The biggest mall in the country and one of the biggest in South East Asia, Grand Indonesia has a lot to brag about. The tenants range from heavy weights like Chanel, Gucci, Seibu, and Harvey Nichols, to casual names like Topshop, Guess and Zara to everything locals Alun-alun. They also have tons of food outlets including the upscale Palalada and Y&Y Grill and family favorites Food Louver and Food Hall. The biggest attraction in the mall is the Crossroads of the World section. In this part, the plaza is decorated to have the atmosphere from other countries like Morocco, France, China, and USA with the crowd-pleaser dancing water fountain showing hourly. Don't miss the 8th floor of the mall where the biggest (and funkiest) cinema, Blitzmegaplex is located.
Located at the heart of Jakarta's financial district and adjacent to Senayan Sports Complex, this elegant mall features Metro Department Store, Sogo Department Store, Armani and Versace. It also offers the seven-cinema Studio 21 Cineplex. The food court definitely merits a visit. Rest your legs after a frantic day of shopping and choose from various local and international vendors, including Mrs. Fields, Soto (for traditional chicken soup) and Gentong.
If you wish to shop on a budget then Jakarta's Blok M is the place for you to be. The mall is quite extensive and it is occupied by a variety of shops selling everything from clothing, accessories, footwear, toys, accessories to books, records and more. Establishments such as tailor shops, and computer repair stores also occupy a part of the mall. Lined with several eateries, Blok M is also a perfect place to sample delicious street food.
Pasar Baru is a rare street in Jakarta, in that you can actually stroll along it. It's definitely not for the branded shoppers, but more for those looking for stores with old-time feeling. Locals come here for family-owned stores that mostly sell shoes, textiles and watches. Have lunch in Bakmi Gang Kelinci or Bakmi Abun, both are long-time favorites of noodle fans, then shop for second-hand fashion in Metro Atom (closed on Sundays). Vintage shirts, dresses, belts, jackets and everything are as cheap as USD1-don't forget to bargain though. No vehicles are allowed in Pasar Baru, so begin the walk from Metro Atom at Jalan H. Samanhudi then take the long-needed walk towards the rear end where the historic Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta's Art Center) is located.
Bartele Gallery has been delighting connoisseurs of antiques since 2009. A wonderful gallery taking pride in their extensive collection of rare books, archaic maps, photos, and antiquities, this gallery-shop is a treasure chest waiting to unravel itself. A perfect place to pick up a souvenir for someone who would appreciate rare prints, the Bartele Gallery is a collector's dream.
Spend time browsing English books and magazines here could take hours. Their specialty is coffee-table books, but that doesn't mean they lack paperbacks or contemporary literatures. The magazine rack in the back corner is one of the city's bests. Aksara also famous for its CD collections that boasts one-of-its-kind local indie bands produced by Aksara themselves to hard-to-find soundtracks to European titles. Other treasures are the stationary corner for inspiring essentials like Moleskine notebooks or some paperweights. And if those are not enough, sip a coffee in the café where local artists like to hang out.
Pasaraya is more than just your average shopping mall. Having begun its journey as a department store selling handicrafts, this expansive shopping complex still holds on to its roots and shops here primarily sell beautiful handicrafts and batik products. However, after undergoing several renovations and expansions, the center is now home to several themed restaurants, salons, an Indonesian food court and the Pinisi educational amusement park for kids.
Giant Supermarket is part of a renowned chain of supermarkets with a strong presence in the Indonesian capital and other parts of the country. This Giant Supermarket outlet occupies a busy spot in south Jakarta's Pasaraya Manggarai shopping center. A large section of the supermarket is occupied by freshly sourced fruits, vegetables, herbs and condiments. Additionally, it also sells apparel and everyday essentials at attractive prices.
This mini-supermarket is stocked with all the usual groceries alongside fresh produce, processed meats, snacks and frozen foods. Open round the clock, Alfamidi is a great place to restock on snacks and soda for a late night party, or grab all the ingredients for an impromptu midnight meal. Alfamidi has everything you could possibly need is a relatively compact space that makes shopping a breeze. While the prices are always fair, regular promotions and discounts translate into significant savings for those who shop here regularly. The Alfamidi at Minangkabau Barat also features an on-site ATM for the convenience of its customers.
Seven Eleven is a global chain of supermarkets and convenience stores with its base in Japan. Open 24 hours throughout the week, the stores come in handy for midnight supply runs as well as the weekly trip for groceries. The store at the station is perfect for grabbing a couple of food and beverage packages as well as a few other conveniences before the start of a journey. Along with regular grocery store products, the stores also offer their own line of food products including Gulp sodas, Big Bite hot dogs and Slurpees.
Indomaret is a chain of supermarkets with outlets all across Indonesia. These unassuming stores can be found in apartment complexes, office buildings or, in this case, in railway stations. The store offers over 4800 food products alone. Aside from this several essentials can also be found. This branch, located in the railway station is highly convenient as a place to grab some eatables or essentials before boarding a train.
When translated, Pasar Rumput means "Grass Market", a name whose origins can be traced back to a time when the local grass merchants set up shop here. At that time, the elite of Menteng relied on Pasar Rumput as a source of feed for their horses. Although those days have long since passed, the market continues to be referred to by this name. Today, the locals head to the bustling and vibrant Pasar Rumput to shop for vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and other supplies. A few stalls selling street food and clothing can be found here as well.