Geisha The Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Jakarta

Tucked away in the chaotic, hyper-saturated dining strip of Kemang—where neon signs and Instagram traps compete for attention—Geisha could easily be overlooked. And that would be a shame. This unassuming Japanese eatery quietly serves up sushi and izakaya-style dishes that are, against all odds, genuinely impressive. While it may not yet reach the soaring heights of Jakarta’s top-tier Japanese establishments, there’s an undeniable charm and competence here that makes it worth seeking out.

The Food: Almost There, But Not Quite Legendary

Geisha’s menu delivers well-executed, crowd-pleasing Japanese fare—fresh sashimi with clean cuts, nigiri that balances rice and fish harmoniously, and robata-grilled skewers with just the right char. The flavors are authentic without being fussy, though they stop short of being truly transcendent. A little more boldness—perhaps a house signature touch or a bolder use of premium ingredients—could elevate this from very good” to “must-visit.”

The Vibe: A Clever Mix of Tradition and Millennial Flair

The space itself is aesthetic but not overdone, blending traditional Japanese minimalism with playful, modern gimmicks (think moody lighting and sleek wooden accents+smarttv and Netflix?? ). It’s clear Geisha knows its audience—young professionals and expats who want authenticity but also appreciate a stylish setting. The service mirrors this balance: polite and efficient, though not quite the ceremonial precision of high-end omakase spots.

The Verdict: A Strong Contender in a Crowded Scene

Geisha doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. In a neighborhood where many restaurants rely on hype over substance, this place delivers consistency and charm. With a few tweaks—more daring specials, a stronger culinary point of view**—it could easily become a Kemang staple. For now? It’s a damn good option in a sea of mediocrity.

Not perfect, but far better than most.

Best for: Casual sushi cravings, date nights, or when you want Japanese food without the pretension.

Skip if: You’re seeking groundbreaking innovation or...

we came here a few times before. we usually sat at the sofa and the service was okay. but, this time we chose to sit at the bar, and i really think this would be our last visit. the difference is staggering. we came around midnight for a little treat. we were wearing a very casual outfit and slippers, not like the rest of the customers who were dressed for the club. pretty much as soon as we sat, we asked for tissue. but for the 50 minutes we were there they still didn’t give it to us when i can see the tissue WAS RIGHT THERE at the other end of the bar where the waitresses were (p.s it was kind of rude if we took the tissues ourselves, since it was kind of in the staff only area). i finally had to go to the toilet just to get some tissue. we tried calling them to ask for a refill of our drinks but all of them avoided eye contact. mind you, there were at least 3 waitresses lined up at the other end of the bar and no one even bother to ask us what we needed. the chefs who were in front of us didn’t say or do anything either. they have a minimum spending of 300k rupiah per person if you want to sit at the table. if you’re not planning to spend that much, you’ll have to sit at the bar and risk getting a very rubbish service. also, only come if you’ll be wearing something “nice” or they will look at you like you’re a bum. they only serve the rich and the...

INCREASE YOUR QUALITY CONTROL AND HYGIENE CONTROL!!

Love the place but have a love and hate relationship with the food. My wife got sick after eating here.

a couple of years ago the food was amazing then the food turned bad. after a long while, me and my wife tried eating here again. The food has returned to its original taste, amazing. Love them for listening to feedback ate here again yesterday night and the next day my wife got really sick, high fever, diarrhea, and threw up. We ate the same menu, EXCEPT the unagi. She gave a comment that the unagi doesnt smell fresh and it tasted a bit sour and suspected it might not be fresh. Long story short, the next day she woke up with diarrhea. In the afternoon her body burned up with fever, and now she's vomitting. Additionally, she feels immense pain in her abdominal area.

CONTROL YOUR HYGIENE PLEASE!!!

Note: how do we know it's from here? Because we only had breakfast at home, no lunch,...