Jakarta shopping 101

A good shopping destination is totally subjective. For some, it’s where price tags are nonexistent and the cost of sunglasses, hats and bags are at the mercy of good bargaining skills. For others, it’s where those exclusive designer prices hang off ornate, delicate pieces. You know, the ones you give up your social life for. Whichever style floats your shopping boat, I’ve found hotspot to fit both retail therapy extremes: Jakarta.

A tiny portion of Jakarta’s skyline.

Filled with high rises, smog and scooters, Indonesia’s capital can be as equally frustrating as it is dazzling. With a population that clocks up 12 million during the day, the traffic is often outrageous and a bargain shopper has to budget in a fair chunk of travel time, just in case. On a good day, you may cruise through the streets but on a bad day, expect to be hours , not minutes late.

Yikes!

However, fear not because once you walk into Jakarta’s air-conditioned megamalls, the hours spent in traffic and the relentless heat is all suddenly worth it. From commercial shopping centres, to bargain bins and antique markets filled with pretty jewels, this city will have your luggage bursting at the seams, guaranteed.

Here are some of the best places to shop in Jakarta:
ITC AMBASSADOR MALL:

With floors upon floors of boutiques, independent fashion labels and nifty market style stalls, it’s possible to get lost in the ITC Ambassador. Rows of t-shirts, singlets and dresses merge into one gigantic blur of things to bring home and the allure of the genuine fake is all around.
Walk the colourful halls and ogle everything from Islamic couture, disco dresses and sparkling heels to a whole level dedicated to electronics and accessories. Find your pirated DVDs on the ground floor and don’t forget the basement- you could spend days in here and still not see it all! The best thing? The fixed price is more like a guideline and you may ask for a discount or ‘special’ price.

ITC Ambassador Building

SARINAH FACTORY OUTLET:
Often described as the city’s oldest shopping mall and factory outlet, Sarinah provides you with everything you could ever need (no, really). Inside, you’ll find floor staff waiting to help you at every stage of the buying process. There’s a whole level dedicated to the archipelago’s national textile- Batik, cheesy souvenirs and you’ll find fashion galore wherever you look.

The great thing about factory outlets is that you can shop in peace, although it does get interesting when you have ten people handling your shopping right from when you choose your goods, to the person who hands it back to you at the register. You may even receive a special gift, depending if you spend enough Rupiah. Prices here are fixed, but very affordable.
GRAND INDONESIA:

This is where the ritzy people come, you know- the ones with real Marc Jacobs handbags. With a swanky building to match, the Plaza Indonesia is where the people are glam and the toilets are gold plated (well, almost). Through the sparkling shop windows, find labels that would make any girl weak at the knees: Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss and more. The top level is dedicated to restaurants that cover cuisines from around the globe and the best thing?! A musical fountain!

Inside the Grand Indonesia

JALAN SURABAYA: For a completely unique shopping experience, hail a taxi and ask for the Jalan Surabaya. In this street you’ll find tiny, yet diverse businesses selling new and pre-loved items (don’t be put off by the second hand offerings, if you take the time to search, you’ll find some real gems).
Stroll down the road and walk into each cave of wonders, cramped with lanterns and chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. Inside, you’ll find everything (and I mean everything) from microscopes, photo frames, crockery, cutlery, jewellery and candle holders to luggage and belts. There are also religious symbols and artefacts from all over Indonesia. Jalan Surabaya is worth seeing just to check out the craftsmanship and chat with the eccentric vendors.

Jalan Surabaya Antique Market

Unlike the irksome persistence of many South East Asian street vendors, shopping in Jakarta is a mostly pleasant experience. There is no need for calculated guilt tripping anyone into thinking you have exhausted your savings, as there is a general understanding if you don’t want the item. No matter where you go, shopping here is one of the city’s unexpected delights. And if you have the patience to endure the traffic, then it’s definitely worth flying across the world for.