"Hans Christian's whimsical Indonesian tasting menu, #42 on Asia's 50 Best 2026 — book the Chef's Journey to impress clients."
About August
Jakarta's most talked-about tasting menu reads like a memoir. August, opened by chef Hans Christian with the hospitality professional Budi Cahyadi, builds its courses from the chef's own childhood, from frozen peanut-butter sandwiches to a mother's breakfast omelette, and reworks them as a contemporary Indonesian set menu. By 2026 the room had climbed to number 42 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, the highest any Jakarta kitchen has reached on that list.
There is no à la carte; you come for the menu and the story behind it. For the rest of the city's rooms by occasion, see our Jakarta dining guide.
The Kitchen
Chef Hans Christian cooks a personal, nostalgic kind of modern Indonesian, layering the archipelago's spices through technique-driven plates. The course everyone names is the Foie PB&J, a riff on the frozen peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches of his childhood, with foie gras mousse, peanut praline and pickled grapes on crisp bread. "Breakfast from Mom," a single bite of rice and lapcheong (Chinese cured sausage) omelette, is the other signature, and the clearest statement of what the kitchen is doing.
Dinner is a fixed menu in two lengths: a twelve-course tasting at Rp 1,250,000 and a sixteen-course Chef's Journey at Rp 1,650,000 per person, with no à la carte. Seating runs across a lounge, a common dining room, a chef's table and a tasting counter. August is on the ground floor of Sequis Tower, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No. 71, in SCBD. For the wider field, see our best fine-dining restaurants worldwide guide.
The Room
The space is split into moods: a lounge for the opening, a calm common dining room, a chef's table and a counter facing the pass. Sound is low and considered, the lighting is dim and intimate, and the tables are spaced for a private conversation across a long meal. Dress is smart; most diners treat it as an occasion. The counter is the seat for solo diners who want to watch the kitchen, while the dining room suits a couple or a small group settling in for the full menu.
Best for Impress Clients
August is a strong room to impress clients, because a personal, technique-driven tasting menu and an Asia's-50-Best pedigree give a business dinner real conversation and real status. It is just as good for a proposal at the chef's table or a quiet corner, where the long, story-led menu carries the evening. It sits in our Jakarta dining guide as the city's highest-ranked kitchen.
Not for
Not for a quick, casual or budget dinner — August serves only a twelve- or sixteen-course set menu at Rp 1.25–1.65 million a head, with no à la carte.
Frequently Asked
Is August worth it?
Yes, if you want Jakarta's most personal fine-dining experience. Chef Hans Christian builds a set tasting menu from his own childhood memories, reworked with serious technique, and by 2026 the room had reached number 42 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, the highest any Jakarta kitchen has placed. It is a long, story-led dinner with no à la carte, so come for the full menu and the narrative rather than a quick meal.
How much does August cost?
Dinner is a fixed menu at two lengths: a twelve-course tasting at Rp 1,250,000 and a sixteen-course Chef's Journey at Rp 1,650,000 per person. There is no à la carte, so the menu price is the commitment, and wine pairings add to the total. Budget for a multi-hour dinner. Reserve well ahead through the August website, as the small room and set format mean seats sell out.
Who is the chef at August?
August was founded by chef Hans Christian, who runs the kitchen, with the hospitality professional Budi Cahyadi as co-founder. Christian's cooking is a nostalgic, technique-driven take on modern Indonesian, drawing on his own childhood for dishes like the Foie PB&J and "Breakfast from Mom." The partnership pairs an ambitious kitchen with polished service, and the result is the highest-ranked Jakarta restaurant on Asia's 50 Best.
Is August good for a proposal?
Yes, it is one of Jakarta's strongest proposal rooms. The lighting is dim and intimate, the floor is hushed, and a long, story-led tasting menu gives the evening shape and momentum. Book the chef's table or a quiet corner, tell the team in advance, and choose the sixteen-course Chef's Journey if you want the full arc. It works equally well to impress clients for the same pedigree and setting.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at August
Book through the August website; the room is small and the set menu sells out, so reserve well ahead. Dinner only; choose the counter to watch the kitchen.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressSequis Tower, Ground Floor, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No. 71, SCBD, Jakarta 12190
NeighbourhoodSCBD (Sudirman)
CuisineModern Indonesian
Price12-course Rp 1,250,000; 16-course Chef's Journey Rp 1,650,000
Dress CodeSmart
SeatingLounge, dining room, chef's table and counter
ReservationWebsite; set menu, book well ahead
