The Dharmawangsa

Jakarta on business makes perfect sense for a certain type of globetrotter, but as a destination for a luxury retreat, it’s slightly curious. Consider, though, that the Dharmawangsa is a Rosewood hotel, a sister or at least a cousin to New York’s Carlyle and erstwhile Martha Stewart favorite Las Ventanas, and it’s all perfectly clear.

One expects Indonesia’s capital to bustle, and it does, but there’s quiet to be had, if you know where to look. The Kebayoran Baru district is something of an oasis, an upscale residential area, lined with trees, and offering access to some phenomenal shopping, as well as reasonably close proximity to the Golden Triangle.

Then again, leaving the Dharmawangsa’s grounds may prove difficult. Guest rooms offer generous spaces, private balconies, and 24-hour butler service. Dutch Colonial and traditional Javanese furnishings provide an elegant backdrop, and the marble bathrooms come complete with double-size soaking tubs. Suites are almost asdfly decadent, with four-poster beds draped in silk and, in some cases, private plunge pools.

This is the sort of hotel that cries out for a spa, and the facilities of the adjacent Bimasena health club don’t disappoint; any number of mind-altering therapies are on offer, as well as plenty of more prosaic choices, like tennis and squash. Sriwijaya offers a fine and wide-ranging cuisine, and the Jakarta restaurant is open all day—both are ideal spots for mixing with the well-heeled locals.

• 100 Rooms
• Style: Modern Design
• Atmosphere: Quiet

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