rich spice and herb blends used in these dishes permeate the meat and fish thoroughly. The service is excellent; waiters stand ready nearby to attend to guests’ needs, and the head waiter personally checks in to ask about the food and services. The restaurant’s interior layout also provides a comfortable setting for guests to enjoy their meals. The resto located in East Jakarta at Jl. Rawamangun Muka Timur No. 1A.

7. Social House

(Western & Indonesian Cuisine)

This trendy and modern restaurant seamlessly blends comfort with quality. Located at Grand Indonesia (East Mall, Level 1, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1), Social House offers a unique combination of restaurant, bar, and wine lounge experiences all in one venue. With its stunning view of the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout and as the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine from their extensive collection alongside the menu dishes in a cozy atmosphere. Social House is an ideal destination for any occasion—a place where you can enjoy casual conversation while having breakfast, lunch, high-tea, dinner, or late-night drinks.

8. Putien

(Chinese Food – Authentic Fujian Cuisine)

Putien is a Michelin-starred restaurant located in PIK Avenue Mall, North Jakarta. It serves specialties from Fujian Province, China—dishes characterized by light, unpretentious, and rich flavors with an emphasis on fresh ingredients. The restaurant features a modern Chinese aesthetic dominated by turquoise tones. The food is delicious and highly recommended, complemented by friendly services and a clean environment. It is certainly worth a visit.

9. Paradise Dynasty

(Chinese Cuisine)

This restaurant features a meticulously crafted design concept that aims to evoke the grandeur of the Chinese Imperial era through a contemporary lens. Located on the 5th floor of Plaza Senayan Mall in South Jakarta, the restaurant serves a variety of dishes hailing from both Northern and Southern China. The menu includes dim-sum, la mian (hand-pulled noodles), and a wide array of meat, seafood, and stir-fried vegetable dishes.

10. Bunga Rampai

(Indonesian Cuisine)

This award-winning restaurant housed in a classic art-deco building and celebrated as one of the best Indonesian dining spots, strives to convey that a special meal is more than just food—it is an experience. The restaurant offers a diverse menu, delicious flavors, an elegant dining atmosphere, and excellent services. Located in the heart of Jakarta at Jl. Teuku Cik Ditiro No. 35, Menteng, it presents every dish as an authentic story of Indonesian cuisine. The appetizing and varied menu draws on influences such as Chinese-Indonesian fusion (dutch-pecinan style)—featuring appetizers like Putik Sari, Sekar Jagad, and Hollands Kroket—as well as main courses like Bebek Sultan (duck) and Ayam Taliwang (chicken).