JAKARTA - Jakarta opened its new dining bus service to the public on August 1.
The city began accepting reservations for Open Dining of Jakarta after starting an operational trial in the Kota Tua district on July 23. Bookings opened July 25 through the TJ: Transjakarta application in cooperation with travel platform Klook.
The service costs Rp500,000 per person and accommodates up to 30 passengers on each trip. Transjakarta plans to operate two or three journeys a day, meaning the bus could serve between 60 and 90 customers daily when every departure runs at full capacity.
The booking listing describes an approximately 85-minute experience aboard a double-decker bus fitted with a glass roof. Passengers meet at House of Tugu in Jakarta’s Old Town before travelling through the city.
The route runs from Kali Besar Barat in Kota Tua to Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, connecting Jakarta’s historic centre with the commercial district around Jalan M.H. Thamrin. Guests can view landmarks along the route while receiving live narration about the city and the areas the bus passes.
The fare includes a three-course Nusantara tasting menu comprising an appetizer, main course and dessert. Klook says the featured region of Indonesia will change each week, allowing the dishes and accompanying stories to highlight different local culinary traditions.
Passengers are also offered a live violin performance, while a guide explains the cultural background of the food and the history of landmarks visible during the journey. Individual seats can be booked, while the service is also available for groups and special events.
Open Dining was introduced alongside Transjakarta’s Jakarta Batavia open-top sightseeing service, which connects Sarinah with Kota Tua. Both services are part of Jakarta’s effort to develop paid visitor experiences that combine public-transport vehicles with tourism, culture and the city’s historical districts.
Transjakarta President Director Welfizon Yuza said the programme was intended to offer more than a meal.
“Beyond the fine dining and live violin, we are offering an educational experience. Passengers will be immersed in the history of Jakarta through storytelling as the bus traverses the city’s iconic heritage sites.”