August

Should You Book August Again?

If you've already been to August, the more useful question isn't whether it's good — it is — but whether a return visit holds up. The short answer: yes, especially if you go with more intention than the first time. August has been operating since late 2021, and in that time it has moved from a promising opening act to a confirmed presence on Asia's dining circuit: winner of the American Express One To Watch Award in 2023, and now listed on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. For a second visit, that trajectory matters. This is a restaurant that has settled into what it does, not one still finding its footing.

August sits on the ground floor of Sequis Tower in the Sudirman business corridor , one of Jakarta's most corporate addresses , which creates an interesting tension. The room reads more considered than its surroundings suggest. Chef Hans Christian runs a kitchen focused on Indonesian identity expressed through modern technique, and the visual language of the food reflects that: composed, deliberate, worth looking at before you eat it. For a return visitor, that precision is the thing to watch for again. It doesn't slip.

Lunch vs. Dinner at August

This is where the return visitor gets a genuine advantage. August's position in a Sudirman tower makes lunch a viable option , the address is built for it, surrounded by corporate tenants who likely fill the room midday. Dinner, by contrast, is when the full experience comes into focus. The room quiets from its daytime business rhythm and the meal takes on more weight. If your first visit was a lunch, come back for dinner. If it was dinner, lunch is worth trying for a more relaxed, lower-pressure way to revisit the cooking without the full occasion overhead.

On pure value-per-experience, dinner at August is the better investment for anyone treating this as a destination meal. The Asia's 50 Best recognition and the Amex One To Watch award are dinner-register credentials. Lunch here is still above average for Jakarta's CBD, but the evening service is the one that earns those distinctions.

Booking August

Booking difficulty is rated near impossible, which tracks with the awards profile. Asia's 50 Best listing in particular tends to compress reservation availability fast. Plan well ahead , this is not a walk-in option for any serious meal, and it is not a venue where showing up and hoping for bar seating is a reliable fallback. If you want a specific date, move early. The Instagram presence (@august_jkt) is worth monitoring for any booking window announcements. Contact via phone at +62 877 3800 0808 or check augustjakarta.com for current reservation options.

How It Compares

More in Jakarta and Beyond

Planning more than one meal in the city? See our full Jakarta restaurants guide, our full Jakarta bars guide, our full Jakarta hotels guide, our full Jakarta wineries guide, and our full Jakarta experiences guide. If you're extending the trip to Bali, Sarong Bali in Canggu, Kayuputi in Bali, Rumari in Jimbaran, and The Legian in Seminyak cover the range from beachside fine dining to resort tables worth booking. For a global benchmark on what serious tasting-menu cooking looks like, Le Bernardin in New York City remains the reference.