Beautifully artsy, but the luxury feels too transactional. Hotel Indigo Bandung is visually impressive. The hotel has a strong artsy boutique character, with local elements carried beautifully into the design. The interiors feel stylish, warm, and distinctive, giving a strong sense of place. I booked a Premium Room and the staff explained the room and upgrade options well. The room was comfortable and beautifully designed, but the Premium experience could feel more elevated, especially in terms of view. I was assigned the 5th floor, while higher floors required waiting and the orientation still seemed to face the same road view. The main pool looks beautiful with an artsy infinity style, but the water felt more like normal temperature than a proper heated pool, and the chlorine was noticeable. The gym is adequate, but not large. For a new lifestyle luxury hotel, I expected a more advanced wellness space with smarter equipment, functional training areas, or recovery features. The biggest disappointment was the rooftop pool policy. Access is only for Corner Suite and above, while other in-house guests must pay extra. Even just going up after 7 PM to take photos or videos of the view was not allowed unless spending at least IDR 250,000 at the rooftop bar. This felt too commercial and exclusionary. Luxury should make guests feel welcomed and elevated, not divided inside the same hotel. Breakfast was enjoyable, with good variety and local touches such as Soto Bandung, kikil, jamu coffee, ice cream, chocolate fountain, fresh juice, and a coffee bar. The hot food island could still be richer, but overall it was one of the better parts of the stay. Thank you for the birthday cake, though the process could be more seamless. It needed H-1 request, a reminder, and only arrived at night. We also appreciated the ice cubes, mukena, and sajadah. Overall, the hotel is beautiful and promising, but the experience should feel more generous, inclusive, and less transactional.
