Bandung Through Their Eyes

Bandung is one of the Jakarta Java Kini team’s favourite Indonesian destinations. Besides being easy to reach from Jakarta, the West Javanese capital also offers superb tourist attractions, heritage sites and culinary adventures galore. We just can’t seem to get enough! This month, the city celebrates its bicentennial anniversary, which falls on September 25th. In order to mark the occasion, we asked three of our friends and colleagues to share a few of their favourite Bandung destinations with us.

“I’m a pretty easy going person and am also a bit of a shopaholic. Bandung’s many factory outlets are always good for a browse. My favourite is Rumah Mode on Jalan Dr. Setiabudi. Actually, this factory outlet is probably everybody’s favourite and local and international tourists all flock here! You can pretty much find anything you want here from classic bags to trendy outfits. When you’re finished down at Rumah Mode, head down to Jalan RE Martadinata further downtown. You’ll find more than ten factory outlets along this street, from Heritage to For Men. Happy bargain hunting!”

_{Wisnu Darmobroto – Supervisor, PT. Altrak 1978}

“I used to live in Bandung in fact, although that was quite a while ago now. The place has mushroomed at a frightening speed since my time there but it still has its charms. I used to enjoy walking around the Dago area, finishing up at Dago Tea House for a tasty Sundanese feed whilst enjoying some great views over the town. Further north, the town of Lembang is surrounded by superbly beautiful countryside and is also a refreshing area for hiking or cycling around. Also north of Bandung, the hot springs at Ciater, the gardens and waterfall at Maribaya and the famous volcano, Tangkuban Perahu, are all stunningly scenic places and well worth a look if you’re an outbound type.”

_{Simon Pitchforth – Editor, Jakarta Java Kini}

“I’m most definitely a foodie at heart. I keep a blog about food and I just love to eat! I know all the best dining in spots in Bandung and often eat out around town with my friends. I guarantee that you can trust my recommendations! In fact, my hobby landed me my current job, down at food court in Plaza IBCC, which is well known for its delicious food.
My favourite Bandung restaurant is La Cucina, an Italian eatery located on Jalan Sumatera. This diner serves the best Wagyu beef in town and its Bali Wagyu is the tastiest steak that I’ve ever eaten! Bandung is a culinary heaven for local and international tourists in fact. You can find anything from traditional food to international delicacies here. If you’re after a restaurant with a beautiful view, head up the heights of the Dago area and the newly opened Burgundy on Jalan Maribaya. Enjoy.”

_{Shasya Pashatama – Food Supervisor, Plaza IBCC Bandung}