Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta — Hotel in Jakarta

I checked in on October 19, 2024—just one day before the inauguration of Indonesia’s new president (I did not know this when I booked the hotel). It’s possible that some of my less pleasant experiences stemmed from the added security and activity related to this event.

Upon arrival at the hotel from the airport, I was greeted by a strong security presence, including a check of my taxi. Near the hotel entrance, many diplomatic cars were parked, and in the hotel lobby it looked like heads of state or ambassadors were engaged in photo-ops just as I tried to check in. This was an unusual experience—not necessarily positive or negative, just unexpected.

Although I arrived around 5 p.m., I was informed that my room wasn’t ready yet. I was invited to the lounge on the 20-something floor for a drink and dessert while I waited. I was told it would take at most 30 minutes for my room to be ready, but it ended up taking closer to an hour. After that, it took an additional 10-15 minutes for my luggage to be brought up to my room. Not the best first impression, but I decided to overlook this.

Once settled in my room on the 10th floor, I was pleasantly surprised. The standard room was spacious, almost suite-like, with excellent amenities and an overall inviting and pleasant ambiance.

However, my first night’s sleep was interrupted around 6 a.m. by loud noises from cars and motorcycles and early celebrations on the main street next to the hotel. I mentioned this to the staff, explaining that the noise had disrupted my rest, and asked if anything could be done or if I should consider moving to another hotel (I had booked a stay for five nights). The staff were understanding and apologetic, offering me a room on the 23rd floor where they assured me it would be quiet. Upon arriving in my new room, I was greeted with an apology card and a plate of desserts.

Unfortunately, sleep wasn’t entirely restful in this new room either, as the curtains were damaged, letting sunlight stream in early in the morning. This time, it wasn’t noise but light that woke me. When I brought this to the hotel’s attention, they responded promptly, fixing the issue by hanging new curtains.

On the third day, around 7 p.m., I returned to the hotel and asked the concierge about the pool and sauna opening hours, only to learn they’d closed early at 5 p.m. that day due to a private event—another minor letdown.

While my stay here was thus not without its flaws, the hotel’s attentive staff, lovely rooms, and great amenities left a lasting impression. I debated between a three or four-star rating but ultimately decided to focus on the positive aspects of my stay. Despite the challenges, the hotel’s excellent location, high-quality facilities, and genuinely apologetic and understanding staff make it deserving of a five star rating in my opinion.

I look forward to visiting Jakarta again in the future and would then still consider staying at...

A Place We Keep Coming Back

We absolutely love returning to the Mandarin. The spacious rooms and sweeping cityscape views are endlessly tempting.

From the moment we arrive, we’re welcomed with sincere kindness and professionalism—from the security officers who greet us with a smile and assist with directions, to the concierge team who are always ready with helpful suggestions and swift service, to the housekeeping staff who keep the room spotless and thoughtfully arranged. One thing we especially appreciate—and rarely find elsewhere—is the immaculate cleanliness of the room. Not just fresh, but the bed linen itself actually smells subtly fragrant and comforting, like a promise of rest. Special thanks to Reza from housekeeping who prepared our room and left us a lovely handwritten anniversary greeting card.

One thing that continues to amaze us is how well the team remembers us and our preferences, from dietary needs to special requests in every stay. During our most recent visit to celebrate our wedding anniversary, they went above and beyond—not once, but three times. We were surprised with beautiful room decorations, a welcoming meal, and a sweet breakfast cake—thoughtfully arranged by Jennie and Keisha at the restaurant.

Check-in was a breeze thanks to Estee from the front desk team, who made sure everything went smoothly. A special thank-you as well to Ika, who had also helped us on a previous stay and warmly remembered us this time too—such a wonderful surprise. And to the other front desk team member who greeted us so kindly (we regret forgetting your name!), please know your hospitality didn’t go unnoticed.

We also want to extend our appreciation to the incredible staff at the lounge. We always look forward to spending time there—the view is stunning, the atmosphere peaceful, and the afternoon tea snacks are consistently delicious. Truly, some of the best cakes we’ve ever had!

At breakfast, we were warmly looked after by Niki and Monica—both of whom brought such cheer and attention to every little detail. At dinner, Mr. Sanjaya personally checked in to ensure everything met our expectations. We also noticed some delightful updates at the restaurant—improved breakfast selections and more refined flavors overall, especially at Cinnamon.

To all the other amazing staff members whose names we may have forgotten—please forgive us! Your kindness, professionalism, and thoughtful service made our stay truly special, and we are sincerely grateful.

Mandarin continues to make every stay feel personal, thoughtful, and memorable. With such genuine hospitality and attention to detail, it’s no wonder we keep coming back. Already looking forward to...

This is by far the best hotel I have lived at anywhere in the world! The hotel was amazing, very clean and centrally located. The rooms were top notch and superb. I found absolutely no faults with this hotel at all. The most wonderful thing that made our stay at the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta great though was the very friendly, amazing, lovely & always smiling staff. They really made our stay very memorable, joyous and made it feel like home.

I would like to thank all staff at Concierge & Front Reception especially Maria, Dilla, Richard, Oki, Mayro, Neha, Rhendy, Vollyn, Bayu, Grace, Xavier, Tami, Darin, Kershe, Ika & Ben for always helping us out a lot and having nice, friendly chats and always greeting us with smiles! We learned a lot about food and places to visit in Jakarta through their information and advice.

I would like to thank all security staff for making the hotel feel safe and secure at all times. I would also like to thank all housekeeping staff for making the hotel and the room look very clean and sparkling at all times. Your attention to detail is superb!

We had buffet breakfast every day during our stay and the restaurant was great, clean and the choice of food available at breakfast was exceptional! Such a vast range of foods were available to suit every palette. The restaurant was very clean and once again the staff there were just so friendly and helpful and that enhanced our breakfast experience! Big thanks to Syafira, Dinda and all the staff there for taking care of us and making breakfast always awesome!

I would like to thank all of you once again and also the countless others I haven't named or forgot to mention who made our stay wonderful & memorable! I remember all of your faces. You all are truly the best!! Big thanks to all staff at Mandarin Oriental Jakarta!

I will definitely stay here again next time I come...