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Located in the area of Senopati, South Jakarta, in an old Dutch-style building, is the restaurant Omar Sendok.

“This area was planned between 1950 and 1960 to become an independent satellite city, complete with facilities and infrastructure, as well as beautiful gardens,” said Asri Ardiati, an architect and researcher, who has an interest in old buildings in Jakarta.

“The building [that now houses Omah Sendok] belongs to that era, in which the newly independent Indonesian architects began designing buildings with a more modern and dynamic approach to the Indisch style of Dutch architecture,” Asri said.

The Indisch style, used by Dutch architects, utilizes design features from traditional Indonesian houses, such as slanting roofs and ventilation windows, to maximize air circulation in tropical weather.

The facade of Omar Sendok is adorned with natural stones on sections of the walls, and a pentagonal bouvenlicht , or ventilation window, just below the roof, which is typical of buildings from that era.

A tall concrete slab, red canopy and iron grille that discreetly obscure parts of the roof were added later.

“The owner of the house should be lauded for his effort to conserve the old building,” Asri said.

A pair of leafy banyan and bullet-wood trees shade the front yard. In the backyard, there is a lush array of fruit trees, ferns, palms and bamboo.

Bright red flowers blossoming on a coral tree add a sense of cheer to the outdoor ambience.

Couples often opt to be seated at the bamboo terrace by the pool for a romantic dinner. In the evenings, the pool is illuminated with floating candles.

The inside dining room is furnished with simple yet comfortable furniture that adds to the homey atmosphere.

A row of long dining tables with wooden and plastic chairs at each end leads into a comfortable lounge room.

From the corner of the dining room, an oversized relief of Buddha smiles benignly over guests.

Tables in the restaurant are not spaced far apart. This arrangement appears to induce a sense of closeness among diners.

Adjoining the lounge is a book shop, which features rows of wooden racks displaying a wide range of volumes for customers to peruse at their leisure.

White canvases suspended from the walls display scrawled messages from celebrity customers. These include author Andrea Hirata, artist/actor/writer Sujiwo Tedjo, comedian Ulfa Dwiyanti and actress Widyawati.

The old building became home to the restaurant only four years ago. The restaurant was opened by a discussion group that embraces the universality of all religions.

The group, which didn’t want to be named, said that by establishing the restaurant, they aimed to create a welcoming place for people to gather and discuss ideas in a relaxing environment.

“As the community grows, we wanted to have a place where people can read books and discuss their ideas with friends while enjoying snacks and drinks,” said general manager Ely NW. As they worked on realizting that vision in 2004, they came across the old house in the Senopati area.

After a year of minor renovations, Omah Sendok opened its doors to the public in October 2005.

“Nothing much was changed [in the house],” Ely said. “But I did add a front entrance to the building — according to Feng Shui, it will bring us more luck with the business.” The original entrance was situated at the left side of the house, but a covered porch now shelters guests arriving at the house. In this rather dimly lit area, karawang , or rooster ventilation made of ceramic, is installed on a wall.

From the porch, a line of spider plants flanked by concrete blocks leads directly through to the luxuriously sized backyard and swimming pool. “It’s not easy to find a house with a vast garden in the middle of the city,” Ely said.

With the total land area of 1,420 square meters, the property can accommodate up to 400 guests during a function.

“We envisioned it to be a house, in all senses of the word,” Ely said.

“[We planned it as a] place where people can relax and unwind, where people can host a private party, throw a celebration or host a school reunion.”

“I love coming here in the afternoon after work with my friends,” said Elis Kartika, a regular customer who works as a bank officer in the Sudirman central business district.

“It’s not too far from my office and feels so homey,” she said.

Omah Sendok
Restaurant and function area for private parties
Jl. Taman Empu Sendok No. 45
Sudirman, South Jakarta
Tel. 021 521 4531