Cityview at Gandaria Heights Apartment

I love living at Gandaria Heights. I’m a white foreigner settling permanently in Jakarta, and last year I tried more than 30 apartments around the city through Airbnbs before choosing somewhere. This was easily my favorite, so I rented here for a year. I’ve been here four months so far. The biggest plus for me is how convenient the mall is. Gandaria City Mall has a good vibe, an easy layout, shops and restaurants I like as a westerner, and a big Lotte Mart. Service is generally good, most staff can speak English, and on weekends there isn’t much loudspeaker noise echoing through the mall. I’ve been to many malls in Jakarta, and this is my favorite. From the apartment, it’s a short, pleasant walk through the grand lobby straight into the mall, without going through a hot parking lot or taking lifts. In 2-3 minutes I can get coffee, choose from lots of food, shop for groceries, visit my bank or mobile provider (xl), or take care of other needs. The location works well for getting around. My wife’s ride southwest and mine to the northeast center each take about half an hour most days, usually without much traffic outside peak times. Taxis are easy to get, and there are bluebirds in the mall. There’s plenty nearby too, so almost anything we need is within a 20-minute ride. Management and staff have been helpful, and the place looks clean and well maintained. The lifts are fast, which keeps waits down, and they don’t have TVs blaring ads, so the rides are quiet. I also like the lobby and lift decorations, which give the building a high-class feel. Staff are always friendly and ready to help. The gym is small but nice, and there’s a friendly Japanese community that gathers in the lobby around 3pm each day to chat while waiting for their children. The main downside is the mosques around Gandaria Heights. I believe there are seven or eight, on all sides, and prayers at different times can get quite loud. One Airbnb I saw had added a second layer of double-glazed windows. I chose an apartment in the middle of the building facing the inner court, which makes the noise bearable. If the location suits you, I’d suggest trying an Airbnb here for a few days to see how it feels. You might be pleasantly surprised.

I visited Gandaria Height in 2024 to look for a new place to live. I’d been in nearby Bellezza Apartment for a year, but it was too far from my office and the commute took too long. There also weren’t any supermarkets or malls nearby, so I started looking around. My current rental agent introduced me to Gandaria Height. The gym, swimming pool, and parking lot were all good. The tall, clean lobby made a strong first impression. I viewed a one-bedroom unit in Tower B first, but it felt cramped and stuffy compared with my spacious home at Bellezza Apartment. The one-bedroom in Tower A was a little roomier, and I liked the living room and kitchen setup. The downside is that only lower floors were available to move into right away, so the view was a bit worse than the Tower-B unit on the 23rd floor. Downstairs, I found a passage directly into Gandaria Mall, with direct access to the office building too. Gandaria City Mall is huge and has all kinds of necessities. I think young newlyweds would really like it. I still need to think a bit more about whether to move next year.

Cozy place to stay, with a nice, luxurious apartment lobby.

It felt like a home from home. The apartment facilities are fantastic, and it’s easy to get to the mall. Sudirman and the nearby malls in Senayan are an easy trip too. Well worth staying or visiting, and a Sheraton attached to the mall should be opening soon as well.