Bandung Guide
Once the capital of Indonesia, Bandung is now the capital of the Indonesian province of West Java, which is on the island of Java. Its nickname, kota kembang, “the city of flowers,” dates back to the Dutch colonial era. The Dutch at the time preferred the city’s natural setting as their getaway destination to help them unwind and has remained that way long after they left.
Bandungs reputation for its many outlet malls stems from the colonial era, some Dutch called it “Parijs van Java” (Paris of Java) and was even a fashion hub back then. In terms of Indonesian culture, Bandung is a major hub. Sundanese is spoken as a first language by a large percentage of the population in the province of West Java and is the de facto language of everyday life.
Standard Indonesian, as is the case throughout the country, is the language of official business and communication, as well as the language of instruction in universities and other institutions of higher learning.
Bandung has three different areas that people like to visit. The Jl Braga area has a row of cafes and restaurants, and there are markets and museums all around it.
The Jl Cihampelas district, also known as the “Jeans Street” area, has discount stores and a lot of hotels.
However, the most upscale part of town is in the greener north, where Jl Sultan Tirtayasa and Jl Trunojoyo are filled with the city’s newest and trendiest restaurants.
There aren’t many cheap hotels, but there are a lot of online deals for high-end hotels. The main part of Jl Braga is full of cafes and restaurants, but the fanciest places in the city are to the north.
The night warungs on Jl Cikapundung Borat are great places to eat on a budget. They are right across from the alun-alun (main public square). Once the sun goes down in Bandung, there is a wide variety of activities that one can partake in.
You could, for example, go to one of the local bars in Bandung, such as Troy’s, La Baraga, or Holywings, and watch some live music there. Devour the food that is sold by street vendors on the sidewalks of Jalan Setiabudi, Cibadak, and Sudirman Street. Visit Beer Garden, Beerpoint, or Tambuhak to sample some local and international beers of exceptional quality, and don’t forget to check out WODKA Kitchen & Bar!
Take some time for yourself and treat yourself to a soothing spa treatment. Karaoke nights can be found at Diva, Nav, and Studio Ciwalk, among other places. And if you still can’t sleep, get your body moving to the beats that some of the local DJs are spinning.
