Above: A table at Potato Head.

A rash of new openings has given Jakarta’s dining and entertainment scene a much-needed shot in the arm. At Potato Head (G/F, Pacific Place, 52–53 Jl. Jend. Sudirman; 62-21/ 5797-3322), the eclectic menu plays second fiddle to an off-beat design (old teak louvers, vintage furnishings, a surreal wall mural by Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho) and a menu of creative cocktails like the pistachio- and-rockmelon martini. • Despite its name, Decanter (G/F, Plaza Kuningan, C11–14 Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said; 62-21/5296-3888) is not just about wine. The long list of bottles is complemented by a Mediterranean menu featuring antipasto platters and imaginative salads, served at a communal table or in a moodily lit lounge. • The newest outpost of the Singapore-based franchise, IndoChine (8/F, FX Lifestyle X’nter, Jl. Jend. Sudirman; 62-21/3003-0330) offers something for everyone: alfresco bistro fare at Siem Reap Café, bar-side glamour at Opiume, fine dining at Indochine Restaurant and SupperClub, and cocktails with a view at the Beach Club. • Finally, topping the new wing of Plaza Indonesia is industrial-chic Immigrant (6/F, Plaza Indonesia, Jl. Thamrin; 62-21/3983-8257), popular for its generous servings (the pizza and calzone, cooked in a wood-fired oven, are standouts) and live jazz. –ND

Originally appeared in the June/July 2009 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Capital Growth”)