Plataran Menteng gives the classic afternoon tea a distinctly Indonesian twist, served on the veranda of a Dutch colonial house in the heart of Jakarta. Think rawon tucked into a tart and Bromo apples baked into scones.
Afternoon tea has always been less about the tea than about permission to stop. In a city as relentless as Jakarta, Plataran Menteng has taken that idea and given it a local accent. Called A Taste of the Archipelago, the experience is served on the beranda (Indonesian for veranda) of the Dutch colonial house that gives the venue much of its character. A piano plays softly in the background. Staff wear traditional Indonesian attire, a Plataran signature that sits comfortably alongside the ritual’s British manners.
The tiers follow the classic order, with savouries first and sweets to finish. Here, though, the familiar takes a detour. A Wagyu Rawon Tart borrows the dark, keluak-scented beef soup of East Java, while Tahu Kocok Makassar brings tofu to the table. Traditionalists can retreat to a Smoked Salmon Avocado Caviar Sandwich (no one is judging).
Scones come two ways: classic, or made with Apel Bromo, apples named after East Java’s famous volcano. Both arrive with homemade papaya jam and a lemon bush tea chantilly, the papaya’s sweetness softened by the herbal cream. The sweets have the most fun. Es Podeng, a nostalgic iced dessert, is reimagined as a pavlova. Lobi-lobi, a small and pleasingly tart red fruit, lends its name to the Lobi-lobi Rouge, and a Royal Tea Delice rounds things off. Tea comes courtesy of TWG Tea, chosen to suit each guest’s taste.
It is priced at Rp600,000++ for two and served on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2.30-5pm.
Plataran Menteng
Jalan H.O.S. Cokroaminoto
Jakarta 10350, Indonesia
T: (+62) 2129627771
E: reservation.menteng@plataran.com
W: plataran.com
IG: @plataran.menteng
