Central Java
Nestled in a 22-hectare coffee plantation, the Mesa Stila Resort is one of Indonesia’s most magical hotels. At an altitude of 900m, the forest gives way…
Must-see hotels in Java
Borobudur
Set in a magnificent garden of mature hardwoods, abundant creepers and outrageous sprigs of orchids, this boutique hotel (3km east of the monument) offers…
Yogyakarta
Right in the heart of the city, this historic hotel is easily the best in its class and is a Yogya landmark. Dating back to 1918, it’s been sensitively…
Central Java
Housed in a faded but charming art deco structure built in 1926, Vogels is a backpacker institution that's barely changed since it opened in 1978 – even…
Lodges Ekologika on Portibi Farms
West Java
Set on the terraced slopes of Gunung Salak (2211m), this organic farm and gourmet kitchen has developed a reputation for imaginative meals crafted from…
Malang
For a real flavour of what Java has to offer, this remarkable luxury hotel, loaded with local character and genuine hospitality, sets the standard. It…
Borobudur
Atik, owner, tour guide and author, is on a mission to preserve traditional Javanese culture at this unique guesthouse, which offers a nostalgic trip back…
East Java
Quite simply one of the finest hotels in eastern Java. Each of the five rooms here have been individually and tastefully designed – think high ceilings,…
Bandung
A brilliant central boutique hostel with well-designed eight-bed pod dorms, which provide more privacy than the traditional bunk-bed-style dorms (though…
Jakarta
This boutique hostel in Glodok offers hip, Ikea-chic environs and plenty of amenities close to Kota. Choose among the four- and eight-bed dorms where the…
Surabaya
This landmark colonial hotel exudes class and heritage, with colonnaded courtyards, fountains, verdant greenery and a gorgeous pool area (though it's…
Jakarta
Hidden in a quiet alley, adjacent to the Six Degrees hostel, the dorms here are capsule-style with personal reading lights and lockers for your belongings…
Jakarta
Formerly the Hotel Indonesia, Jakarta's original luxury hotel will be forever linked to the Suharto era. Now renovated and reimagined, it still delivers…
Yogyakarta
Hidden away in the network of back alleys branching off Prawirotaman is this vibrant, fun lovin' hostel with an urban beach-hut vibe and done out in…
East Java
There's a real sense of history throughout this hotel, which is in a converted Dutch colonial building dating from the 1850s. The rooms in the principal…
West Java
Not your average backpackers' beach shack, Ermaja's Pavilion is a stunningly converted colonial building set in landscaped gardens, where the rooms…
Malang
The pick of Malang's backpackers is this friendly, centrally located hostel, opened in 2019 by a Dutch-Indonesian couple, both of whom are experienced in…
East Java
There couldn't be a greater contrast between the hellish landscapes of the Kawah Ijen crater and this boutique hotel, which snuggles away under banana and…
Yogyakarta
This raw, natural-wood and polished-concrete structure hung with vines is a terrific boutique hotel. The lobby is the ground floor of a dramatic atrium,…
Jakarta
Well located for the sights and sounds around colonial Kota, this is a lively hostel with cheerful staff and a social set-up. In the evenings the lobby is…
Yogyakarta
Raising the bar in standards for Yogya's hostel scene is this popular backpacker that features a contemporary, designer aesthetic and luxurious plunge…
West Java
If you want to get away from it all, this wonderful spot is the place to come. Surprisingly smart given its remote location, it has a good restaurant and…
Jakarta
Run by a helpful and friendly team, with good info on the local Cikini area (just south of Merdeka Square), Six Degrees rightfully remains popular with…
Borobudur
For a memorable stay, complete with world-heritage views, go for these stilted luxury cottages with transcendent outlooks over Borobudur Temple. Each of…
West Java
Topped with domed, thatched roofs, the seven imaginatively designed rooms at this well-run mini resort are scattered through leafy grounds. Each room has…
Solo
This beautiful historical hotel, occupying an old batik workshop, has been stylishly renovated with 14 rooms featuring wood panelling and art deco windows…
The Cangkringan Jogja Villas & Spa
Central Java
This contemporary spa and villa complex is graced by an elegant joglo lobby, beautifully landscaped garden and 19 sumptuous villas with marble-inlaid…
East Java
By far the best place to stay in Probolinggo, Clover is a smart and colourful 29-room hotel, where the small and spotless rooms have deep purple or hazy…
Central Java
This delightful guesthouse, at the top of the tiny village of Kalikuning, has three chalets with bamboo fixtures and fittings within the family acreage…
Yogyakarta
A beautiful Moroccan-style hotel, a short stroll from Jl Malioboro, complete with hand-carved wooden doorways and a delightful Moorish courtyard bristling…
Yogyakarta
About 8km south of Yogya, surrounded by rice fields, this tasteful hotel occupies traditional Javanese buildings with a lily pond in the main courtyard…
Solo
A reimagined property draped with plants; there is no other hotel quite like this deconstructed lodge, where the restaurant is lit with bare bulbs and the…
Yogyakarta
This centrally located luxury hotel is set in a tropical garden of soaring palms, mature frangipani and carp ponds. Rooms here are comfortable and…
Yogyakarta
Offering a warm welcome, this tiny, arty and original hostel is one of a kind. The communal area, which has a kitchen for guest use, straddles a small…
Yogyakarta
This stylish addition to Sosrowijayan marks the beginning of this classic budget thoroughfare. The steel and glass design maximises the light in the tall,…
Yogyakarta
Featuring an intriguing juxtaposition of colonial house and designer hotel, the facade of this elegant option is strikingly decorated with a fun…
Bandung
Dating back to 1921, this wonderful-looking hotel has a superb sweeping facade and a palm-tree-filled atrium, while the impressively large and bright…
Solo
Hidden down a small gang (alley) off Jl Ahmad Dahlan, this unique guesthouse, run by a delightful, charismatic owner, offers four exceptional-value rooms…
Malang
The owners of this superb backpacking place have fashioned an excellent hostel on the rooftop of Hotel Helios. Dorm beds are comfy (and interestingly…
West Java
Pangandaran's most creative guesthouse is a wonderfully relaxed and stylish place with artistically presented rooms (many with balconies, beamed ceilings…
