Mandarin Oriental Jakarta

Every parent thinks his or her child is above average — and, numerically speaking, some of them are bound to be right. Same goes for luxury hotels: every big business chain thinks its hotels strike just the right balance of style and comfort, of privacy and sociability, of traditional elegance and contemporary cool. The thing about the Mandarin Oriental group is that, quite often, they do.

The rooms, in typical Mandarin style, start out pretty close to the limit of clean contemporary luxe, and the suites edge ever closer. The best views overlook the enormous roundabout that circles Jakarta’s triumphantly kitschy Welcome Monument, but any angle on this endless city is an impressive one. It’s worth springing for Club Level service and a deep soaking tub, though by no means is life in the Superior Rooms difficult.

This kind of hotel isn’t just a refuge, it’s an interface with the local culture. Public spaces range from Cantonese and French restaurants to a cake shop and a poolside café. And if you’ve got any doubts about Jakarta as a destination, they’re misplaced. Every city claims to be vibrant and energetic, but Jakarta’s vast size, fast pace and eclectic mix of cultures make it the sort of place you just might need a proper luxury hotel to recover from.