Indonesia’s capital is a thriving metropolis and a retail powerhouse that has everything from super cheap to super exclusive. Shopping in Jakarta can be a tough nut to crack - with the endless shopping possibilities, where do you even start? It can also get a wee bit tedious if you don’t cover one area at a time.
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Whether it’s local handicrafts, artisanal furniture, fashion boutiques or international brands, there’s something for everyone! Get your shopping mode ON and allow us to present to you a Shopping 101 in Jakarta?
1. Grand Indonesia
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Located in the heart of Central Jakarta, Grand Indonesia is Indonesia’s largest shopping mall and is one of the largest in Asia. The mall has 2 parts - the East mall and the West. The mall may not look THAT big from the outside but it’s actually HUGE and you can easily get lost here!
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Grand Indonesia is every shopaholics’ heaven. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man, woman or child, you’re gonna love this mall! From fast fashion favorites (ZARA, Top Man, Forever 21) to branded luxury (Chanel, Gucci, Burberry), this mall has it all! Shop till you drop, ladies!
There’s also a wide range of food options such as Indonesia’s favorite Bakmi GM on the third floor and plenty of other halal dining options throughout the mall!
Address: Jl. M.H. Thamrin No.1, Kb. Melati, Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10230, Indonesia
Opening hours · 10am – 10 pm
2. Central Park Mall
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This mall in Central Jakarta is marked by two towers overlooking a large and spacious park. The mall’s main oval atrium houses various tenants on five floors, ranging from fast-food restaurants to a good mix of fashion stores of local and international brands.
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The mall is well known for it’s 3.5-acre park that has an outdoor, free-of-charge playground called Tribeca. Check out the koi ponds and lush gardens. Feeding the fish is allowed here too! There’s no other mall like this in Jakarta with such zen vibes that helps put you in a much needed relaxed mood after all that hustling in the city ☺️
#HHWT Tip: Colorful dancing fountain shows entertain visitors at 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 pm. Perfect way to end the night!
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If you're craving for some Japanese food, you have to try IWATA Aburasoba! The noodles are handmade in the restaurant itself, and will definitely satisfy your palette ?
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Address: Jl. Let. Jend. S. Parman Kav. 28, Central Jakarta
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm
3. Pondok Indah Mall
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Pondok Indah Mall is a large shopping complex in Pondok Indah, Jakarta’s elite area. The mall consists of two retail buildings connected by two sky bridges - Pondok Indah Mall 1 and Pondok Indah Mall 2. This mall is in its own league, with a waterpark (The Wave Pondok Indah Water Park) just beside the mall ?
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Thrill-lovers will love the FlowRider - you no longer have to make a special trip to the beach to get your surfing fix! It’s also a good place for surfing beginners! There’s a lazy river section, an Olympic size swimming pool and a kids’ pool. The best part? You get to enjoy all these while overlooking the scenery of a nearby golf range.
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Stop by Johnny Rockets while you’re at the mall. This restaurant is famous for its 1950's diner setting. They serve all-American favorites that includes juicy hamburgers, crispy American Fries, classic sandwiches and rich, delicious hand-dipped shakes and malts. Don’t you feel hungry already? ?
Address: PT. Metropolitan Kentjana Tbk, Pondok Indah Mall, Jl. Metro Pondok Indah, Jakarta, 12310
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mall), 6am – 9pm (Water Park)
4. Tanah Abang Textile Market
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Tanah Abang is a bargain hunting paradise. You can find thousands of local vendors in here selling various kinds of goods, from textile, womenswear, shoes, accessories, and many more.
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This is more of a “locals” market frequented by patrons looking for grosir baju rumah (affordable wholesale clothing), but it's also a well-known tourist attraction as it is considered to be the largest textile market in South East Asia!
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If you’re looking for fabric, this is the place to go! Many locals flock here to buy cheap clothing. Plenty of Muslim wear, Busana Muslim, can be found here too ☺️
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Make sure you're not there to only shop, because there's too much good food to be missed! Pop by Bale Lombok, that is just a 5 minutes drive away! The restaurant specializes in Ayam Taliwang & Betutu, which are traditional dishes from Bali and Lombok. It offers you scrumptious Indonesian cuisine at reasonable prices in a comfortable setting.
Address: Jalan KH. Mas Mansyur, Kampung Bali, Tanah Abang, Kp. Bali, Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10240, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 8am - 4pm
5. Plaza Indonesia
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Plaza Indonesia is one of the oldest malls in Jakarta and is very popular among Jakartans. It’s been over two decades since it first stood on Muhammad Husni Thamrin Street. 'Till today, it’s still the go-to high-end shopping mall in Jakarta with a steady flow of visitors.
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This upscale mall houses designer boutiques such as Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and prominent national brands such as House of Obin, Butik Iwan Tirta and Batik Keris. The mall even has its own Fashion Week! So if you’re looking for designer brands and fashionista friends – this is definitely the place to go ?
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Plaza Indonesia is also home to the only ZARA HOME in Jakarta! If you’ve got an eye for detail, then you will love eye-candying ZARA HOME. Good news, home interiors and accessories lovers! Even if you don’t intend to buy anything, you can still get many interior design inspirations just by browsing through the home items here.
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What's a trip to Jakarta without having some authentic Indonesian food? Seribu Rasa serves the best Indonesian specialties! The restaurant's elegant interior is a perfect complement to the amazing food ?
Address: Jl. M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30, Menteng, RT.9/RW.5, Gondangdia, Menteng, Kota Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10350, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 10am – 10 pm
6. Thamrin City Shopping Mall
“Ingat batik, Ingat Thamrin” (Think Batik, Think Thamrin")! Be greeted by these exact words the minute you step into Thamrin City Shopping Mall. The place offers a whole range of goods from Muslim wear, batik and family wear to woven textiles!
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The mall is frequently visited by shoppers seeking new clothes, especially during Ramadhan and prior to Idul Fitri. Thamrin City is almost like a small-scale version of Tanah Abang. Some find it a more convenient place to shop since it’s less crowded.
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Not only is it popular amongst locals, the place has gained its fame among Singaporeans and Malaysians too. Muslim-wear stores occupy the largest part of the mall and can be found almost anywhere throughout Thamrin City. From modest wear to accessories, everything related to Muslim wear can be found here, with a range of prices.
One unique thing about Pasar Thamrin is its Pasar Tasik (Tasik Market) stores’. The term is used to describe stores run by people from Tasikmalaya, West Java and it only opens on Mondays and Thursdays. Shoppers can find locally made goods and cheap Muslim wear products here. As the goods are very popular, the stores are usually only open between 4 a.m. and 12 p.m!
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Not sure where to drop off the restless father or husband? There’s a quaint little shop called Kopi Oey on the ground floor that serves traditional kopi and delicious local food! Get ready for that guilt-less shopping trip ?
Address: Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur, Kebon Melati, Tanah Abang, Kb. Melati, Tanah Abang, Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10230, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 9am - 10pm
7. Pacific Place
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Pacific Place (or PP as its usually referred as) is one of the largest and most renowned shopping malls in Jakarta. Strategically located in the busy Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) area catering to tens of thousands of office workers, it’s a no wonder that PP ranks as one of Jakarta’s high-end malls.
P.S. This is the only Lafayette mall in the whole of Asia, so you must visit this one!
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For those travelling with children, the mall is home to what is most likely the BEST children playground in Jakartra – Kidzania! Kidzania is located on the 6th floor of the mall. Now you know where to deposit the hubby and the kids while the ladies go shopping ☺️
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You cannot miss out on the gorgeous-looking (and amazing-tasting) smoothie bowl at the Salad Bar. This one's not only good on the eyes, but also on the stomach. Healthy has never looked that good!
Address: Jl. Jend Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta 12190, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm daily
8. The Mangga Dua Mall
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Mangga Dua Mall is very popular in Jakarta. It’s extremely huge - Mangga Dua shopping mall consist of 6 main shopping centres – Mangga Dua Mall, Harco Mas Mangga Dua, Mangga Dua WTC, ITC Mangga Dua, Dusit Mangga Dua and Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua. Each mall specializes in a particular product ?
For instance, Harco Mas Mangga Dua specialises in products such as electronics, furnishings, foodstuff while ITC Mangga Dua focuses more on being the hub for fashion and accessories!
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There's everything from baby products, to rugs, to winter wear (even though it’s summer all day errday in Indonesia). You just might end up leaving this place with something not needed because everything here is so cheap! This is a place where you can haggle for lower prices – so bargain, bargain, bargain!
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There are plenty of food stalls on every floor of ITC Mangga Dua with people walking past you with drinks in hand to sell! Favorite snacks like goreng pisang and ubi goreng as well as fresh refreshments such as coconut drinks and cendol can be found on the fourth floor of block B.
#HHWT Tip: Best to go here on a weekday instead of a weekend as the human traffic can reach epic proportions during peak periods. Just like anywhere else with a crowd, beware of pickpockets!
Address: Jalan Mangga Dua Raya, Sawah Besar, RT.1/RW.12, Mangga Dua Sel., Sawah Besar, Kota Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10730, Indonesia
Opening hours: 10am to at 8pm
9. Antique Market at Jalan Surabaya
There’s an old saying, “One man’s trash is another person’s treasure.” And this couldn't ring more true than here!
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Jalan Surabaya is a living testimony of how precious antiques are. Located in the suburb of Menteng, Central Jakarta, it’s a great place to visit if you are passing through the capital city. The antique market at Jalan Surabaya is popular in Indonesia as well as tourists!
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You can find stalls selling antiques such as wooden puppets, porcelain, ceramics, brass utensils, souvenirs and old fashion ornaments to more modern goods like hand bags and luggages. One of the kiosks here sells antiques of ship parts like ship rudder, compass, telescope, and old diving stuffs. Truly a treasure trove for the antique lover!
P.S. Be prepared to give yourself a few hours to comb through its full half-kilometer length.
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#HHWT Tip: Before seriously spending your money here, make sure you know the difference between fabulous and fake antiques, and get ready to haggle for a fraction of the price! It’s all part of the Jalan Surabaya experience?
Address: Jln. Surabaya, Jakarta, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm (most shops temporarily close when the Azan is heard)
10. Pasar Santa
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If hanging out in malls or pouring through antiques just isn’t your thing – Pasar Santa will appeal to you for sure!
Located in South Jakarta, Pasar Santa is a traditional-turned-trendy market. It used to be a struggling traditional market, overshadowed by the emergence of surrounding Jakarta malls. But all of that is changing fast.
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Young entrepreneurs started to open businesses on the empty top floor in August 2014 and now you've got the new and improved Pasar Santa!
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For the sweet-tooth and ice-cream lover, check out Glasch! It’s an ice cream parlour that serving nitrogen ice-cream. Perfect for a sugar rush to spur your shopping spree ☺️
#HHWT Tip: The best time to visit is between 2pm and 9pm. Don’t go on Mondays as most businesses will be closed all day.
Address:Jalan Cisanggiri 2, Petogogan, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta 15810
Opening Hours: Varies from stall to stall
You can find all of Indonesia's best shopping in Jakarta! Can you see yourself strolling down the shopping malls in the comfort of air-conditioning? Or how about walking down an alley with food stalls, exploring the city like a true local? Take your pick! Jakarta awaits you ?