Justin Halim

You may come here for the iconic stairs, but you should definitely dine in here and sample their fajitas. Simply the best a Jakartan establishment could offer, mindblowingly good and stuffed to the brim, seriously exceeded my expectations. Their friendly staff and the hip ambiance considering it being an artspace only adds to the list of why this place should be called dia.lo.gue artspace and kitchen

If you ever decide to go to PIK, you should 10/10 visit this hidden underrated gem! Nestled in the same shophouse strand that UPO and Pennyroyal is in, it's charm outshines those of its competitors. Their avocado latte was a perfect representation of the Indo third wave café movement as it incorporated the dense avocado flavor with the perfect dose of espresso. The waffles are the best I've had in my life and no, this is not an over-exaggeration review. Crunchy, warm goodness drizzled with divine caramel sauce and just the right fluffiness. Once you're done, take a pic by their photogenic stairs and signs.

The hype of this café has died down but I'm sure it's a landmark establishment to be celebrated. Their facade and decor was anything but dull, a white exterior with homey, bright vibes in the inside with wooden panels makes you feel right at home. A concept by the same group who came up with Sajiva, it's food is also top notch. Their braised salmon with sides are exquisite, given the affordable price tag and their mushroom avocado toast is at par with those of Melbourne cafés. On the flip side, their tiramisu wasn't that amusing and the seasalt frappe had a "unique" taste so I suggest you order other items than those.

Exquisite dining with a touch of art would describe this buffet restaurant the best. Signature dishes include their scallop, chili crab black bun and pecking duck. Aside from that, you can be assured that the selection (needs expansion/more variety) is all done perfectly with fresh ingredients and impeccable quality. The desserts weren't that impressive though, the cakes need improvement in terms of taste and presentation.

Love this space! Indo aesthetic vibes chiming through its rustic interior with shades of grey giving you that emo yet calming effect. Their hot chocolate was bomb as well, it wasn't sweet but was rich enough to put an emphasis on that note. Do order with their coffee cups as they come with Indo slangs too, perfectly Instagramable, especially when you sit in the artsy smoking area.

Quaint little patisserie tucked in a small Menteng street. Chicory offers a huge spread of bread in its boulangerie section and also some heavy bites if you're looking to recreate that Parisian bistro experience. Had their turkey bacon sandwich (forgot its fancy name) and it was so mouthwateringly good, you just couldn't stop eating the turkey bacon and the fresh leaves. Their lemon citron tart was finely creamy and just a little bit tangy, pair it with their cappuccino and you're ready to go. Their mini caneles were okay but not something I would try again.

New Yorker deli done right in the middle of Jakarta. Once you step in, the 50's vibes gets to you and I immediately envisioned a cream cheese bagel for the good ol' dose of the Manhattan memories. The bagels here weren't all that good though, not as good as their super legit Red Velvet sundae, that's where the cream cheese was. I really liked their Montblanc as well, it was garnished to perfection and the strong coffee eliminated that oversweet sense of guilt when you savour such a dessert. Well done Union, this one's a keeper.

Probably the most worthy café to visit in Gading if you happen to be in the area. Cookie shop and café combined in a chic industrial space. Their avocado iced coffee was uber refreshing and had a pleasant sweet taste. Meanwhile, relish in their colorful sofa as you take Instaworthy pics.

Went here for a morning tea sesh to start the day. Really glad this place provides a good ambiance for the avid tea connoisseur with the cute tea leaves in test tubes. Also, their avo toast is the BOMB!

For all the Gading peeps out there, this is a new yum cha spot u should add to your bucket list. Their dimsum dishes fared quite well in my palate, as well as the other items jn their extensive menu. The only dish that needed improvement was the Har Gouw, as we could really taste the seasoning in it. Other than that, their Pork Belly was so divine, relish on the fats before it becomes yours!! The ondeh-ondeh were also chewy and nice but it lacked paste. Overall a good dining experience, especially since we ordered that much and all the dishes came out that quickly.