800k Per Person for Cold Food? Sana Sini Jakarta Buffet, Please Stop the Hype
qponx
2026-01-23
Thinking about the 800k IDR weekend brunch at Sana Sini Jakarta? You might want to read this first. This review details a disappointing experience with cold food, empty platters, and shockingly expensive drinks that are charged separately. While the ambiance and sashimi are decent, the overall quality has seriously declined from its glory days. Discover why this once-great buffet is now considered overhyped and get a crucial tip on which mealtime might actually be worth your money.
Friends, who gets it! 🤯 I went to Sana Sini, the 'once' GOAT of Jakarta buffets, full of anticipation, and dropped almost 840k per person for their weekend brunch[1], and the result… Anjay, it felt like I was at a huge nostalgia party, specifically to reminisce about when it used to be good.
The mountains of lobster, oysters, and roast duck from the food blogger videos are nowhere to be seen now[2]! The downgrade is way too severe, isn't it?
A Shattered Buffet Dream
Honestly, the ambiance at the Pullman Hotel is still impressive; the decor and sense of space are on point, making it very suitable for family gatherings or celebrations[3]. But as soon as I sat down to eat, things went downhill fast…
I excitedly ran to the carving station, only to find the steak was cold; I turned to check out the seafood station, and my goodness, the platters were wiped clean, and even after waiting for ages, no one came to refill them[4]. The heating lamps under many of the hot dishes weren't even on, so they were all stone-cold. Didn't I come to a five-star hotel to chill? Why does it feel like I'm eating leftovers?
Of course, it wasn't all bad. The sashimi in the Japanese section was reasonably fresh[5], and the salmon was cut generously thick, which kind of saved a little face. The made-to-order noodles and satay skewers (Sate) at the Indonesian food stall were also decent, upholding the dignity of local cuisine. But other than that… the dessert section looked like a cheap coffee break spread and was completely unappetizing.
The Biggest Rip-off is Here!
Here comes the most outrageous part of the whole experience: all drinks are charged separately! And they're super expensive! The staff won't proactively tell you this, so when you're thirsty and order a regular bottle of mineral water, you'll discover it costs 90,000 IDR when you get the bill[6]. This move is really not very Mantap…
Tips to Avoid Getting Ripped Off, Quick, Grab Your Notebooks!
For the girls who don't want to waste their money, take a word of advice from me:
- 1. Dinner and weekend Brunch, run! The quality control has seriously declined, and the value for money is extremely low. Don't be fooled by recommendation videos from a few years ago.
- 2. If you must go? Then go for the breakfast! I asked friends who have stayed at the hotel, and they all said the breakfast buffet is amazing[7], with lots of choices and great taste. This is the right way to experience Sana Sini now.
- 3. Bring your own water bottle (just kidding). Before ordering any drinks, ask for the price first! Otherwise, the bill will be so painful it'll take your breath away.
- 4. Get there early! If you're stubborn enough to go for dinner, then be in the first wave of people when the doors open. At least you'll get to eat something hot. Don't expect them to be diligent about refilling the dishes.
- Once a top-tier buffet, now no lobsters or oysters. What made it fall from grace [1][2]?
- At a 5-star buffet, who'd guess plain mineral water costs a shocking 90,000 IDR? Seriously jaw-dropping [3]!
- Forget dinner and weekend brunch! The hotel's breakfast buffet is Sana Sini's real hidden gem, with amazing variety [4]!
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