Yogyakarta and Central Java’s Solo have always attracted both local and international tourists given the cities’ cultural charm and natural beauty. To be able to fully enjoy a visit to Yogyakarta and Solo and explore as many sites as possible, one needs a comfortable place to stay to recharge before embarking on this Javanese adventure. Here are your top four options:
Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta
This five-star hotel promises a quiet relaxing stay for all its guests, thanks to its location in the serene outskirts area of Yogyakarta, Ngaglik. Boasting a strong architectural influence of the famous Borobudur Temple, the seven-storey Hyatt Regency beautifully resembles an ancient ruin and supporting village with Mount Merapi and Yogyakarta as its backdrop.
Covering 22 hectares, it offers 269 guestrooms and suites, a nine-hole golf course, Javanese art and craft activities as well as a sauna and spa. It is also suitable for business and big events as it features spacious meeting rooms and ballrooms that can accommodate over 1,000 people. Delicious Indonesian and international cuisine as well as tea and cocktails are available at the hotel’s Paseban Lounge, Kemangi Bistro (where you can also enjoy the Ramayana Night Market, an evening of great food and cultural entertainment), and Bogey’s Teras. Visit yogyakarta.regency.hyatt.com for more info.
Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta
Once part of Yogyakarta’s Royal Palace and Gardens, the Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta is a five-star hotel with upscale facilities. Situated in Catur Tunggal, this award-winning hotel is equipped with 247 rooms and suites facing the scenic Mount Merapi and the vibrant city itself. Only steps away from Yogyakarta’s biggest mall Plaza Ambarrukmo, a ten-minute drive from Adi Sucipto Airport, and a 20-minute drive from the famous shopping street Malioboro and Keraton, its strategic location allows you to explore easily.
Enjoy a perfect dining experience of both local and international cuisine at Royal Ambarrukmo’s Royal Restaurant and Bale Kambang. You can have a picnic at Royal Garden or just wind down at the Lobby Bar while enjoying baked goods at the Cake Shop. If you want to eat like Javanese royals, opt for Gadri—a semi-outdoor area which was once used exclusively by the Sultanate family. Meanwhile, coffee addicts will have their taste buds satisfied at Punika Deli, the hotel’s popular coffee, deli and gelato house. Find out more at:www.royalambarrukmo.com
Swiss-Belhotel Yogyakarta
A signature of excellence, Swiss-Belhotel Yogyakarta is an ideal choice for business and leisure travelers to Yogyakarta, one of the oldest and busiest towns in Java, rich in culture and history.
Featuring 121 rooms, the hotel is not only completed with range of international standard facilities; it is simultaneously combining Javanese hospitality and culture with opulent accomodation to ensure the comfort and convenience. In addition, Swiss-Belhotel International’s hallmarks of Passion and Professionalism will guarantee every guest a warm welcome with genuine service.
Among the hotel facilities are Tamansari Puspa Spa, the rooftop swimming pool and fitness centre. Swiss-CaféTM Restaurant, located at the hotel’s lobby level, offers a delightful a la carte menu which can be enjoyed all day long while cocktails and drinks can be enjoyed at either Gendhis Bar or Chadis Rooftop and Pool Bar. Visit www.swiss-belhotel.com for more details.
Alila Solo
Located on Solo’s main street Jalan Slamet Riyadi, this five-star hotel boasts 255 cozy rooms and is only five minutes away from Solo Square by foot and a five-minute drive from Solo Grand Mall while the royal Keraton Surakarta is reachable in only 15 minutes by car. Derived from an ancient Sanskrit word, Alila means “surprise” – a fitting name for the hotel as it has quickly dominated the hospitality industry of Central Java’s capital despite it’s very young age (the hotel recently celebrated its first anniversary).
As Alila Solo is the city’s tallest building, one can enjoy panoramic 360-degree views from the rooftop bar Agra on the 29th floor while dancing to the music played by DJs in the evening. Driven by Solo’s motto “The Spirit of Java”, guests will find a huge wayang greeting them from behind the reception desk at the hotel’s grand lobby. More wayang patterns are found throughout the hotel, including in the guest rooms. Enjoy arrays of Western and Asian cuisine at Epice Restaurant where every dish is simply outstanding. For more info, visit www.alilahotels.com/solo
