Shangri-La Surabaya: Five-Star Experience From The Best Hotel In Town

Spacious and clean rooms

Rooms at the Shangri-La are luxurious and spacious with typical hotel facilities like a comfy mattress, a flat screen TV, bathing supplies, a fridge, safety box, private bathroom. Some would provide you with the view of Surabaya.

Wait! We are talking about the best five-star hotel in Surabaya, so things must be above the average hotel standard. Yup! The latex mattress (many Indonesian hotels use spring beds), a plasma TV with broader coverage of international channels, a sparkling clean bathroom with free and good quality bathroom supplies are the amenities that prove Shangri-La as a five-star hotel.

With the carpeted floor, families with children can walk comfortably on the soft floor without worrying about it being too slippery and it is much safer for kids to play on the floor. In Indonesia, there are very few hotels with carpeted floors, even for those that consider themselves five-star hotels. So, this amenity makes Shangri-La excel among the other five-star hotels.

The price can be quite premium though. Depending on the room sizes and whether or not the room has a city or pool view, it ranges from 150 USD to 200 USD a night. For executive rooms and suites (the ones with a living room and a balcony), room rates range from 250 USD to 500 USD per night. However, you pay for what you get, and a comfortable and pampering stay at Shangri-la is guaranteed.

Lobby lounge with live music

Don’t feel like going out of the hotel? You may visit the lobby lounge，which is actually the biggest lobby lounge in town, and you’re in for a treat! The lobby has a bar! So, order a series of international cocktails such as Margarita or Long Island Ice Tea, or perhaps chill out while enjoying a glass of fresh juice, coffee, or its huge selection of tea (oolong, black tea, etc.).

There is something else in the lobby that may keep you from leaving the area. In the morning and afternoon, the piano players will play relaxing tones of classical and popular international and Indonesian songs. Go there in the evening and the live acoustic band will make you sway with light jazz and bossa nova music.

It’s all about the buffet!

Shangri-La has one of the best buffet restaurants called Jamoo. For 20 USD, you will be able to enjoy the broad selection of delicious continental food, an all-you-can-eat session! Satisfy your tummy with the wide range of antipasto (Italian appetizer containing pickled meat and veggies), Chinese food, sushi, and of course, local Indonesian food like soto (chicken soup with yellowish herbs) and satay (chicken, beef or pork skewered on bamboo sticks with sweet peanut sauce). Be sure to come on an empty tummy!

The highlight of the buffet is the ice cream station! Try the waffle ice cream. Go ahead and pick your own toppings and satisfy the dessert section of your tummy! Imagine a crunchy waffle and refreshing ice cream… Don’t forget to try the traditional Indonesian beverage called jamu. It’s a refreshing herbal drink that will make you healthier.

A little taste of Mexico

If you feel a bit adventurous for the night, go to Desperados Grill and Bar on the Level 1 of the hotel. This might not be the most popular night spot in Surabaya at the moment, but this bar is really something. It’s a Mexican bar! Enjoy a huge selection of bar food such as nachos or Mexican burgers, and wash your palate with Margarita and Mexican famous tequila brands of Cuervo and Patron!

Eat Japanese food at Nishimura

There’s a reason why we talk mostly about the food. The highlight of the hotel is actually its food and beverages and one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in Surabaya is here! It’s called Nishimura, an authentic Tokyo style restaurant. Go ahead and book the tatami room (a private dining room where guests are seated on a mat) and enjoy sake drink (a traditional Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice) and Japanese foods like teppanyaki (meat and vegetables stir-fried in front of customers), shabu shabu (beef and seafood soup with assorted vegetables) and a vast selection of bento (Combination menu), or sushi (fish, seaweed and rice, served with soy sauce and horse radish called wasabi). Speaking of sushi, there’s a sushi bar here. See how quick the chef constructs your food using the freshest fish available! Go for the nigiri sushi (different kinds of raw fish on top of Japanese rice), as the meat here is very fresh.