Shopping · Jakarta · Indonesia
Shopping in Jakarta
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Malls are Jakarta's main social spaces, from luxury centres on Thamrin and Sudirman to electronics markets in Glodok, batik halls and flea markets in Menteng. Best souvenirs: Batik, Indonesian coffee and Wayang puppets.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Batik
Where to shop
Thamrin
Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia, with international brands, department stores and food halls.
Senayan
Plaza Senayan and Senayan City for fashion and dining near the Gelora Bung Karno complex.
Blok M
Older shopping centres, bookshops and second-hand vinyl near the MRT.
Markets
Tanah Abang
One of Southeast Asia's largest textile and clothing markets, crowded and cheap, especially before Eid.
Pasar Baru
A historic shopping street dating from the Dutch era, known for fabrics and tailors.
Jalan Surabaya
Stalls of curios, brassware, records and old suitcases in Menteng.
What to buy
Batik
Shirts and fabrics in regional patterns, from department stores or the Textile Museum shop.
Indonesian coffee
Single-origin beans from Sumatra, Java, Toraja and Flores sold by local roasters.
Wayang puppets
Leather shadow puppets and wooden rod puppets from craft shops and markets.
Kopi luwak alternatives
Choose regular specialty coffee over civet coffee, whose production raises animal-welfare concerns.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Menteng and Cikini
Jalan Surabaya antiques market
A row of small stalls along Jalan Surabaya in Menteng selling old suitcases, brass lamps, vinyl records, wayang puppets and colonial-era curios, many of them reproductions.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Neighbourhood · Blok M
M Bloc Space
A creative hub in former state-mint staff housing next to the Blok M MRT station, with independent shops, coffee bars, food stalls and a small live-music venue.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Free
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Es teler and Kopi susu gula aren. Dessert stalls and mall food courts throughout the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Thamrin and Bundaran HI | $$$ | Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout |
| SCBD and Senopati | $$$$ | Skyscrapers, rooftop bars and the city's most fashionable restaurants |
| Kota Tua and Glodok | $ | Old Batavia, colonial museums and the Chinatown temples and markets |
| Kemang | $$$ | Low-rise expat enclave of cafés, bars and galleries in South Jakarta |
| Blok M | $$ | Shopping district, 'Little Tokyo' bar lanes and the M Bloc creative hub |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in IDR. Restaurants usually include a service charge. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up for taxi drivers and leaving small change for hotel porters and guides is appreciated.
- Withdraw cash from bank ATMs inside malls or banks, and carry small notes for street food and markets.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February–April and November; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- May: Java Jazz Festival (usually late May or early June in recent years)
- June: Jakarta Fair (usually mid-June to mid-July)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Thamrin and Bundaran HI
Central hotels and malls around the Selamat Datang roundabout
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Jakarta?
Batik, Indonesian coffee, Wayang puppets and Kopi luwak alternatives.
+Where is the best shopping in Jakarta?
Thamrin: Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia, with international brands, department stores and food halls.
+What are the best markets in Jakarta?
Tanah Abang, Pasar Baru and Jalan Surabaya.