Bogor, dubbed the “Rain City,” is about an hour from Jakarta. It’s famous for its massive botanical garden, palace, delicious regional cuisine, and cooler climate. Despite its proximity, I’ve only been to Bogor a few times—and barely remember much about those visits. That’s until early this year.
With no proper itinerary and accompanied by Amma and Aunty P, I decided to visit Bogor. Because if not, then when? We left the house at 9 a.m., an hour later than planned, because I woke up too late. An hour later, we made a food stop at Sentul, midway between Jakarta and Bogor.
Bogor Day Trip Itinerary
Sentul Ah Poong Market
When we reached our first food stop, Ah Poong Market, it was still empty. I almost wanted to skip it, but Amma insisted, “We’re already here; let’s check it out”.
Ah Pong is derived from “apung,” meaning “floating” in Indonesian, which was why I was expecting something like (Bangkok’s) floating market. When I mentioned this to Amma, she laughed and said, “This is not Hong Kong” – she meant Bangkok, but close enough.
Ah Poong was a massive food court filled with Indonesian dishes—not a bad start to the Bogor day trip!
We ordered Tahu Gejrot for $3 and took countless pictures of Amma posing with durian, though she couldn’t justify buying it at $13 a kilo.
Sitting by the manmade riverside, we snacked on spicy tofu and fried tempeh while I drank Wedang Uwuh and scrolled through Bogor travel blogs, mapping our next stops.
Medja Restaurant Bogor
Technically, Ah Poong is still within Jakarta, so our first official destination in Bogor was Medja, a restaurant recommended by my YouTuber cousin.
Here, we indulged in Sundanese cuisine, which is typically spicier and less sweet than Javanese dishes.
With full stomachs, we made our way to a farm stay run by a friend of a family family friend. But on a whim, we detoured to Kuntum Farmfield, a highly-rated spot nearby.
Medja Restaurant address: Jl. Pajajaran Indah V No.6, Baranangsiang, Kec. Bogor Tim., Kota Bogor, Jawa Barat 16143, Indonesia.
Kuntum Farmfield dan Nurseries
Located just outside Bogor, Kuntum Farmfield is home to various farm animals and offers a surprisingly delightful experience. As a self-proclaimed Harvest Moon junkie, I found myself living my dream farm life! For a small fee of 50 cents, I fed the animals, wandered around the fields, and felt overwhelming joy.
I loved it so much that I’ve decided to make visiting a farm an annual tradition – Fafa, take note!
We only left the farm because my caffeine withdrawal kicked in, and we needed a cafe stop.
Kuntum Farmfield dan Nurseries address: Komplek, Jl. Teras Hijau Residence Jl. Raya Tajur No.291, RT.01/RW.01, Sindangrasa, Kec. Bogor Tim., Kota Bogor, Jawa Barat 16145, Indonesia.
Warung Nako dan Kopi Nako Bogor
Our next stop was Warung Nako, a cozy eateries-cum-coffeeshop I had spotted earlier near Medja. I ordered a Klasik Kopi (black coffee) while Amma enjoyed a Taro Latte. The cafe had charming decor, friendly staff, and an appetizing menu. We took pictures at their photo booth before heading back to Jakarta.
Warung Nako dan Kopi Nako Bogor address: Jl. Pajajaran Indah V No.7, Baranangsiang, Kec. Bogor Tim., Kota Bogor, Jawa Barat 16143, Indonesia.
Souvenir from Bogor
We stopped at a Bogor souvenir shop as we re-entered the Jakarta highway. It’s practically a tradition not to leave Bogor without Roti Unyil (miniature bread). For $5, we got 25 bite-sized breads that could quickly disappear in one sitting. We also picked up Bolu Sangkuriang (a local cassava cake) for my parents’ neighbours, who, according to Amma, always bring treats from their travels.
Roti Unyil Venus address: Jl. Raya Pajajaran, RT.04/RW.02, Baranangsiang, Kec. Bogor Tim., Kota Bogor, Jawa Barat 16143, Indonesia.
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I’m so glad we made this trip to Bogor, even without a set itinerary, despite Amma’s initial hesitation, saying it might be boring with just the three of us. It was anything but! The weather was perfect, and the trip left me wanting more. Bogor, see you again soon!
Next time, I want to visit the palace and the botanical gardens—though local myths say couples who visit the gardens together will break up, maybe not with a Fafa. I’d also love to explore the cultural village and stay overnight at a farm.
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