I mistakenly confused Plaza Indonesia with Grand Indonesia and vice versa during my first visit in December 2019. I accidentally made the same mistake again in September 2023. That’s because, even though these two shopping malls are different, the busway and MRT station accesses are the same: Either you take the number 1 bus to Bundaran HI or access Bundaran HI MRT station through Sudirman train station.
After arriving at Bundaran HI MRT, you can go directly to Plaza Indonesia. However, to access Grand Indonesia’s East Mall, you have to walk behind Plaza Indonesia and use the elevator to go to the East Mall. Once you arrive at the East Mall, you can also access the West Mall, as these two malls are connected by a bridge.
If you are wondering what you can do in the malls, scroll through this list of awesome things to do in Jakarta’s Plaza and Grand Indonesia!
Grand Indonesia (GI)
This shopping mall is where people usually go to achieve their thousand-step goals! Grand Indonesia (GI) is massive at 140,000 sq m (1,506,946.00 sq ft), making it one of the five largest shopping malls in Indonesia.
Four hours are not enough to explore Grand Indonesia! This massive shopping mall offers numerous activities for travelers.
1. Admire lovely interior design elements while you eat
During my visit to the mall, the vibrant artificial trees accompanied me as I made my way to the western part of the shopping mall. They blended well with the lights and artificial bricks lining the road. Behind the trees, there are many eating places to be found. Currently, one of my favorite cuisines is sushi. I also enjoy Chateraise, which is conveniently located just a few steps away from the trees.
Another remarkable sight I found in GI is the artificial waterfall. The lights in this area become more vibrant starting from 4pm until around 7:30pm. It shines even brighter when there are live music performances! So, I suggest enjoying the sight of the waterfall while having dinner. You can find many food and beverage products priced under 50,000 IDR (3.1 USD) around this area, such as at Kopi Kenangan x Chigo!
2. Convert mineral water bottle into points through Plasticpay
Grand Indonesia’s Plasticpay machine helps contribute to a greener environment by converting empty mineral water bottles into points, which is an initiative I like and support. You will earn electronic cash through the GoPay e-wallet when you have accumulated enough points.
Before you can drop your empty mineral bottle inside the machine, you need to install the Plasticpay app. Make sure the bottle is completely empty before you discard it!
3. Drink your favorite cold-pressed juice from Juis
If the location of the Plasticpay machine is on your right side, Juis’ location is on your left! They accept only QR payments. Once you have chosen the cold-pressed juice you want to buy and paid through the QR code, you can pick up your item at the bottom of the vending machine. The carrot-based juices from here are a must-try!
4. Eat one-of-a-kind ramen at Ismaya Group's Haraku Ramen
Haraku Ramen in West Mall might be one of the newly established restaurants in 2024, but it is also one of the most crowded. If you plan to visit in the evening, make sure to arrive at least two hours before you plan to eat, especially if you haven’t installed the Ismaya+ membership app!
It’s not common to find restaurants that serve black garlic ramen like Haraku Ramen does. However, I have had the pleasure of trying it, and it tastes absolutely wonderful!
5. Shop for your favorite Indonesian products in Alun-Alun Indonesia
West Mall’s Alun-Alun Indonesia is heaven for everything Indonesian! As soon as you step inside, thousands of unique and artistic batik clothes will catch your eye. Once inside, you’ll find even more batik handicrafts and products, including fully batik footwear. You can also shop for authentic oleh-oleh products, such as drinking chocolate, keripik (crackers), and more. I enjoy coming here for my batik needs.
6. Grab your favorite pastries at Kempi Deli or Paulaner Brauhaus
Kempi Deli is a bakery located in Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, a 5-star hotel in Jakarta near GI.
Visiting this 5-star bakery brings back memories of staying at the hotel with my family back in 2004 (my first airplane trip). Their artisanal cakes make me forget about the other cake shops in the same East Mall building for a while.
Sometimes, people also enjoy spending time at Paulaner Brauhaus, which is located next to Kempi Deli! This outlet’s late opening hours (until midnight) help create a memorable experience as you indulge in your favorite pastries.
7. Have great coffee in Coach's Cafe
Coach here refers to the luxurious Coach bag. I realized a few months ago that they also have a cake and pastry shop. So far, Coach’s Cafe is the only one in Indonesia. Their highlight is their oversized pizza. However, that doesn’t mean their sweet pastries are not delicious. I love drinking their hot cappuccino while eating the pastries!
8. Hunt for healthy food at Sesa Organic Store
The ancient-looking artificial tree is the first thing I see when I step inside the Sesa Organic Store at Grand Indonesia’s East Mall. Coupled with Sesa’s vibrant rainbow sign, the tree adds a touch of fun to the interiors.
Sesa Organic Store sells food and beverages, cosmetics, vitamins, and supplements from local and international organic brands. To fully enjoy your shopping experience here, you should budget around 800,000 IDR (49.23 USD).
Is it too expensive for you? Don’t worry, they also sell low-calorie donuts with the same flavors as the original donuts! You can grab one or two as a snack for around 15,000 IDR (0.93 USD) per piece.
Plaza Indonesia (PI)
The one thing locals and tourists agree on when it comes to Plaza Indonesia is that it’s expensive. This mall, located in Central Jakarta, is home to luxurious brands like Kenzo, MaxMara, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, and others.
Thankfully, some stores in this shopping mall can accommodate budget travelers.
9. Shop for luxury goods
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Plaza Indonesia is packed with luxury brands from the ground floor up to the top levels. I highly recommend this shopping mall if you want to indulge your extravagant side while visiting Jakarta.
Do you prefer a more subdued kind of luxury rather than well-known brands such as Michael Kors? Luxurious local brands, such as Iwan Tirta, Klamby, and Benang Jarum, offer a wide range of high-quality clothing.
While most people would suggest budgeting around 4,000,000 IDR (249.2 USD) for a single shopping spree at one store, based on my calculations, you can save at least 1,000,000 IDR (62.3 USD) by shopping at the more affordable stores.
10. Indulge in the luxurious meals of Osteria Gia for lunch
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Osteria Gia, one of the fine dining restaurants under ISMAYA+ in Jakarta, is one of my favorite places to dine in Plaza Indonesia. While Osteria Gia may have opened branches in other Jakarta regions, such as Kelapa Gading or PIM, the Plaza Indonesia branch remains my favorite.
Many people choose to have lunch here, including moms with kids. Additionally, if you dine in, the server will bring you a welcome plate of garlic bread with olive spreads.
You can expect to spend around 300,000 IDR (18.69 USD) for one main course, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic drink here.
11. Treat yourself to luxurious hair and beauty treatments
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
I rarely come across beauty salons that are owned by celebrities, even when I travel outside of Indonesia. Even when I caught a glimpse of Peter F Saerang from a distance, I never imagined that this establishment was a beauty salon. The opulent gold and silver decor adds a special touch of luxury to this salon.
Peter Fritz Saerang himself is a celebrity who has traveled to London, Paris, and other parts of the world to study hairdressing. Apart from dedicating more time to styling people’s hair, he also owns an NGO.
Another beauty salon worth trying in Plaza Indonesia is De Salon. Here, you can expect personalized service. Their massages are truly wonderful!
12. Take selfies alone or with your friends in Special Day photo booth
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Korean-style selfie photo booths have become increasingly popular in recent years! This also applies to Plaza Indonesia’s Special Day photo booth on the 4th floor. I believe this entertaining activity is a great option for travelers who are tired of everything expensive.
The hangeul letters displayed are not the only elements that highlight the K-style. You can also choose adorable accessories while admiring the BT21 mascots in this fantastic photo booth. I recommend selecting just one or two accessories and instead of constantly going between the photo and accessories rooms.
13. Watch Miniapolis' Choo Choo train go around the 4th floor
If you’re here with your kids, I would recommend letting them try a round of the fourth floor on Miniapolis’ Choo Choo train. The Choo Choo train in Plaza Indonesia has hand-drawn train rails that encircle the entire 4th-floor area. The mini glass bridge is really intriguing to look at, even when all I can do is observe the train! Many people love coming to this place because it doesn’t cost anything to watch the Choo Choo train.
14. Grab a bite of your favorite dish from Wicked Pies
I love getting a bite of Pieburger as an appetizer or snack after eating at Pizza E Birra, a restaurant owned by the Ismaya Group located on the 5th floor of Plaza Indonesia, one floor above Wicked Pies. It is a savory pie filled with burger meat and melted cheese. I guess that’s Wicked Pies’ specialty!
Meanwhile, they also offer sweet pies. Say Cheese (a choco-cheese pie) is my favorite!
P.S.: Plaza Indonesia is where I first discovered Wicked Pies. However, this local brand from Jakarta has now expanded to other cities, such as Surabaya. Their packaging remains unchanged.
15. Chill with affordable snacks
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Are you feeling hungry while traveling around Plaza Indonesia and looking for some affordable meals? The basement of Plaza Indonesia could be the perfect choice for you!
Food and beverages here are priced at around 50,000 IDR (3.11 USD) before tax and service. This includes the food served at SomeDimSum, a local restaurant that offers a variety of Chinese dim sum dishes. It may not be the cheapest option, especially for someone from Surabaya like me, but it is definitely worth the money.
16. Buy Jakarta's authentic oleh-oleh products in Snack Zone
If you’re at Plaza Indonesia, you can find authentic Jakarta oleh-oleh products by visiting Snack Zone in the basement.
Here, I bought Kueh Gambang for 18,000 IDR (1.12 USD). Kueh Gambang is a small traditional bread with brown sugar and cinnamon as the main flavors. This kueh draws inspiration from the local musical instrument that inspired the Dutch people’s breakfast meals at that time.
Let's go around Plaza and Grand Indonesia!
Both Plaza and Grand Indonesia are strategically located in Central Jakarta, making them memorable shopping centers for tourists visiting from outside Jakarta. I usually arrive at either of the malls at 10am because my train often arrives in Jakarta around 8am. It’s the perfect time to start shopping. I usually spend one to two hours in Plaza Indonesia and more than four hours in Grand Indonesia.
So the next time you want to shop or try incredible food, keep this guide handy and head to Plaza and Grand Indonesia.
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