The Best Hotels in Java, Indonesia

The Gunawarman’s tagline is Life is a Grand Affair and it lives up to its philosophy with restored wooden-clad walls, polished parquet floors and antique colonial furniture. Located in the central business district of Jakarta, you’re in prime position to explore the Indonesian capital, with some of Jakarta’s best shops, bars and restaurants all within walking distance.

Situated in an old coffee plantation, this luxury five-star hotel in Java features historic joglo villas, lavishly decorated with traditional Javanese décor and antiquities. Rooms feature sunken bathtubs and stunning views of the plantation or the peaks of Central Java’s mountains. It’s all about rest and recuperation here, with highlights including the Hammam Spa and stunning infinity pool where you can gaze out across the rainforest canopy.

Backdrops don’t get better than the enchanting Borobudur temple with its Buddha statues, surrounded by the forest-clad Menoreh Hills, something Plataran Borobudur Resort & Spa maximises at every turn. Wake up to the exotic sounds of the lush teak forests from your own traditional Javanese villa, complete with a private pool. Join one of the resort’s many encounters experiences, from a Borobudur sunset tour to an Indonesian cooking lesson.

Named Peaceful Soul for the serenity and privacy of its setting in Central Java’s cultural heartland, Amanjiwo is a sanctuary. Overlooking the Unesco site of Borobudur, one of Buddhism’s most sacred Mahayana temples, the hotel’s 36 suites feature sunken bathtubs and thatched-roof bale pavilions. Each one opens on to private gardens with a backdrop of verdant rainforest and terraced rice paddies.

Another luxury hotel in the Plataran group, Plataran Heritage Borobudur Hotel is set amid the rice terraces of Kretek village in Magelang, central Java, with Borobudur Temple on its doorstep. The hotel’s 75 rooms and suites combine timeless colonial style with modern comforts. Facilities also include the Padma Spa and the picturesque Stupa restaurant, where you can enjoy traditional Javanese fare in a leafy, open-air setting.

A five-star hotel in the scenic outskirts of Yogyakarta, Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta Hotel is situated in 54 acres (22ha) of landscaped hotel gardens and is a good bet for golf lovers, thanks to its own golf club. The hotel’s 269 modern rooms come with views and neutral decor. Head to the laidback Kemangi Bistro, where you can tuck into wood-fired pizza, or hotel bar overlooking a tropical garden.

Taken from Javanese culture, the word ‘tentrem’ refers to a feeling of peacefulness and tranquillity, something you won’t find a lack of at the five-star Hotel Tentrem in Yogyakarta. After exploring the city, you can relax by the Olympic-sized swimming pool or dine on dim sum at the upmarket Summer Palace Chinese restaurant.

The first property of all Tugu Hotels, built and designed by the founder to house his vast collection of Javanese antiques, this five-star hotel is no stranger to the world of celebrity. Personalities from politics and entertainment have stayed here over the years. Don’t expect understated minimalism; the hotel is bursting with colour and opulence in a fusion of Indonesian and Chinese design.

One of the best hotels in the heart of Surabaya, Hotel Majapahit’s colonial building dates back to the early 1900s, when the building was owned by the Sarkies Family. The hotel’s heritage is evident throughout the property, with 143 airy rooms decorated in a classical style, and landscaped gardens with an outdoor pool.