Two closest ones, are:

Quality Hotel Bandara - Right above the airport (more for transit)
Sheraton Bandara Hotel

thank you for the quick response!
is there a hotel shuttle for the sheraton from CGK? it looks nice...

There is a free shuttle from the Sheraton. When you make the booking, give them the flight details and they will meet you at arrivals or there's a lounge as well at the airport I think...easier just to meet after baggage.

excellent, thank you!

Just thought this old thread needs an update:

Shopping: Several new and amazing malls have just opened again in Jakarta. Can't believe how luxurious they are. Try Pacific Place, Senayan City, and Grand Indonesia.

Hotel: I can't wait for the opening of the refurbished heritage Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. Also, I have heard the 2nd Ritz Carlton (which is the all suites hotel) in Jakarta is very nice.

"Kota" Night life: Golden Crown is still kicking well but the new Sun City is amazing with its decoration and luxurious Karaoke rooms. K7 and Sands are amazing as well.

Donuts: Krispy Kreme has been in Jakarta (one of the very first Asian countries to have this brand) for over 1 year now but to me nothing can beat the local version J'Co Donuts which have spread its business to Malaysia and Singapore.

Other Fast Food: Kudos to the return of "Burger King" in Jakarta.

Traffic: CBD area is fine, non CBD areas (at least to me) are getting worse. The government needs to really focus on resolving the traffic problem soon.

A bit off the beaten path...and yet on a thoroughly beaten path
 

While living in Jakarta for a few months in the first half of this year, I frequented Jalan Karet PedureNAN (that is just for emphasis for the taxi drivers or pak ojek). by Ambassador mall. Karet Pedurenan is an adventurous veritable one-lane turned three-lane slog, yet is a slightly convenient thoroughfare between Ambassador mall and Pasar Festival mall. Along this street you are sure to find numerous kaki lima, but my favourite of all serves ketoprak. Ketoprak, if I recall correctly, is a dish made of peanut sauce, bean sprouts, glutinous rice, crisped onions, garlic, and optionally, cabe (chillies). The particular location I am talking about is in front of the V Net Internet Cafe, roughly by another street perpendicular called Jalan Genteng Ijo. The food is brilliant, Rp. 6000, and as a flyertalker who can down a few New York slices after a Japanese buffet lunch, the portion is fiiiine.

If you have any other questions about my most enjoyable meals (enjoyable in terms of the taste of the food, not necessarily the ambience), please let me know.

Halo, apa kabar?

I just read this thread from the beginning (and was surprised to see that I've posted here before)

I will be visiting my dad next week in CGK and will have two weeks to spend between CGK and SUB.

I LOVE to eat and lots of it. Can someone suggest any good all-you-can-eat dim sum, korean BBQ and sushi in Jakarta? Is there such thing as cheap and good? :D

Also, is it possible to park a car overnight in CGK? My dad lives in Cibubur and I thought of driving the car and park it at the airport for the two days I'll be in SUB vs taking a taxi. Do you recommend me to do this?

As for the 3-in-1 rule, can someone provide updated time and the streets where it applies? I will be driving when I'm in Jakarta as we only have one driver. Beside, I tend to get home around 4 am each night .. err morning lol

Last but not least, if I was to check out the night scene, where it would be? Is the Stadium still the best? Friday or Saturday night? I don't like to go clubbing but will go once in a blue moon.

I'd love to meet any local FT'ers so please send me a pm if you're available between 9/22 and 10/7 ^

Baik2 saja.

I'd recommend the dim sum on a Sunday morning at the 4 seasons. The food is outstanding and the buffet also includes 1 selection from the a la carte menu, including nasi goreng with wagu beef!

It's rp110,000++.

Another good choice for dim sum is the restaurant on the top floor of the Mangga Dua WTC. I forget the name of the restaurant but you can miss it as it's very large and the only restaurant on the top floor.

I'm pretty sure you can park for as long as you like at CGK.

3 in 1 applies to Jendral Sudirman, Gatot Subroto and Casablanca. The hours are from 7am to 10am and from 4pm to 7pm. Remember you can always just pick up a jockey.

Stadium is still stadium. You could also try Sands at Mangga Dua which is newish and pretty good.

There are several excellent restaurants on Kemang Raya (area where expats and also young locals hang). I'd have to dig them out but two that come to mind are local Indonesia and Italian (yes, in Jkt)....either post or pm if you need the two references.

Thanks for the help camsean and dtsm ^

Are there hotels attached directly to any of these malls?

Only Pacific Place Mall has a hotel already operational for now: The Ritz Carlton Pacific Place.

I was thinking of taking a side trip from Bangkok to Jakarta,

How is Jakarta set-up ?

Is there an old area like BKK Chinatown with lots of small shops ?

are there areas for clothes, electronics , woodworking , crafts etc
thats one of the neat things about BKK Chinatown is you can walk around all day looking at the small shops....

Rally

Just to add to the already plenty of great malls in Jakarta, now there's a new really cool mall with a totally different atmosphere called the FX, its in Sudirman Area nearby Ratu Plaza. It have the longest slide (72 meters long from 7th floor down to 2nd floor) for the daredevil in you, which I'm desperate to try myself. The mall mostly hold restaurants, cafes even pubs, so if you're into some culinary experiences this will be a great start. There's a place for traditional Indonesian 'jajan pasar' (traditional snacks) on the basement area.

Thanks for bringing this excellent thread back to life. Having stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place for over a week recently, I can confirm that it is one of the most luxurious, most service-oriented and most friendly hotels I have ever stayed in.