Locals, tourists and just about anyone, who appreciates and seeks a nostalgic form of dining, should head down to Kota’s old town area and experience Café Batavia. Famous for its brunch and dinner menu (a mix of Asian and International cuisines), this 300 year old, two-storey colonial building is not just an architectural sight to behold, it has also an impressive historical back story; past tenants include a residence, warehouse, coffee shop and even an art gallery before the management of Café Batavia transformed it into one of the most sought after restaurant and bar in Jakarta.

The atmosphere of this venue whispers “opulent antiquity”, which can be easily seen from its wooden interior with leather seats to its high ceilings. From the entrance of the building, one can see that the interiors, ceilings, flower presentation, curtains and even the washrooms are designed with such detail that one truly feels that they are submerged in old-world Jakarta.

There are little surprises waiting to be discovered throughout the establishment; head upstairs in the restaurant section and choose any picture frame that is on hung all over the rock solid pillars of the restaurant and you will discover their menus behind every frame.

The Churchill Bar upstairs is truly the star stealer of the place, lined with leather bar-stools, it was once voted “The World’s Best Bar” by Newsweek Magazine. This comes as no surprise as Café Batavia is notorious for their award-winning cocktail, the “Marry Me”, a delicious blend of Baileys’ and Blue Curacao. The cocktails at the Churchill Bar stay true to their classic recipes and patrons have a wonderful opportunity to sit and relax to enjoy all the favorite classicson offer, such as Sidecar, Negroni and Tom Collins, created to perfection by very talented and highly-trained barmen. The Caprioska is by far the best in town with generous amount of fresh lime, brown sugar and a very generous portion of good quality vodka. Absolutely mesmerizing.

While the prices at Cafe Batavia may be slightly higher than most establishments in Jakarta, one can be assured that the experience is definitely worth it, whether it be to stop by for a relaxing afternoon tea or indulging in a sumptuous dinner. The ambience will blow you away.