Are you in the mood for thrifting vintage rarities in the city? We’ve got you covered!
Nothing is ever ‘old’; it’s simply ‘timeless’. Thrifting for vintage items has become more popular than ever among urbanites, especially younger millennials and first-time visitors. Jakarta, with its rich history and cultural evolution, has emerged as a fascinating destination for thrifting enthusiasts and tourists from around the world.”
Below, as summarized by Indonesia Expat, are some of the antique markets and shops in Jakarta that everyone—especially expats—can visit to travel back in time and perhaps purchase a rarity or two for their modern lives.
The below list is presented in alphabetical order.
Antiques Of Heritage
Antiques Of Heritage has a very diverse collection of antiques. These antiques come from various countries, such as Indonesia, Europe, and Asia. Furthermore, some of the popular antique collections in this shop are teak wood furniture, ceramic handicrafts, and collectables from the colonial era. The items sold at Antiques Of Heritage can also be found and purchased on Tokopedia online marketplace; some of the items made available to purchase online are antique tea sets, ceramic jars, metal-made crafts, and wooden crafts.
Address: Jl. Lobak IV No.11, RT.5/RW.12, North Gandaria, Kebayoran Baru, DKI Jakarta 12140.
Bartele Gallery
Bartele Gallery is an antique shop located at the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta. This shop was founded in 2009 and has become one of the popular tourist destinations in Jakarta. Bartele Gallery has a diverse collection of antiques, from maps, prints, and books to furniture. Visitors, in particular, can browse an eclectic collection of rare and antique maps and old prints; most of these maps and prints are associated with Batavia (now known as Jakarta), the Spice Islands (now known as the Maluku Islands), Sumatra, Java, and more.
Address: Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No.1, RT.1/RW.5, Menteng, DKI Jakarta 10310.
Blok M Square’s Music Market
When visiting the basement floor of Blok M Square, South Jakarta, visitors and window shoppers should stop by an area called the music market. In this area, visitors can find around 20 stalls containing compact discs, cassette tapes, and vinyl records. The price varies depending on the type of item. In the same area, visitors can also see traders offering repair services for tapes, turntables, handy cams, radios, and vinyl record players. Rows of old cassettes, compact discs, and vinyl records by legendary musicians are neatly lined up on several shop shelves. Starting from cassettes by foreign musicians, such as Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Dean Martin, Westlife, George Benson, and The Beatles, they are displayed alongside old records by famous Indonesian musicians such as Koes Plus, Nicky Astria, Iwan Fals, and Chrisye.
Address: Blok M Square, Basement Floor, Blok B, No. 198, Jl. Melawai Raya No.5, No. 2 3, RT.3/RW.1, Melawai, Kebayoran Baru, DKI Jakarta 12160.
Jembatan Item Flea Market
On the left and right sides of the road circling Jatinegara’s Jembatan Item (in English: ‘Black Bridge’), which is about one kilometre long, visitors and tourists can find a flea market comprising various shops that offer second-hand goods. The goods in question typically range from radios, cassettes, porcelain, books, watches, and sneakers to leather jackets. The market atmosphere in the Jembatan Item Flea Market tends to be typically busier on weekends and holidays; the price of the goods being sold varies depending on the goods and each merchant’s pricing policy. Another unique aspect of shopping at the Jembatan Item Flea Market is how bargaining is often encouraged and has become a tradition, rooted in a local societal belief that bargaining is a communication process that strengthens the relationship between the buyers and the merchants.
Address: Jl. Jatinegara Timur I No.50, RT.8/RW.4, Rawa Bunga, Jatinegara, RT.10/RW.2, DKI Jakarta 13310.
Santa Modern Market
The first floor of Santa Modern Market (formerly Santa Market) has been regarded as one of the most beloved ‘thrifting’ spots in Jakarta. Many of the merchants and shops that occupy the first floor sell second-hand and vintage items such as vinyl records, old cassette tapes, fashionable goods of the yesteryears, old-timey art pieces and decorative crafts, and antique accessories. Santa Modern Market has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity recently after English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran visited the market during his Jakarta stop of his worldwide “The Mathematics Tour” back in March. Fun fact: first opened in 1971, Santa Modern Market used to strictly sell groceries and raw vegetables and was known for its seedy condition. In 2002, however, the market received a drastic makeover and became what is now known today. Nonetheless, vegetable merchants are still allowed to sell their produce on the market’s basement floor.
Address: Jl. Cipaku I, Pasar Santa Modern Bl A/128, Kebayoran Baru, DKI Jakarta 12170.
Senen Market
This particular flea market has been heralded by the majority of the Jakarta natives, in particular, as the go-to destination for all things authentically vintage. Hundreds of stalls at the Senen Market sell various kinds of outfits that used to be fashionable from the 1970s until the 1990s but are still in relatively mint condition — namely jeans jackets, bell bottom or flare pants, and high-heeled boots. Fun fact about Senen Market: during the Japanese occupation, the area around Senen Market used to be a favourite gathering spot for notable Indonesian poets who were collectively nicknamed “Senen Artists” at the time. Influential names in the Indonesian literary scene such as Ajip Rosidi, Sukarno M. Noor, Wim Umboh, and H.B. Jassin emerged from Senen Market.
Address: Jalan Stasiun Senen, No. 14, DKI Jakarta 10410.
Surabaya Street Antique Market
Jalan Surabaya in Central Jakarta is a historical area that holds many traces of the past. On top of that, this area is also known as a trading centre for antiques. Generally, used goods sold on Jalan Surabaya come from collectors, both from within and outside the country. The place is easy to reach because it is around 500 metres from Cikini Station. Since antique dealers set out on the sidewalks of Surabaya Street around the 1960s to the 1970s, the market has been busy with buyers and, particularly, foreign tourists. The Surabaya Street Antique Market offers various kinds of antiques, ranging from household furniture and handicrafts to historical objects. The price of goods in this market varies, from cheap to very expensive.
Address: Jl. Surabaya No.46, RT.15/RW.5, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta 10310.
Taman Puring Market
This market, located on Kyai Maja Street, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, is famous for its antique home decoration products, such as jars, old telephones with dial numbers, table equipment, car radios, and hanging lamps decorated with unique carvings. Besides vintage items, Taman Puring Market is also known as the haven of unusually affordable fashion items, such as sneakers, football shoes, mountain boots, and purses. Nonetheless, given the large variety of antiques being sold, prospective buyers should be warned of the possible existence of fake and/or knock-off items at the Taman Puring Market.
Address: Jl. Kyai Maja, RT.7/RW.1, Kramat Pela, Kebayoran Baru, DKI Jakarta 12120.
Via Bata Via
Located as a shop within the Pos Bloc compound (formerly Gedung Filateli Jakarta), Via Bata Via has been favoured by Gen Z and younger millennials in the city as the go-to destination for all things trendy and vintage. Via Bata Via has two business spaces, namely Via Bata Via Curated Vintages and Via Bata Via Studio Space & Retro Props. At the Via Bata Via Curated Vintages, the vintage goods being sold are, to name a few, old radios, vintage decorative arts, and other old-timey artefacts that are curated and searched for directly by the Via Bata Via curatorial team. Meanwhile, the Via Bata Via Studio Space & Retro Props provides studio space and vintage-themed prop rental. This old-school-themed expression room looks aesthetically pleasing for personal photos, product shooting, or creating various other content.
Address: Jl. Pos, Pasar Baru, Sawah Besar, DKI Jakarta 10710.