Jambuluwuk Malioboro, Yogyakarta
One of our very last stops in Yogyakarta was the famous shopping street, Malioboro. No trip to Yogyakarta is complete without at least stepping foot once onto the bustling, chaotic street where vendors peddle their mass produced goods with a smile.
I love shopping in Indonesia because the people are much friendlier to deal with than the locals back home. Before our last night in Yogyakarta, we had been shying away from this district, often finding ourselves off the beaten path at a nature site of some sort.
But when we checked into Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel, we simply couldn’t resist heading to Malioboro Street and indulging in some shopping. (We mostly bought Indomie and some batik goods, which is what this region is best known for.)
But surprisingly, amidst the chaos of Malioboro, Jambuluwuk Hotel is like an oasis, a calming retreat from the busyness of the street behind. The lush greenery, gentle sounds of the man made waterfall and the overall peace and quiet of the place is a good respite after shopping.
We even got to enjoy our last meal in Yogyakarta at Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel at The Clubhouse. It turned out to be one of the best meals we had in Yogyakarta.
After 10 days of drinking ais jeruk (their local orange juice), I needed a change and decided to put The Clubhouse’s milkshake making skills to the test. Having an Oreo milkshake was such a pleasant change. I’m not sure if other travellers have experienced this, but I certainly feel that the milk in Indonesia tastes vastly different from ours in Malaysia, giving a stronger dairy kick to its milkshake.
I’m also a huge fan of martabak, a local pancake dessert that can be sweet, savoury or both at the same time. My favourite is typically their cheese martabak, but we were recommended to try their cheese and chocolate rendition. The pancake is super crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. Once drizzled with condensed milk, you surely can’t resist more than one bite of this sinful dessert.
We were uncertain as to what to order for our mains - the menu is extensive and boasts plenty of local offerings. So we had the restaurant manager choose it for us. We started with a prawn and vegetable dish. You might wonder what’s up with the redness of this dish, but rest assured the colouring is 100% natural and comes from the vegetables. It was an interesting dish - both sweet and salty at the same time. But it was a gentle, natural type of sweetness that only vegetables can produce.
Next up, we tried their Sego Luwuk, which is a house specialty. It is native to only the Jambuluwuk chain of hotels and to us, represented the quintessential Indonesian dish. The combination of ingredients and flavours proved to be a unique one, each bite bursting with vibrant taste profiles.
Whether you’re at Jambuluwuk Malioboro for a stay or a meal, your experience will be a spectacular one. The service is world class and you’ll feel right at home here.
For more information on Jambuluwuk Malioboro, visit www.jambuluwuk.com.