What the best cafes have in store for you
Kenny Santana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Choosing the best cafe to hang out in isn't easy! A fave cafe for one cafe-goer can be a place to avoid for another, and there are no such things as objective opinions. Below are some of the capital's choices, and the best features they have to offer.
View: Dome, Plaza Indonesia 1st Floor (tel: 314 2382).
From inside the cafe, (the one in Plaza Indonesia, not in Ratu Plaza), you can see the view of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, plus the "welcome" to Jakarta statue. This gives Dome the accolade of having the best view, especially in the evening. Dome's late opening hours (until 12 a.m. weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends) also provides an advantage to shoppers to hang out till late. The food itself comes in small portions, considerably more expensive than many cafes, but the chicken pie and iced mocha are superb.
Tiramisu: Alessandro Nannini, Plaza Senayan 3rd Floor, No. 317A (tel: 572 5412).
Nothing beats Nannini's tiramisu except pure love. That's a quote from a friend of mine. And yes, he's right, the tiramisu here is incredibly mouth-watering. You can't call yourself a tiramisu lover if you have never tried the one at this place. Despite its so-so decor, Nannini has great lasagna and that tiramisu that only costs Rp 17,500 per slice. This is one of the top joints to eat at.
Ice Cream: Kafe Pisa, Jl. Gereja Theresia, No. 1, Menteng (tel: 310-0151).
Claiming to have more than 70 flavors of ice cream, the variety and the taste of their ice cream will leave you in awe. Set in a romantic, open air space with romantic makes Kafe Pisa different from other cafes. But the live music inside sometimes sounds too loud if you really want to chat. Prices are OK, the food is tasty but don't expect a big portion.
Price: Tamani Cafe, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 3A (tel: 719-8077).
If you're feeling like you can eat anything but don't have a big budget, then go to this place. Look over the menu -- they have lots of choices, from nasi goreng (fried rice) to Cordon Bleu, all coming in huge portions but very reasonably priced. And the taste is quite appetizing. The atmosphere itself is more a restaurant than a cafe. It also has great service, and the place became popular from word of mouth. Words of satisfaction, no doubt.
Noodles: wwwok! Jl. Kemang Raya No 9 (tel. 719-3922).
With its Internet connection and specialty of noodles come the name wwwok! And the combination somehow works. The noodles are great, plus they have simple but unique appetizers (fried mantao) and desserts, like srikaya pudding. Juices come fresh. However, the cost of surfing the Net is not cheap if you compare with warnet (Internet kiosks) spread all around Jakarta. It also has a pool table to relax your mind.
Atmosphere: Twilite Cafe (TC), Jl. Kemang Raya No 24A (tel. 719-4270).
It's like you are in streets of Paris, with all the shops around you, right there in the restaurant. A barber shop, bookshop and clothes shop are all on the premises. And you'll feel romantic with the piano music playing in the background. Maybe not the hippest place to be nowadays, but with an atmosphere like this, plus delicious nasi goreng kampung (village style fried rice), this can be an alternative for a quiet Saturday night.
Friendliest:Hard Rock Cafe, Gedung Sarinah, Jl. MH Thamrin No. 11 (tel. 390-3565
One of the oldest cafes in town, it has friendly staff who try to make you feel at ease. They'll ask about how your food is (not a given at restaurants here) and make an effort to chat with you. Home of great live music with regular performances of famous local and overseas bands. Great burgers with yummy brownies in big American portions. Not as popular as it used to be, but still draws crowds during weekends.
Most promising: Tornado Coffee, Jl. Bangka Raya A3 (tel. 71792662).
The closest to the real definition of a cafe a.k.a coffee shop. Small but very cozy. The smell and the taste of the coffee are breathtaking. If only they expand the place with more choices of light meals (it's only pastries now), it could be a perfect joint to chat over a great cup of java. Don't forget to try their Tornado blend caramel, it's over the top!