The Grand Old Lady

I 'm so happy that I got a chance to visit this old restaurant, a grand two-storey mansion built in 1928 formerly the private residence of the millionaire in the Dutch East Indies, F.Brandenburg van Oltsende; the owner of extensive tea, rubber and cinchona estates.

This Gong from the 18th century will greet you once you're in

Hendra Gunawan ( 1918 - 1983) 's paintings were allover the place, as well as antique furnitures and artifacts. The classic beauty of this restaurant, opened in 1968, has set the benchmark of a fine Indonesian restaurant.

Great teakwood beams span the ceilings of the room, high above a sweeping checkerboard of gleaming white and black tiles. The strong colors are softened by incandescent wall lamps and the flood of light from magnificent crystal chandeliers, and by an enormous backlit, stained-glass window designed by the Dutch artist Robert Deppe. It depicts the Dutch humanist, Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466 - 1536), astride a horse, and the family coat of arms.

Main dining room, Kalimantan Room

But what I love the most was the Topeng Bar, very strong in theme it displayed Hendra Gunawan's masterpieces as well as other artists depicting masks, and displayed a vast collection of  antique Indonesian masks as the background of a classic gentlemen's club: leather seats, and checkered black and white floor. Impressive.

Hudoq ( borneo's mask that symbolizes the holy spirit )  welcomes you to the bar 

Oasis Restaurant Jalan Raden Saleh 47, Jakarta Pusat 10330 Ph. (021) 3150646 Fax.(021) 31937131 E-mail: reservation@oasis-restaurant.co.id Website: www.oasis-restaurant.co.id