Apartemen Thamrin Residence

It is in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, an important trading and shopping center. It is a neighborhood full of contrast, with luxury malls and 5-star hotels only a few hundred meters away from low-income houses.

In terms of location, it is very central, but not that great: Thamrin Residences is still about 1 kilometer from Grand Indonesia or Plaza Indonesia, which is considered far in Jakarta. You can walk there, but by the time you arrive you’ll be covered in sweat and feeling dirty. Going with a taxi is better, but because of traffic jams, one-way streets and long U-turns, you’ll need 15 minutes. Personally, I was using moto taxis (ojeks): A few are always waiting in front and they charge you IDR 10,000 to Grand Indonesia.

How does it look like around the apartment?
Thamrin Residence is bordered:
– On the North by Thamrin Executive Residences, and then by Thamrin City Mall.
– On the South by a local, working-class neighborhood (kampung).
– On the East by a road, and then by a dirty water reservoir – Not interesting
– On the West by some rukos (shops), offices, and then a local neighborhood (kampung)

Overall, the immediate neighborhood of Thamrin Residences is not very interesting unless you go to the Grand Indonesia area.

What are the important landmarks nearby?

Walking distance, there are a few landmarks you can go to:

Malls: Thamrin City is the nearest mall. It is targeting the Indonesian middle-class, with many cheap, non-branded shops. Famous for Muslim wear. There is also a Hypermart supermarket, a food court, and many affordable restaurants (including fast food chains like Burger King, Lotteria and Domino’s).

Grand Indonesia is possibly the busiest mall in Jakarta. It is a medium-to-high-end mall where Jakartans love to hang out. You can find almost everything there. Very good cinema and food court.

Plaza Indonesia is the most luxurious mall in Jakarta. Home to brands like Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Chanel, etc. There are also more affordable shops, a supermarket, a cinema, a nightclub, bars, restaurants, etc.

Supermarkets: Hypermart in Thamrin City (cheap), Ranch Market and FoodHall in Grand Indonesia (expensive, imported products), FoodHall in Plaza Indonesia. There is also a rather large minimarket (with fruits, vegetables) and two 24h minimarts in Thamrin Residences.

Restaurants: Too many to count in Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia. All kind of cuisine you like, at every price. Nearer, there are also around 10 affordable restaurants in Thamrin Residences. If you enjoy street food, you will find hundreds of warungs and “kaki limas” near Jalan Kebong Kacang Raya.

Restaurant Area Thamrin Residences (on two floors)

Bars: Cork&Screw, Immigrant, 99, Burgundy, Skye, Cloud, Paulaner Brauhaus.

Universities and Schools: None famous.

Preschools: Jakarta World Academy in UOB building.

Hospitals: None very near. There is a Brawijaya Clinic in UOB building.

Parks: The closest is the park surrounding the MoNas (National Monument), about 2.5 kilometers away.

Offices: Many office buildings are nearby, especially the ones located in Jalan Thamrin: The Plaza, UOB, Wisma Nusantara, etc.

Transportation

How far is it from:
– Jakarta Airport: 60 minutes
– Grand Indonesia Mall: 10-15 minutes
– Kota Tua: 40 minutes
– Kemang: 45 minutes

What are the main roads or highways nearby?
Thamrin Residences is 1 kilometer away from Jalan Sudirman (that’s 10 minutes by car). This large avenue is one of the most important in Jakarta as it connects the South (Senayan) to the North (Kota Tua). It is also the street with the most skyscrapers and the most attractions (bars, restaurants, malls) in the whole city.

The nearest toll road is 20 minutes away in Jalan Gatot Subroto.

What is the traffic situation near the apartment?
Just in front of the apartment, the road is usually quiet. The problems start as you reach either Jalan Kebon Kacang Raya or Jalan KH Mas Mansyur. You are almost certain to get stuck there. That’s why even though Thamrin Residences is in Central Jakarta, you should not underestimate the time it may take to go even to Jalan Sudirman.

Is it easy for taxis/Uber/Grab to find the location?
Yes, it is very famous. They can even pick you up directly at the lobby of your tower, in the basement area.

Is there a Transjakarta bus stop nearby?
The closest station is Tosari on Jalan Sudirman, but it is around 12 minutes away by foot. From there, you can take several lines (1, 2A, 3A, 6A) to destinations like Kota, Blok M, Kalideres, Ragunan, Monas, Pulo Gadung and Senayan.

There are also plenty of non-AC buses that you can catch in Tanah Abang (to Bekasi, Blok M, Kampung Rambutan, etc).

Finally, you can take a DAMRI bus to Jakarta airport for only IDR40,000 in front of Thamrin City.

Is there a train station nearby?
Not exactly nearby. The nearest is Karet Station (10 minutes by car), which is a stop on the Yellow line going from Bogor/Depok to Jatinegara (via Pasar Minggu, Tebet, Manggarai, Senen). Tanah Abang station is even further but you can get the Blue line from there (to Serpong and Bintaro).

How about the MRT?
An MRT station will be built in Bunderan HI, in front of Plaza Indonesia. This would be about 10 minutes from Thamrin Residences.

The recently-inaugurated train link between the Airport and Central Jakarta arrives at BNI City railway station, about 15 minutes from the complex. It is convenient as you won’t be dependent on traffic jams whenever you need to catch a flight.

Are there sidewalks? Is it possible to walk around?
They are not in great condition, but still, you can walk to Thamrin City, Plaza Indonesia, Grand Indonesia.