Gram Hotel: Experience the Comfort of Gramm Hotel by Ambarrukmo

We arrived at the Gramm Hotel by Ambarrukmo in Yogyakarta from the Gubeng Railway Station in Surabaya, taking the Sancaka Express train. It was a scenic four-hour ride across Java, and we were ready for a hearty lunch when we arrived at the hotel.

Our tastebuds were treated to hearty Indonesian dishes, including soto, a traditional soup made primarily of bits of meat, boiled eggs, bean sprouts, and other vegetables. There are many variations of soto, which is sometimes referred to as Indonesia's national dish. We also had grudeg, a sweet jackfruit stew boiled in coconut milk and palm sugar, making the fruit tender. Lunch also included rawon, an Indonesian dish made of the popular Indonesian keluak nut, bean sprouts, salted egg, and tempeh. We also tried brongkos, a dish made of beef, goat meat or mutton (ours was beef), hard-boiled eggs and tofu. It is also stewed in coconut milk with beans, usually black-eyed peas, and sometimes carrots. Our stomachs were happy. "Since we are a modern hotel, we also have Western food and Chinese food. We try to combine the traditional with the modern," says Gramm's General Manager, Aries Retnowati. "We also have some treasures that we put in our hotel. Sometimes you can find in the market things that old women make, like jamu. Jamu is a very traditional Indonesian medicine or drink that we include on our menu, but we make it ourselves with a very hygienic system."

The four-star Gramm is part of four hotels by Ambarrukmo in the area and caters to "business and leisure guests, usually from Europe, China, Singapore and Malaysia. We have a modern Javanese hospitality concept with 142 rooms across four categories. As a business hotel, a ballroom and meeting rooms are available for comprehensive meeting facilities. We also offer food and beverage services, including Smara restaurant, Smara deli, and Arcadaz Bar and Lounge," shares Retnowati. The hotel also has a fitness center, swimming pool, and a jacuzzi.

"Our bar on the fifth floor, Arcadaz, has music every evening," shares Retnowati. That night, we listened to a live band playing American, British, and Spanish tunes–from Adele to Bon Jovi. We also drank a bit of alcohol, including a unique "cocktail voyage" which consisted of an "appetizer" drink named Asinan like the Indonesian dish, made of Roku gin, seasoned pickles with sugarcane, yuzu, and club soda. Next on the menu was the "main dish" called Nasi Kuning–again like the Indonesian dish–made of brown buttery Suntory whisky, pineapple, spiced soursop and eucalyptus. It was absolutely delicious and tasted like a complete meal. Last was the "dessert," Klepon, composed of spiced rum with grated coconut, soy and coconut milk, pandan, and orange liqueur, a fitting ending to a beautiful journey of alcoholic beverages.

In many ways, Gramm incorporates local culture and heritage into its activities and offerings. "From the welcome drink, once you set foot on our premises, we will give you Yogyakarta's signature hospitality. Then, we display a lot of artworks by local artists around the hotel. We serve traditional food in our food venues, like the dishes you had for lunch. We also serve Wedangan drinks made from natural herbs and spices. Even the interior details of the bedrooms use local suppliers–the bed runners are made using tenun, an Indonesian technique of making fabric by weaving various colors of thread," states Retnowati.
The hotel also offers a package sightseeing tour of Yogyakarta which starts with the Affandi Museum, the Malioboro area, then cultural attractions such as Prambanan Temple. The area's natural attractions are also covered, depending on the guests' tour preferences. "Guests can also go cycling if they prefer," adds Retnowati. This variety of activities ensures that guests have a memorable and exciting stay at Gramm Hotel.

Gram's Hotel Mananger, Aries Retnowati

"We always campaign with our staff and guests to reduce water and energy usage. That is something we are very active in," shares Retnowati. "And most of our guests during the pandemic were loyal customers, so they're very aware of our initiatives. We also give our special guests special treatment. Sometimes, they need many things before their stay in Yogyakarta, and we take care of all their needs before they come. Everything that they need will be in their room before they arrive. Some of our guests have stayed with us ten or 20 times."

Retnowati has been the General Manager of Gramm for five years but has been a GM for 15 years around Indonesia. She has been in Yogyakarta for 11 years and has seen it all. "I meet many people, which I like. I always meet different people of various cultures. It has enriched my and my team's leadership development. It's exciting to learn from different people, in general." Retnowati also paints, but you won't likely see her artwork on Gramm's walls. "I don't feel comfortable if I put other artists’, the biggest artists’ or the more professional artists’ work next to my work. It's my hotel," she laughs. "But now I have an exhibition in three hotels until June."

We spent some quiet hours in Prambanan Temple to take in all that breathtaking architectural beauty, a jewel of the Hindu faith. Stunned by such meticulous level of artistry and intricacy that went into this complex structure, and the grandness with which it was conceived, we were reduced to being such speechless travelers.

We returned to Gramm ready for another hearty meal. This time, we were treated to a traditional Sultan's dinner across the street at Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta, passing a walkway and then a mall on the street to make it to the other side. The connecting mall is one of Gramm's unique features, and we saw several international and local brands, including a giant Bath & Body Works, a Clinique stall, and a Garmin shop.

We were delighted to experience the unique blend of traditional and modern at Gramm Hotel. At the end of our stay, we concluded that we'd definitely be hankering for the creature comforts that Gramm offers if we were in town on business.

Experience the Comfort of Gramm Hotel by Ambarrukmo

Subscribe to us