Citadines Gatot Subroto: Sophisticated Relaxation in Jakarta

The editor of Indonesia Expat had the chance to spend two days and one night at the serviced flats Citadines Gatot Subroto, Jakarta. This was his review of the property

It was a Thursday afternoon in the middle of April. The sun was scorching hot, though the sky was somehow overcast. Once I entered the reception lobby of Citadines Gatot Subroto, the first aspect of this property that immediately caught my attention was the artsy, avant-garde installation in the lobby’s coffee corner, which looked like a 3D koi pond. The second aspect was the hospitality of the reception staff.

As if reception staff could sense that this was my first time staying at Citadines Gatot Subroto, they immediately, without being prompted, gave me the full explanation regarding the serviced residence in which I would stay, the facilities offered by the property, and Citadines Café, in which I would be able to enjoy dinner in the evening and breakfast the following morning. As someone who has had a plethora of experiences staying at various rest-and-relaxation (R&R) properties, both domestically and abroad, that level of sensitivity is rare to encounter nowadays.

What I had kept to myself as I checked into my serviced residence was the fact that I had suffered from a splintering migraine since the early hours of the morning. Nevertheless, for a brief moment, I forgot the piercing pain inside my head once I entered my serviced residence. It was situated on the corner of the property’s 11th floor, the serviced residence’s windows giving me a view of almost the whole Gatot Subroto district. The light trail transit went by my window, ebbing and flowing to and from Cawang LRT Station.

As I happened to check into a King Suite Studio, two bathrooms were available for my personal use as well—both of which, to my adoration, were spotless and a model of cleanliness. Also, as a man who enjoys practicality and as trivial as this might sound, it is always an extra gold star in my eyes whenever the shampoo in my bathroom also functions as a hair conditioner.

Unfortunately, though, the splintering migraine returned and caused me to nearly lose my footing. The king-size bed was also too tempting to pass up. The bed was extremely well-made, and it was enhanced with enormously fluffy white pillows. It was time for a well-earned siesta.

I was expecting an hour of nap; instead, I woke up from my slumber nearly three hours later. I was surprised by how easily comfortable I got, especially in a bed that I had never slept in before.

The evening scenery from my window was even more breathtaking now that the golden hour had passed. The traffic down on the highway looked like red and yellow stars on Earth. The light trail transit went glowing under the night sky, with sparkling skyscrapers as its backdrop. The whole mood, especially once I dimmed the lights in my bedroom, felt both romantic and melancholic. For a brief moment, I felt like Bill Murray in the classic film Lost in Translation.

My migraine had evaporated, and my mood was light as air. The evening shower detoxed me even more—not to mention the water pressure that, miraculously, felt like a warm massage on my stiff shoulders. Time for dinner.

There was no way I would pass up the chance to enjoy supper at Citadines Café. The atmosphere felt sophisticated, though without any pretentious decor that could end up intimidating prospective diners. My motto: when you have supper in a certain dining establishment for the first time, always order its signature dishes—and that was exactly what I did at Citadines Café. (The signature dishes were called “Signature 30”.)

The fried duck rice with sambal matah was the first dish that I devoured for my dinner. When fried ducks, at least in my experience, tend to get too oily and dry (even for me, who usually has an above-average tolerance for fried foods), Citadines Café’s fried duck was tender, smooth on the palate, and savoury instead, without leaning too hard on seasonings. The accompanying sambal matah, on the other hand, met that tightrope balance between onions and chilli that I wouldn’t need to worry too much about my breath in the later hours. The next dish was the Singaporean-style laksa soup, complete with fishballs and fresh prawns. The prawns, in particular, were irresistible—so much so that I had to use my bare fingers to peel the membranes of the prawns to enjoy the entirety of their meat.

Capping off my dinner was a cold brew endearingly named Black Strawberry: a blend of black coffee and strawberry essence that could only be concocted and prepared by the talented baristas at Citadines Café.

How did I enjoy the rest of the night? By relaxing in the bedroom of my King Suite Studio, as I enjoyed a light book reading and Netflix on my laptop. On a few occasions, I would stare out the window and take in the dazzling, sparkling traffic below. Admittedly, I am not an expert in feng shui. Having said that, there was something quite inexplicable about the design of this serviced residence that made me feel so at ease.

The following morning, I could not wait to grace Citadines Café once again—this time for a buffet breakfast. Traditional Indonesian meals were on full display, though for this particular morning, I was in the mood for a grown-up, more sophisticated kind of breakfast: a warm cup of joe, a glass of fresh mango juice, red bean porridge with coconut milk, a butter sandwich, and a few tiny cakes. As I ravished my breakfast while working on my laptop—just like my fellow diners at Citadines Café this morning—I felt both tranquil and cosmopolitan. I felt like a true Jakartan: busy, yet leading my best life.

Today’s weather was, to my luck, better than yesterday’s. Before I checked out, I felt that it was more than appropriate to end my stay by enjoying a celebratory me-time at the property’s swimming pool. For an hour, I swam multiple laps, took a dip from toe to head, and relished in some Vitamin D courtesy of Friday morning sun, all while playing gentle soft-pop music from the speaker of my cellphone. I almost felt guilty to be able to enjoy such a good, relaxing time on what was technically still a workday.

When all has been said and done, the ultimate appeal of Citadines Gatot Subroto is how it very well understands the importance of serenity above unnecessary extravagance. Citadines Gatot Subroto is meant for the city’s busy bees who could really use a break, even if it was simply a peaceful night during a workweek. And, as proven by my recent stay, each moment spent at Citadines Gatot Subroto is soothingly worth your time.

All images are courtesy of Felix Martua.