Jambuluwuk Malioboro Boutique Hotel – Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Jambuluwuk Malioboro Boutique Hotel Yogyakarta Blog

A traditional Javanese gamelan music ensemble was playing at the background as we entered the lush lobby of Jambuluwuk Malioboro Boutique Hotel. I didn’t notice it at all for I was too sleepy and I was thinking that it’s just one of those recorded music that’s usually being played at most hotels. But as I gazed upon the spacious lobby, I noticed that there was an old man holding on to some mallets while lightly tapping the gongs; it was a live performance after all. I was glued at him for minutes.

Yogyakarta will be our third major stop on our two-month trip around Southeast Asia. We intended to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan Temples and also to experience the cultural diversity of Java, Indonesia.

Jambuluwuk Malioboro Boutique Hotel was our home for four days. It is centrally located at the old town of Yogyakarta and is quite near to the interesting sights around town. They have 144 well-appointed rooms that offer a mix of modern and traditional Javanese layout (check here for discounted room rates).

We arrived around noontime and asked if we could have an early check-in. They gladly accommodated our request after checking our booking reservations and were given the key cards to our room instantly.

Fusion of modern and traditional design

They have a whole floor dedicated for smoking guests so no need to worry if you don’t want to be (or want to be) assigned on a smoking room. They graciously asked us this information before checking in.

The group was assigned at a Deluxe Double Room (plus an extra bed) which has this cool vibe that I easily noticed. The huge draperies that were screening the intense heat outside were just perfect for a late afternoon slumber – just what I needed at that time.

Super comfy

Our spacious room was well-equipped with twin beds, a 32-inch LCD T.V. with local and international channels, mini-bar, coffee and tea-making facilities, IDD telephone and a separate working area with comfy lounge chair.

The en suite toilet and bath was also huge; with bath tub, hair dryer and toiletries that were all provided for.

My buddies abused the complimentary Wi-Fi while I was dead to the world. They needed to catch up with some writing gigs, which they did on our very first day. It was also a good thing that Jambuluwuk Boutique Hotel provides 24-hour Room Service and Concierge which helped us in plotting our itineraries during the stay.

I thought it would just be a quick nap before we explore Yogyakarta, but no. As my body rested on the comfy bed, I realized that I needed to recharge after our nine-day Bali stint, so nap time it was. I woke up looking at my buddies who were still working. I happily climbed out of bed and asked them if they wanna grab some food, they looked at me, totally envious of my 8-hour “nap”.

We were always looking forward to the complimentary breakfast that was served at Jambuluwuk Coffee Shop. The restaurant serves a wide array of local and international breakfast items that were so extensive we didn’t have time to cover everything (we had 3 breakfasts in total).

Javanese breakfast corner

I love the traditional Javanese dishes that introduced me to the flavors of Indonesia. I was trying to figure out how to construct my own Nasi Gudeg (a traditional Javanese dish that consists of gudeg or young jackfruit cooked in coconut milk with side dishes of fried chicken, boiled egg and other yummy stuff) when a staff approached me and gave a little background on the cuisine. It was so cool of her to actually help me with my options.

We always chose to dine al fresco and the outside area was very relaxing with the refreshing view of the swimming pools – Tropical pool and Children pool. The water that trickles from the man-made waterfalls and rock garden was soothing.

They also have a semi-outdoor restaurant and lounge at the second floor that provides a nice view of Mt. Merapi and the majestic sunset.

Overall, we had a pleasant stay at Jambuluwuk Malioboro Boutique Hotel. Aside from the comfy bed (which lulled me every time), I really love how all the staff were so helpful with all our concerns and queries which made our stay more memorable.