Champagne Lovers’ Guide to Java: restaurants, bars and things to do
Java is the cultural and economic heart of Indonesia, combining busy cities, volcanic landscapes, ancient temples and one of the country’s most distinctive food traditions. Champagne is most at home in Java’s larger cities, particularly Jakarta and Bandung, where modern dining, luxury hotels and an international hospitality scene provide opportunities to enjoy Champagne. Away from the cities, the island offers a very different experience, with traditional villages, tea plantations and dramatic volcanic scenery.
Javanese food is known for its balance of sweet, salty, spicy and savoury flavours. Try nasi gudeg, a Yogyakarta speciality made with young jackfruit, rawon, a rich black beef soup, soto, gado-gado, tempeh and various forms of satay. Java is also one of the world’s important coffee-growing regions, with beans from areas such as East Java and around the Ijen highlands. Champagne can be an interesting match for fried snacks, seafood and lighter dishes, while its acidity offers a refreshing contrast to richer or spicier food.
There is plenty to discover beyond the food. Yogyakarta is one of Java’s most rewarding cultural destinations, with the nearby temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, traditional batik, Javanese arts and the historic Kraton. Jakarta offers museums, historic districts and a completely different urban experience, while Bandung is surrounded by volcanic landscapes and tea plantations. For dramatic scenery, the volcanic regions of East Java offer some of the island’s most memorable landscapes, including Mount Bromo and the Ijen area.
Java works particularly well for travellers who want Champagne to be part of a wider cultural journey. A day exploring temples or volcanic landscapes followed by a refined dinner in the city gives you a very different perspective on Indonesia’s food and drinking culture.
