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The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta MGallery by Sofitel was one of the best places we stayed in during our world tour.
When we entered the hotel we immediately knew that it was a very special place with a unique atmosphere. The hotel hosts many tourists looking for a comfortable place to stay. They ultimately find themselves in a hotel that boasts amazing decor and outstanding services. The boutique hotel’s classic and elegant decor appealed to us from the off. Even Noah found himself looking at the beautiful objets d’art from Javanese culture that could be found in every corner.
During our few days in Yogyakarta, we visited two of the most important religious temples in Bali – Prambanan and Borobudur – and how glad we were to be invited to stay for few nights in one of the region’s best hotels.
Everything during our stay was special, and upon arrival we knew that the staff were fully committed to making guests feel comfortable and relaxed as if they were in their own home.
Once we’d checked in, I immediately mentioned that we’d been invited by the hotel to stay, and asked if we would be able to meet our host Elyssa – with whom I’d been exchanging emails for the past few days. In an attempt to try and help us relax, the receptionist offered us a delicious drink and some sweets. It was time to put our guest masks on and just enjoy the moment. And that we did.
The welcome drink was tastefully made, and made me remember the welcome drinks in some of the other hotels we’d stayed in in Bali. But there were some noticeable differences. The ingredients were almost the same: ginger and cinnamon. But there was something different … We were later told that the drinks included a special ingredient – which was obviously not revealed to me.
The sweets were simply delicious. I honestly don’t remember all of their names, and I had to ask our hosts what they were. They also reminded me of some Arabic sweets I used to eat as a child when I stayed at my grandparents’ house.
We had to walk a bit to get to our room, but it was a pleasant walk. We got to go through the open-courtyard Paprika Restaurant which bordered the pool. There were also many statues, sculptures and historic artefacts along the way, so it really looked like guests were intentionally made to walk this way to their rooms, and not just ushered into the elevator in reception. This way, they are made to appreciate the enchantment this historic hotel has to offer.
Our room, which was on the 2nd floor, was large and tastefully decorated, with a mix of Asian and European decor. It was a Deluxe Legacy room with a large screen TV, a king-size bed, a safe, and a minibar. You could tell that there was enormous attention to detail in each and every part of the room. I was particularly interested in the small figurines in the toilet, called Loro Blonyo, which also seemed to be littered around the hotel.
The temperature in the room was just perfect. Even without the air conditioning on at all times, the heat from outside never got to us – that was until we opened the door to the balcony. The balcony looked straight out to the pool. At night, the lights in and around the pool created a beautiful view of the colonial-style hotel.
As we always do when we’re invited to stay at a hotel, we had a look around other types of rooms and took some pictures.
Superior Heritage with a queen-size bed, located in the old historical building.
The Phoenix Executive Suite, with a king-size bed.
We even had time to see the Presidential Suite, which is reserved for Heads of States and VIP guests.
One of the places we enjoyed the most at The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta MGallery by Sofitel was the pool. This wasn’t just because it was a pool – although that is why it was Noah’s favorite place – but also because of the setting, the decoration, and the style. Whether looking down from the room’s balcony, sat in a chair by the poolside, or sat at the end of the pool facing the hotel’s wings, you always feel relaxed and in the moment.
Noah really made the most of the pool on one of the afternoons we stayed in the hotel. Since he’d learned how to swim in Bali, he always asked if there was a pool in every hotel we stay in. We also mentioned the idea of going for a night swim, but always failed in that endeavor as, as soon as we got back to our room in the evening, we didn’t want to leave it again 🙂
The hotel also has a wine bar (Vino) which sells a variety of cocktails, the 1918 Lounge & Bar, a fully equipped gym, 9 state-of-the-art facilities for meetings, and gift shops.
Unfortunately we didn’t have the chance to try out MySpa, the hotel’s spa and wellness center, but there is a wide variety of massages and treatments on offer for guests.
Another place we enjoyed a lot was Restaurant Paprika. This wasn’t just because of the food, which was great, but again because of the restaurant’s ambience, the decoration, the layout of the breakfast buffet, etc. It is the ideal place to chat with friends or to spend quality time with the family.
We ordered room service on our first night there, so Noah was able to watch some cartoons before the food arrived. We weren’t brave enough (and we were probably a bit too hungry) to try the local delicacies as we sometimes do on our trip. The food in Indonesia is delicious, but that night we went for the dishes we knew and liked so as to avoid any flavors or spices we weren’t familiar with.
We had dinner at Restaurant Paprika on the second night, and chose different dishes from the local cuisine. The dishes were beautifully presented and tasted equally as good.
We could go on and on talking about how delicious the food is and how varied the menu is, with both local and international cuisine … Instead, we’ll show you some pictures and let the food speak for itself.
The breakfast was amazing. It was a buffet spread over different places at the restaurant, and included a variety of cuisines from India, China, Indonesia and other international foods. Ruth and I always try a bit of everything, while Noah is more into the croissants, yogurt, toasts, fruits and juices. Breakfast was included in our package at The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta, so we made the most of it and used it to fuel up for our full-day visits to the Prambanan and Borobudur temples – which we did one after the other.
We were invited on our last night at the hotel to try the barbecue grill at Restaurant Paprika. It was a good time to chat a bit with Thomas, the general manager, and his wife, with whom we got along really well.
The dinner that night was amazing. There were different options of meat for the grill, whereas there were other hot and cold local or international dishes available elsewhere in the restaurant, as well as delicious deserts. The barbecue nights are held on Saturdays and come highly recommended … Just make sure that you have light meals during the day, as then you can try as many dishes as possible!
The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta MGallery by Sofitel is a very elegant hotel set in a colonial building, which was originally a private estate, and dates back to 1918. The property changed hands a number of times until a Dutch caretaker turned it into the Pensioner Hotel. The most recent owner has since changed the name to Phoenix, which it is still called today, and it is part of the Accor-Sofitel chain.
The design and architecture were maintained through the years and contain the relics of a bygone age with a blend of Asian and European decors.
This historical house also kept the old furniture, which by the way was really well maintained, and some of it is on display for guests. For instance, there was a shoe shine chair, which is still in use to this day.
We were very fortunate to have been able to spend 4 wonderful days in Yogyakarta. We had amazing cultural, historical and traditional experiences in this fabulous hotel and the city’s well-renowned temples.
We’d like to thank Thomas, Elyssa and the whole team at The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta MGallery by Sofitel for being so welcoming and for their diligent care and hospitality throughout our entire stay.
The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta MGallery by Sofitel
Family Travel Secrets stayed at The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta MGallery by Sofitel as guests. All opinions and the oodles of pictures remain our own.