Now most weeks we bring you amazing escapes, on tropical Islands or far-flung corners of the globe – secluded and remote. But the reality is that when most of us travel, we stick to the cities, the bustling capitals.
Alila Jakarta is the sister hotel of those we’ve covered before (Alila Villas Uluwatu and Soori in Bali), but is right in Indonesia’s capital. The word ‘alila’ is actually Sanskrit for ‘surprise’, and we never stop being astonished by this series of hotels.
This city hotel was designed by architects Denton Corker Marshall, with a minimal aesthetic juxtaposing the frenetic city outside its walls. The hotel provides a ‘quite’ contemplative environment though the use of a limited, yet vibrant colour palette and swathes of solid materials including steel, glass Indonesian granite.
Like an oasis above the city’s streets, there is a rooftop pool and garden as well as an internal courtyard. There are also all the amenities we’ve come expect from a city hotel, including gym, a restaurant (‘Buzz’) and pool bar. There are 249 rooms in total, each with parquetry flooring and most with views across the city.
Although it’s in the middle of one of Asia’s busiest metropolises, Alila Jakarta maintains much of the allure of its remote sister hotels and makes the perfect base for exploring Indonesia’s rich culture.
Rates are from USD 105 – USD 350
Alila Jakarta
designhotels.com
[lg_folder folder=”stories/2010/september_10/travel/jakarta/jakarta_gallery” display=”slide”]