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Administrative city in Jakarta, Indonesia
Photo: Danumurthi Mahendra from Indonesia, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
North Jakarta (Indonesian: Jakarta Utara) is one of the municipalities of the Indonesian capital, along the Java Sea coast, and the location where Jakarta began to take shape. The colonial Dutch legacy still lives on at the Old Town (Kota Tua, at the border with West Jakarta) and the Sunda Kelapa harbour. When you are done with history, find amusement at Ancol, great food at Pluit or Kelapa Gading, and vibrant shopping destination at Mangga Dua. It is also the gateway to the Thousand Islands, and the location of Indonesia's busiest port, Tanjung Priok. Almost 2 million people, many of whom are of Chinese descent, call this part of the city home.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
VOC Shipyard
Dating back to 1628, this is the former trade office and ship repair of the VOC (East Indies Trade Company) built by the Dutch. It is the center of the trade routes that stretched from Japan to Cape Town, from the Spice Islands to Persia. The place is now a restaurant, also called the VOC (Very Old Café), but maintains what's left of history.
Established in 1834, it functioned as the watchtower for ships docking and departing Sunda Kelapa Harbor. No longer used, the building is in dilapidated condition.
Maritime Museum
A legacy of Indonesia's maritime past. Artifacts of boats from the Pinisi to the Navy, underwater life and the heroes of the Indonesian seas. Magnificent old building and very modest entry fee.
This is where Jakarta began as Fatahillah defeats the Portuguese in a battle to conquer his kingdom in 1527. The old port area of Sunda Kelapa remains a bustling hub for inter-island trade. Graceful Bugis phinisi schooners, the world's last wind-powered sailing fleet used for trade, are still berthed at the quay as they have been for century.
Cagar Alam Angke Kapuk
This is the last nature reserve in Jakarta with mangrove plantations and wildlife still preserved. Look for the endemic birds, plants, monitor lizards and monkeys. Obtain a permit to enter at the Conservation of Natural Resources Office at Salemba, Central Jakarta. The reserve is very quiet, located about 500 meters from Pantai Indah Kapuk, Muara Karang Gate. Although there is no official parking area, you can park on the shoulder of the road in front of the park gate. No permit is required, because there aren't any guards.
Similar to Muara Angke but does not require a permit. Larger, even has a place to stay and playing boats. No DSLR cameras allowed. It is an artificial park, not a nature preserve, and patrons can plant mangrove trees there, if they obtain a ticket.
Taman Kalijodo
Formerly a red-light district, it is the newest park in the city, with 3.4 hectares (8.4 acres) of land area besides the Krendang River. The park has international-standard skateboard facilities, a playground, an indoor football court, and an amphitheater.
Ancol Taman Impian
Southeast Asia's biggest playground! It is where the locals play for the weekend. Highlights include the Atlantis Water Park, the Dufan Amusement Park, Ocean Dream Animal Show, Ocean Ecopark, and the Jaya bowling alley. The only beach in Jakarta (albeit dirty and not a real beach) offers cottages and dining experiences from small stalls located across the area to restaurants offering various cuisines.
Parking may be tough because the restaurant does not provide its own, but it is worth the time! Famous in the area (and all over Jakarta) for its rice vermicelli (kwetiau), a choice of fried (dry) or siram (wet with gravy). Toppings are usually shrimp, beef (or pork), scrambled eggs, and shallots.
In the middle of the water, the establishment is connected by a man-made causeway that entices couples to hang out waiting for the sun to set. Its menu consists of western cuisine as well as finger bites. One of the cheapest non-chain brand options at Ancol. There are no restrooms due to the fact it is in the middle of "nowhere"!
A western style dining, with pancakes and steaks as its specialities.
An oyster bar. It also serves mocktails and cocktails.
This restaurant takes your typical Japanese cuisine to the next level. As its name suggests, its specialty is the mozaru, rice on the bottom layer, followed by meat and sauce, finally topped with mozzarella cheese — you can choose different options for the first three! There are other things too, especially salmon, pasta, and abundant vegetarian options.
This is the one of the favorite seafood options in Jakarta. It hosts what resembles a seafood market where you can pick your own fish and have them cook it, or you can order just by sitting at your table and let them do all the work, but the seating area is actually what draws everyone: its panorama of the coastline and the sea breeze, notoriously hot by the afternoon, cool at night. Perfect for group dining as you will be overwhelmed by the size of your meal!
A perfect place for a couple and a candlelit dinner under the open sky. Luxurious hotel-like dining experience with Indonesian, Japanese, Italian, and Western options. The sofa chairs on the beach facing the sea or near the pool are the best seats in the house, yet very often reserved in advance. A minimum order must be placed if you wish to sit there though.
Ice cream parlor. Great Tutti Frutti.
A French pastry and chocolate shop. Known for signature macaroons, delicious cakes, and chocolates.
Specialty coffee place near Kelapa Gading district. Offers various local and international coffee beans for both filtered and espresso.
One of the few coffee places in Jakarta that has a sporting facility (jogging track) and live music.
One of many specialty coffee places in Jakarta that serves local and international beans.
Budget hotel in the Kelapa Gading area. Standard rooms with modern style and minimalist design.
Budget hotel in the Pluit area, attached to a quiet mall. Small rooms with modern facilities, small lobby and dining area. In front of the BRT station.
The best hotel within the Kelapa Gading area. Modern and minimalist style interior with a sense of orange, in both the rooms and the public areas. Decent restaurant and swimming pool. Direct access to Mal Kelapa Gading.
4-star hotel right inside Mall of Indonesia
A hotel with 171 rooms.
A 4-star hotel with 303 rooms.
A 3-star hotel located near Mall of Indonesia.
One of the best hotels in the Pluit area. Contemporary Asian minimalist interior. Executive lobby lounge,Cathay Chinese restaurant and The Cafe international cuisine. Dragon Phoenix lounge for a karaoke bar.
formerly Hotel Horison
The former Horison Hotel has its exterior relatively unchanged, but the rooms are slowly being renovated. Ask for the newer rooms. Two restaurants and bars each, and a big pool for a swim.
Attached to Mangga Dua Square, convenient to Ancol. Nice and crisp rooms with parquet flooring, either facing the pool or the city. An ordinary restaurant, but exceptional pool and cheap massage.
In-room Wi-Fi provided at the more expensive rooms. Complimentary shuttle service to airport and shopping mall.
formerly Hotel Danau Sunter
All suite hotel facing Lake Sunter. Some restaurants specializing in Korean, Japanese, and Indian. Big pool and bar.
A mid-range hotel only 15 minutes away from the airport, steps away from a wide array of eateries and supermarkets, and only a lift ride to the PIK Avenue mall.
formerly "Aston Marina"
358 units of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments plus two exclusive penthouses. Apartment style hotel with kitchen, but you still can have breakfast downstairs.
Cottages, bungalow and a secluded beautiful beach.
It offers premium eateries and chain department stores, and has a dedicated seating area with view of Jakarta's seas and a seaside seafood restaurant.
EP, Empo
The first mall you'll typically see as you enter Pluit. A small but tall mall, with premium upper-middle-class fashion. Food options are abundant, both premium and budget, the food court has cheap food on par with chain brands.
PJ
A sleepy and lonely mall across the Emporium Pluit with basic shops. Good only for a fitness center, movies (the cheapest in the area) and watching a live football match at its center stage.
PV
The first mall built in Pluit, now sleepy with middle class shops. The best place around to get a haircut, and eat at the food court with authentic Indonesian and Chinese cuisine — no chain brands. Matahari department store and Carrefour also fill up the mall.
Opulent and futuristic mall with chic fashion tenants, flagship tech shops, and a dedicated Japanese food court alongside other mid-range to splurge options.
MAG
Huge middle class mall with more than 300 shops and many food options. A batik center filled with accessories of such motifs can be found at the 5th floor.
MKG
A series of 4 malls on one single street! A place for all budgets. The best place to enjoy your meal with five food courts in different themes, and the best place to shop for fashion in the area. The adjacent La Piazza is a similar but much smaller place.
MOI
An upper-middle-class style mall with an indoor amusement park with a roller coaster. The best place for lounging with coffee shops and stores outside the mall.
This is the cheapest place in Jakarta when it comes to clothing, but haggling is still the norm. Thousands of independent clothing lines in line with counterfeit brands. Very crowded on the weekends, watch out for pickpockets.
A more upscale option at Mangga Dua, but modest compared to elsewhere in Jakarta. Has a modest outdoor food court catering to Chinese tastes and a club upstairs. Houses many hotels that provide an optimal connection to Ancol.
Pasar Seni Ancol
Wondering where to buy art in Jakarta? This is where the locals go, especially for Indonesian traditional arts. It's a collector's paradise!
By ferry
The Tanjung Priok port is not only a container port, but also has a large passenger port terminal. All ferry ships to other areas across Indonesia dock there.
By bus
Transjakarta Line takes you to the western side of town, especially Pluit, from the downtown corridor of business districts.
By car
The Jakarta Inner Ring Road ends at Pluit in the west and Tanjung Priok at the east. The Outer Ring Road ends at Pantai Indah Kapuk in the west.
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