August
Senayan, Jakarta
Restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia
Book with PearlThe Read
Local-Spice Tasting Counter
Chef
Hans Christian
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
August is one of Jakarta's hardest reservations and one of its most decorated: Asia's 50 Best listed, Amex One To Watch 2023 winner, now on Tatler's Asia-Pacific 2025 list. Chef Hans Christian's modern Indonesian cooking at Sequis Tower earns the booking effort; but plan weeks ahead. Dinner delivers the full experience; lunch suits a lower-pressure revisit.
About 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.
Know Before You Go
- Address: Sequis Tower, Ground Floor #03-02, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No.Kav. 71, Jakarta 12190
- Phone: +62 877 3800 0808
- Website: augustjakarta.com
- Chef: Hans Christian
- Awards: American Express One To Watch 2023; Asia's 50 Best Restaurants; Tatler Leading Restaurants Asia-Pacific 2025
- Booking difficulty: Near impossible, reserve well in advance
- Location context: Ground-floor entry in a Sudirman CBD tower; accessible for business lunches, easy to find
- Opened: Late 2021
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.
Planning details
- Location
- Sequis Tower - Ground Floor #03-02, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No.Kav. 71, Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190, Indonesia
- Website
- augustjakarta.com
- Phone
- +62 877-3800-0808
The take
The Take
The Vibe
August presents a restrained, modern dining room that deliberately counters the fast pace of Jakarta’s Sudirman corridor. The space leans on soft colour tones and a glass-and-steel backdrop to create a composed, intimate atmosphere. Service and layout favor conversation over theatrics, and the overall effect is quietly sophisticated rather than flashy. This is a restaurant that emphasizes pacing and control—design choices and spatial arrangements encourage slow, focused dining rather than spectacle.
Best For
August is oriented around a single, extended tasting format, making it best for diners who want a focused, multi-course experience rather than a casual meal. Its location in the central business district and references to the city’s maturing business-lunch culture mean it suits professionals seeking a serious dining experience—and anyone looking for a measured, thoughtfully paced evening. The room’s quiet, structured character also makes it appropriate for low-key special occasions that prioritize conversation and culinary detail.
Ordering Tips
The kitchen offers a 16-course tasting sequence, so allow ample time and come prepared for a long, deliberately paced meal. The restaurant’s editorial control over pacing and composition means the experience is best enjoyed by diners who prefer a curated progression of dishes rather than à la carte spontaneity. Because the format emphasizes slow rhythm and progression, plan your visit when you can sit through an extended service and focus on the meal.
Planning details
Location
Sequis Tower - Ground Floor #03-02, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No.Kav. 71, Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190, Indonesia · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Kaum; Indonesian, Indonesian
- Meatguy Steakhouse; Notable alternative
- Cork&Screw Pacific Place; Notable alternative
- Esa; Notable alternative
- Kindling; Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How August Compares in Jakarta
Among Jakarta's serious restaurants, August sits at the top of the booking difficulty curve and near the top of the awards table. Kaum is its most direct peer for Indonesian-rooted cooking; similar identity focus, similar occasion-meal positioning; and is likely easier to book. If the awards trajectory and Asia's 50 Best recognition matter to you, August is the clearer choice; if you want Indonesian food in a more relaxed setting with less advance planning, Kaum is a practical alternative that doesn't require the same lead time.
Esa and Kindling offer strong modern restaurant experiences for diners who want serious cooking without the near-impossible booking pressure that August now carries post-50 Best listing. Both are worth considering if your date flexibility is limited. Meatguy Steakhouse sits in a different category entirely; best for a group meal where protein and atmosphere are the priority rather than a composed tasting experience. For a wine-led evening with lower booking friction, Cork&Screw Pacific Place is the fallback that makes sense when August is fully booked.
The honest comparison: if you're choosing between these venues for a one-shot Jakarta dinner, August is the highest-credential option in the city right now. But the booking difficulty is real, Esa or Kindling will deliver a serious meal without the planning overhead. Book August when you have the time to plan; reach for the alternatives when you don't.
Explore Jakarta
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full August guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare August
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| August | 2026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #422026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia RecommendedTatler Best Restaurants Asia-Pacific 20252025 The Best Chef One Knife |
| Kaum | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #466 |
| Meatguy Steakhouse | 2025 World's Best Steaks 101 Best Steak Restaurants · #90 |
| Cork&Screw Pacific Place | Star Wine Lists 2026 |
| Esa | No published awards |
| Kindling | No published awards |
Comparing your options in Jakarta for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does August handle dietary restrictions?
August's kitchen, under chef Hans Christian, works within a format that rewards advance communication. If you have dietary requirements, flag them at the time of booking rather than on arrival. Given the restaurant's recognition on Asia's 50 Best and its tasting-menu-oriented format, accommodations are more likely when the kitchen has notice. Contact the team directly via Instagram (@august_jkt) or phone (+62 877 3800 0808) to confirm what's possible.
What should I wear to August?
August sits in Sequis Tower on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, a formal Sudirman CBD address, which sets the tone. A polished, business-casual outfit is appropriate and consistent with the venue's awards profile and clientele. Flip-flops and shorts will read as underdressed; a suit is not required but wouldn't be out of place for a dinner occasion.
Is August good for a special occasion?
Yes, with caveats. August won the American Express One To Watch Award in 2023 and now sits on Asia's 50 Best list, which gives the meal a built-in prestige signal for guests who'll recognise those credentials. The Sudirman location is practical for business-district celebrations. Book well in advance; reservation difficulty is rated near impossible, so a last-minute special occasion attempt is a gamble.
What are alternatives to August in Jakarta?
Kindling is the closest comparison for guests who want Indonesian-rooted cooking with a modern approach and slightly less booking friction. Kaum works if the focus is on regional Indonesian cuisine in a more relaxed setting. Esa offers an alternative fine-dining tier for similar occasions. If your priority is a big-format meat-centred dinner rather than a tasting menu, Meatguy Steakhouse is a different category entirely.
Is August good for solo dining?
Solo dining at August is possible but depends on how the room is configured around counter or bar availability, which is not confirmed in the venue record. What is confirmed: this is a reservation-driven restaurant with near-impossible booking difficulty, so solo diners should book a full seat rather than hoping to slip in. The tasting menu format tends to work well for solo guests who want a structured, paced experience.
