An incredibly serene and luxurious place to stay. I say "place to stay" rather than "hotel" because the Dharmawangsa truly didn't feel like a hotel when I spent 3 nights there last week - more like a very grand home with simply superb staff and very personalized service. The only tiny thing that went wrong was that my coffee was forgotten one morning, but absolutely everything else was perfect. It was easily the best place I've stayed in - lovelier accomodation and warmer service than the one Aman I've been at and at a fraction of the cost! I can't imagine staying anywhere else in Jakarta.

Having travelled extensively on business, staying at high end hotels has become an occupational norm... I had long expected to not expect too much other than the standard check-in process, similarly designed hotel room, with the standard conveniences of king-sized bed, usual bathroom with its nondescript amenities and satisfactory room service menu. Functional but soulless; I haven't had my breath taken away for a very long time.

Hence it was like entering into a completely different world at The Dhamawangsa, which felt like having been greeted into a traditional Javanese home. Reception is but two bare stoic teak tables upon which rested a solitary laptop - original!

As my personal butler led me to my room, I was serenaded by traditional gamelan music played live in the lobby. Upon entering into my palatial room, I delighted in the scent of sweet jasmine flowers. My butler checked me in as I kicked back my shoes. A balcony provided vistas of the serenely lit swimming pool. And the dimly lit bathroom with its sublime Etro amenities provided a quiet end-of-day refuge, as I feel my tiredness ebbing away.

Finally, I found a hotel to feel perfectly at home in Java.

Sybaritic business stay. Elegant modern Javanese interior design. Etro room amenities a lovely touch. Fantastic coffee...this is Java after all. Staff friendly and helpful without being invasive. The adjacent gardens and pool are an Edenic niche in this sprawling, seething city. A top notch place.

I've been going to Jakarta for 20 years on business and have stayed at nearly every 4 - 5 star hotel -- but Dharmawangsa is my favorite. It is located on a compound in South Jakarta and from the moment you walk through the door you're treated like royalty. The fragrance of fresh flowers in the lobby (and your room) envelopes and relaxes you. The executive suite is particularly nice with a good-sized living room, large bedroom and large bathroom. I've also stayed in the regular room and it's better than most other hotel suites. While there be sure to take a cab to Dharmawangsa Square (about 5 minutes) and get a massage at the reflexology place on the 2nd floor. 90 minutes costs about $15 US.