Good as New

AMUZ Gourmet Restaurant reopens with a new decor and ambiance after a major renovation

Jakarta has many thriving culinary hotspots, including one busy area around Sudirman CBD and Senopati. On the upscale side—and definitely one of the best French restaurants in town—is AMUZ Gourmet Restaurant, and Indonesia Tatler had the enviable chance to see its new face after a period of renovation.

For the renovation, Chef Gilles Marx, the founder of the restaurant, worked together with Hans Susantio of VIN•DA•TE Interior & Architecture. “I have been working together with the AMUZ Group since 2015,” said Hans. “We have had a good professional relationship since,” Chef Gilles added. Hans then explained all about the details behind his work for AMUZ. “The general theme for the new AMUZ is Modern French Art Deco style with an Asian touch,” he said.

In general, Hans has divided the restaurant into several main areas. Entering the restaurant, first you will see an empty space. “I specifically designed this area for photography. See the grids on the wall? They’re intended to help guests get good angles for their shots,” he noted. Right next to it is the area Hans calls the “Ladies Area”, which he gave feminine touches of hand-painted Italian texture in ombre-style magenta.

Separated from the Ladies Area by an Italian marble is a cosy lounge with an Italian tanned leather sofas for the guests to enjoy their drinks on, with a Royal-blue, handtextured rug underneath. Next to the open kitchen, is the Chef Table, or the “Gentlemen Area”, surrounded by a leather-finish style marble in a monochromatic dark greyish colour. This is the area to which Chef Gilles can invite special guests in order to serve them with a set menu while they enjoy a cigar. The Main Dining area is where guests can enjoy a fine-dining experience against hand-painted silk wallpaper with a Chinoiserie French Garden painting.

“I also want to make guests feel more at home in the

VIP room by highlighting the paintings and also by giving a monochromatic ambience to it,” he said. The door is a representation of a lady made from brass and bronze to form her bustier, and with a jade handle hand-made in Japan, for her ring. After all, AMUZ is a mainstay for high-quality, authentic, contemporary French cuisine and style.