The Kemang Icon , Jakarta - Review

Posted by frankznideric on Thu 24th November 2011 at 07:14 AM, Filed in

Situated in the heart of Kemang, one of Jakarta’s most vibrant, trendsetting neighbourhoods, the entrance to the Kemang Icon is surprisingly almost completely obscured. However, do not be deceived .... having passed through Reception, we were totally blown away by the outstandingly stylish interior design of this intimate and luxurious 12 roomed hotel. The water features, glass walls, art deco paintings and unusual artefacts, many of which are genuine antiques, set against cool colours and different textures, all contribute to a modern day elegance and beauty which would be hard to surpass.

There are 4 Courtyard and 8 Edge Suites, each with its own name, all beginning with ‘i’, and unique decor. Names such as Ionic, Ivory, Illumina, Illusion and Intrigue immerse you in a relaxing splendour of uniqueness that in our opinion would be difficult to better. The Edge Suites also boast an additional kitchenette. On entering our room we were struck by the elegant contrast of black and white, the spacious, airy feel and the sheer luxury of the amenities. It seemed to us as if every wish had been catered for; from the luxurious heavenly feel of the silk bedcover and lush fur throws to the huge desk, equipped with classy leather accessories which included a wide variety of stationary for the business traveller. The high speed wireless broadband proved very effective and for those wishing to pursue more leisure activities, each room was equipped with a large flat screen TV, a DVD player, an iPod docking station and quad sound speakers. Surely everyman’s dream of comfort in a hotel come true! And, for those more practically minded, there was even a very efficient iron and ironing board! The open-plan bathroom with its subtle under lighting, marble tiles, wood panelled floor, rain shower and luxury products, adjoined the bedroom. However, there was some privacy provided by a very elegant black velvet screen. 

The very aptly named rooftop restaurant, The Edge, gazes down upon the frenetic traffic of Jakarta, yet somehow it managed to provide us with a very relaxing venue. As we ate, we enjoyed the romantic glow of candlelight flickering on the water of the rooftop infinity pool. Undoubtedly a very welcome sanctuary after the hustle and bustle of Jakarta! Despite the menu at first glance appearing to be a little limited, it was more than made up for by the quality of the food and the extremely friendly and efficient service. The rib-eye steak, accompanied by baby spinach, caramelised onion and red wine jus was cooked to perfection and the ginger and orange glaze on the duck confit proved a delicious and unusual combination of flavours.

The unique quirkiness and creativity of this hotel does not stop at the decor. They somehow manage to tailor what is provided to individual preferences and the needs of each situation. This is evidenced by a ‘nothing is too much trouble‘ attitude towards planning events or the needs of each guest. Basically their raison d’être seems to be ‘tell us what you want and we will try to provide it.’ This extends to individuals; when you book they ask questions as to your favourite type of music, colour or smell and then these are programmed into your room. It also happens during events or groups using their extensive and stylish business facilities.

The creative and unique nature of this hotel cannot be understated. It is simply an experience that will challenge your perceptions of hotel living on every level and may change your views on what constitutes a first class hotel. The Kemang Icon is without doubt a one-off hotel.

READER COMMENTS:

No comments yet.