Mr & Mrs Smith

Mr & Mrs Smith have just got back from this Jakarta boutique hotel, and just as soon as they’ve unpacked their sarongs and sunscreen, a full account of their stay in Java will be with you. In the meantime, just to whet your wanderlust, here’s a little taster of this fashionable urban retreat…

Can there be such a thing as too much choice? We’re used to choosing our hotels, our rooms and our food, but when we’re (most politely) asked what sort of pillow we want, what duvet suits us best, if there’s any music we want preloaded onto the in-room iPod, and what treats we’d like in the minibar, we almost panic in the face of such detailed decision-making. A couple of days staying at Kemang Icon, however, and this level of bespoke service becomes second nature – there’s a real danger of it spoiling your stays elsewhere (‘what do you mean I can’t have the scent in my room changed from lemongrass to frangipani?’).

A bubble of sanity and sanctuary within the everyday craziness of Jakarta, the glass-fronted hotel pulls off the troublesome juggling act of ‘home from home’ and ‘ultra-modern designer pad’ with aplomb. The 12 gadget-packed suites are all individually designed by gifted modernist architect Sardjono Sani, and, although some shy couples may baulk at the ‘open concept’ bathrooms (no doors or walls to separate them from the rest of the suite), still more will delight in the numerous art deco pieces, the snug Ploh bedspreads, and the chic modern interplay of granite, metal, onyx and glass. With such good looks and dedicated service, whatever duvets, songs, or scents you opt for, Kemang Icon still turns out to be the right choice.