Hotel Monopoli — Hotel in Jakarta

A hotel that over promises and under delivers. Many components of the hotel do not reflect the great interior and design of the hotel.

Yes, it is a “party” hotel, and earbuds are provided, plus the receptionists has guests warned upon check in, however, that is not the sole case. Several of my guests have previously stated that the noise problem does not just stem from the lounge “The Moon” upstairs or basement club “The Room” downstairs, noise can be heard from the other neighbouring rooms as well. Conversations can easily be overheard and neighboring rooms shutting doors feel like a violent noise (like the doors were slammed). Though many trendy boutique hotels in other parts of the world have the same type of setting, others separate rooms far from their clubs, restaurants and lounges.

Another qualm is the food. The food itself isn’t that bad, in my opinion. The pastries are of high quality and fares better than what a 3-star hotel usually serves. The food is mediocre at best. In previous experiences with other Syah properties, I find that “healthy” food and pastries from Kitte are some of their strengths. Sadly, in Indonesia, the reality where those who have mere cooking experience is quickly regarded as a “chef”, which applies to whoever created the menu in the first place. Moreover, service is lousy and staff are not knowledgeable enough about the food they serve. Their attitude towards serving customers also needs further training, as some servers seem apathetic.

Most of the management staff lack hotel experience (more of management/marketing/business degrees and experience instead). Sure, making a great impression through Instagram and other forms of social media these days is important, though looks (design, in this case) can only get them so far. Instead of attempting to fix multiple complaints of customers, management and other staff just let problems slide and hope for the best. Furthermore, customer service in hotels isn’t just a 9-5 job - its way more gruelling than that.

It’s disappointing how there’s lots of potential for the hotel to do great, and there are many problems that can be fixed, but most times they choose to ignore it. Maybe the designers, both graphic and interior/exterior deserve to work for better establishments instead. Maybe instead of being on their phones for personal use at work, their staff can fix ongoing problems ‘cause apparently they are “anxious in improving their high standards” but I don’t think they take actual matters seriously. All they care about is creating collaboration events and bringing in people for the ‘gram; they shouldn’t have opened a hotel in this case. Just because it’s a 3-star boutique hotel, doesn’t mean that they have to sink to sub-par standards.

Although many surrounding hotels in Kemang are quite old and in need of a revamp, Hotel Monopoli doesn’t seem to prove its fresh, new alternative. Oh and parking adjacent to the hotel is...

I’m writing this review at 01:46AM from inside my room.

I’m staying here at the Executive Suite for 3 nights, after reading about how the hotel is “airy” and how it’s good for “staycation”.

Now, I don’t mind a little noise, in fact the first 2 nights I slept quite well even with the band on 6th floor playing and their noise permeates my room — it’s still tolerable.

Anyway, tonight is different. They had a DJ set and they played REALLY LOUD. I’m in 2nd floor and I can feel the bass on my bed. I don’t need to go to the 6th floor to enjoy the party, I can hear it from here well enough! Mind you, this is RAMADAN month and some of us have to wake up at 4 bloody AM for suhoor.

I called reception around 12:30 and they said that the DJ set will be over by 1AM. Well it’s 1:50AM now and they are STILL on full blast. To top it off, we’ve got rowdy guests screaming outside from time to time. Wonderful.

When I called again around 1am, reception said the DJ was about to stop / closing. Hmmm..it’s taking them well over 50 minutes now.

I’m really disappointed and angry. I love music and DJ as much as anyone but I’m staying in a hotel where I am given NO CHOICE at all. Either you party or you tolerate the noise.

Hotel Monopoli advertised itself to be a hotel for professionals and people who want to stay there. I called again around 2AM and the on duty manager said he had communicated upstairs but there is nothing they could do.

Great. Here is my advice: do not stay at monopoli hotel if you are looking for a good night’s sleep. Do not stay in this hotel if you are to work in the morning or have to wake up early. You have zero chance in having a good rest.

To Monopoli Hotel: the noise level is nowhere near what is acceptable for a hotel guest to experience. My complaint fell on deaf ears and I won’t be staying here nor will I recommend this hotel to anyone. And I’m just curious, a DJ set until well past 2AM during RAMADAN. Really? I’m not religious but damn, have a bit respect to your muslim guests — add some noise cancelling headphones in the rooms or free ear...

Came here just before the Christmas kicks-in ~

Before diving into the negative feedback, here are the positive aspects: The linens and towels were clean and did not have a musty smell. The Wi-Fi worked well and was fairly stable once connected. The location was strategic, surrounded by numerous cafes and mini marts. Earplugs were provided upon check-in, which helped reduce noise.

However, the hotel experience was not suitable for me, and here's why. Please read this carefully to avoid booking a hotel that does not align with your preferences. Prior to making the reservation, I didn't read any reviews, so I was unaware of these issues.

The hotel has an entertainment theme, so if you're looking for a peaceful atmosphere, this is not the right hotel. There is live music or a DJ playing until 3 - 4am every day, not just on specific days. Conversations from neighbouring rooms can also be heard due to the lack of soundproofing. I had a bit of disturbance during my rest as the room next to mine was having a small argument.

The bathing experience was unsatisfactory. Besides the lukewarm water, the liquid shampoo and soap seemed diluted with water. Despite being non-foaming, they were quite uncomfortable to use.

A deposit of 300k is required. Fortunately, they were flexible with the amount, as I didn't have that much cash on hand.

There were no chairs, and I couldn't find a fridge in the room. It made it difficult to work and storing drinks was not possible due to the minimalist size of the 20-square-meter room.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a staycation with someone, staying up until morning for conversations, and so on, this might still be a viable option. However, if you prioritise rest, work, or simply having privacy with someone else, this is not the right...