A rainy day in Jakarta turned into us accidentally crashing a movie premiere, chaos and trying legendary Indonesian donuts. Grand Indonesia Mall is way more than just a shopping centre.
Watch Our Full Experience At Grand Indonesia Mall
Why We Wanted To Visit Grand Indonesia Mall
When we first heard about Grand Indonesia Mall, we didn’t know what to expect.
We’d been told by subscribers that this wasn’t simply another shopping mall, but one of the biggest and most impressive malls in Jakarta. They kept telling us that if we wanted to experience Jakarta properly, we had to visit.
So when we woke up to a rainy day during our time in the city, we thought it was the perfect opportunity.
One of the things we love about travelling in Indonesia is that now and then, the most surprising places become the best experiences. A mall might not sound like the most exciting travel destination, but Jakarta does malls differently.
Grand Indonesia isn’t just somewhere to shop. It’s somewhere locals come to eat, hang out, escape the heat, catch a movie, meet friends and spend an entire afternoon.
And after spending the day there… we completely understood why everyone told us to visit.
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Arriving At Grand Indonesia Mall: We Had No Idea How Big It Was
Of course, the first thing we did when we arrived was to go looking for good eats!
The food court at Grand Indonesia is absolutely huge. There are so many options, from Indonesian favourites to international restaurants and Western comfort food.
Denz went straight for a salad bowl, while Beth spotted something she recognised immediately… Subway.
Now this might sound random, but when you’re travelling for a long time, sometimes a little taste of home is exactly what you need.
And the best part?
The price was so much lower than back in the UK.
So if you’re visiting Jakarta and craving something familiar, Grand Indonesia is a great place to find international food without breaking the budget.
You cannot visit Grand Indonesia Without Trying J.Co Donuts
Our subscribers had been telling us for ages that we needed to try the famous J.Co avocado DiCaprio donut.
We had already tried J.CO before, but everyone kept telling us we had missed the best one.
So obviously, we had to investigate.
See Our First Time Trying J.Co
We grabbed a couple of donuts and a J.Cool, which is basically a frozen yoghurt dessert, and sat down ready to see if the hype was real.
It was.
J.CO has become one of our favourite Indonesian food discoveries. The donuts are soft, unique and some of the best donuts we’ve ever had.
Not sponsored, we just genuinely love them.
We also love the J.Co puns… Want a coffee, grab a Jcoccino. Want a frozen yoghurt, go for a J.Cool. A club sandwich, grab a J.Club. And if you eat too many donuts they’ll put you into a J.Coma (The last one is a Denz special).
Exploring Grand Indonesia Mall
After spending the first part of our visit mostly eating, we decided we should probably explore the rest of the mall.
And this is when we realised just how enormous Grand Indonesia actually is.
There are so many floors filled with shops, restaurants, entertainment and activities.
From luxury brands to everyday shops, food, beauty, entertainment, or simply somewhere to escape the Jakarta heat, there is something for everyone.
There’s even an arcade and kids’ areas, making it a really easy place to spend a few hours if you’re travelling with family.
But the thing that surprised us the most was at the very top… The cinema.
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We Accidentally Crashed A Movie Premiere
We had absolutely no idea what was happening.
We walked towards the cinema area and noticed loads of people gathering. There was cheering, excitement, and the feeling of a big event happening.
The doors were open. Nobody stopped us. So naturally…
We walked in.
It turned out we had inadvertently wandered into a Gala Premiere for the Indonesian movie Panggil Aku Ayah.
The room was full of family, friends and guests of the actors and actresses.
And then suddenly we realised…
The people standing on stage were the people from the movie.
We were looking at the screen. Then looking at the actors. Then looking back at the screen.
We genuinely could not believe what was happening.
There was security everywhere, but somehow nobody questioned us. It was such a cool experience!
Discovering Galleria Indonesia Kaya
After our accidental movie premiere adventure, we continued exploring and discovered another unexpected part of Grand Indonesia.
This was one of the coolest surprises of the day.
It’s an interactive cultural space that showcases Indonesian history, traditions and different regions across the country.
There were exhibitions featuring different parts of Indonesia, including places like Raja Ampat and Papua.
We loved seeing the stories about Indonesia through different displays and experiences. And we had no idea this existed before visiting, which is why we’d recommend checking which events and exhibitions are running when you visit, as Grand Indonesia regularly hosts a variety of attractions.
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The Most Wholesome Moment Of The Day
After wandering around the mall for hours, we eventually got completely lost.
Which felt appropriate because Grand Indonesia is massive.
And then something happened that we will never forget. A subscriber recognised us.
This was actually the first time anyone had ever recognised us from our YouTube channel while we were filming.
And it was such a wholesome moment.
Inga came over and was so excited to meet us. She knew so many little details about our videos, including that Beth is a vegetarian and that Denz grew up in America.
It felt like we were both starstruck.
We were amazed that someone had followed our adventures enough to recognise us in a random shopping mall in Jakarta.
It was the perfect way to end what had already been such a fun day.
How To Visit Grand Indonesia Mall Jakarta
Location: Central Jakarta, near Hotel Indonesia Roundabout
Best for:
- Rainy days
- Food lovers
- Shopping
- Families
- Travellers wanting an easy Jakarta activity
How long do you need?
We’d recommend at least half a day.
You could easily spend longer if you want to shop, eat, watch a movie or explore the exhibitions.
How To Get To The Grand Indonesia
The easiest way for most travellers is Grab or Gojek. Just ask for the Grand Indonesia, they will know where to go.
It’s also accessible by public transport, including the MRT via Bundaran HI station.
Combine GBK Jakarta With A City Tour
You could combine a visit to Grand Indonesia with a Jakarta city tour. These are really affordable, and you get to see so much!
Great Jakarta City Tours
Where We Stayed
During our time in Jakarta, we stayed at My Capsule Jakarta.
It’s budget-friendly, centrally located and has a genuinely lovely atmosphere for travellers. We loved our time there if you want to check it out.
Related Experiences
Here are some of our other adventures from our time in Jakarta. There are so many amazing things to do, so feel free to check them out!
National Library Indonesia: Best View In Jakarta For FREE?!
GBK Jakarta | The Hidden Gem Tourists Miss
Is Grand Indonesia Mall Worth Visiting?
Before visiting, we weren’t sure whether a mall deserved a spot on our Jakarta itinerary.
After visiting?
Absolutely.
Grand Indonesia is more than a place to shop. It’s an insight into how locals spend their free time in Jakarta.
It’s somewhere you can eat incredible food, experience Indonesian culture, escape the weather and accidentally walk into a movie premiere…
If you’re visiting Jakarta and looking for something easy, fun and completely different from the usual tourist attractions, we’d genuinely recommend adding Grand Indonesia Mall to your itinerary.
Big Love
Beth and Denz