An apartment that serves with a twist

The Apartment, in South Jakarta’s Kuningan district, has diners at tables nestled between furniture in seven rooms that you may find in a large flat, as well as a bar.

Most guests ask for a tour of the rooms which include a kitchen, library and pantry, before they settle on the space they’d like to have their dinner. The bathroom, complete with a large bathtub, shower head and towels, gets the loudest giggles and its five tables fill up first. The outdoor terrace with  padded sofas and bamboo garden is also popular, especially as most restaurants in the city are in cavernous shopping malls. The owner, Budiman Gani, says the restaurant, which opened eight months ago, was a labour of love that took 11 years to realise. Serving a healthy mix of European cuisine and Indonesian, each room has a different character allowing diners to choose where to eat based on their mood.

Solo diners usually fill the library. The kitchen seems to be the place for young executives holding business meetings, while the terrace attracts even more youthful diners.

The bedroom, undoubtedly, is the most popular room at night. “Sometimes on a Saturday night people get too cozy on the bed,” Gani says with a wink.