Jakarta Shopping

Fixed-priced stores are becoming more common in Jakarta, but bargaining is still the norm wherever there is no marked price. When buying antiques and handicrafts, bargain down to 30-40% of the original asking price, especially on Jl Surabaya. Shopping malls are a way of life in Jakarta, an escape from the traffic and smog, and new shopping malls are being constructed all the time. Some of the most convenient include Grand Indonesia, Jl MH Thamrin 1, with banks, designer clothes stores, bookshops and restaurants (recommended); Plaza Indonesia, Jl MH Thamrin Kav 28-30, with top brands, good dining options and beautiful people; EX Mall, Jl MH Thamrin Kav 28-30, favouring younger shoppers with high street brands, cinema and fast-food joints; and Plaza Senayan, Jl Asia Afrika, 1000-2200. Suave and sophisticated and deliciously cool, with a cinema.

Batik

Ardiyanto, Pasar Raya (3rd floor), Jl Iskandarsyah 11/2; Batik Keris, Danar Hadi, Jl Raden Saleh 1A; Batik Semar, Jl Tomang Raya 54; Government Batik Cooperative (GKBI), Jl Jend Sudirman 28; Iwan Tirta, Jl Panarukan 25 or Hotel Borobudur; 1 floor of Pasar Raya (Blok M), is devoted to batik; Pasar Tanar Abang, a market west of Merdeka Square, has good modern textiles, batik and ikat by the metre; Srikandi, Jl Melawai Vl/6A.

Bookshops

Jakarta is a good place to stock up on reading material, with excellent bookshops such as Kinokuniya in several malls. Second-hand books can be found along Jl Jaksa in Margot Hotel and Memories Cafe (after 1700).

Supermarket

There is a Hero supermarket beneath the Sarinah building on Jl MH Thamrin, which sells necessities. Most of the malls have supermarkets.