Sweet treats, savoury eats

New places to check out in Batam include Itsumo Tart, which sells tea-based desserts, and Indonesian restaurant Noe Noesantara

- Clara Lock Assistant Life Editor

There are many regional destinations where one can watch movies, get a massage and tuck into a seafood feast on the cheap, but perhaps none more accessible than Batam, an hour-long ferry ride away.

If you have not made plans for the school holidays and are put off by flight prices during peak travel season, consider instead a trip to the Indonesian island, where new eateries and hotels sprout regularly.

Oakwood Hotel and Apartments Grand Batam, for instance, opened in July 2024 and is connected to Grand Batam Mall, which houses familiar brands such as Haidilao Hot Pot, Uniqlo and an offshoot of Australian cafe Toby's Estate.

The hotel is a fiveto 10-minute walk from a cluster of eateries, cafes and massage joints, all catering to regional and domestic tourists. I pay $144 a night in October for a studio executive room, which comes with a king-size bed, a living area and a well-stocked kitchen.

It is on the steep side for Batam, but spares no comfort for my multi-generational holiday. In comparison, nearby boutique property Artotel Batam costs around $100 a night for a weekend stay in December, less during off-peak season.

If you are looking to do the same, here are some highlights for an indulgent weekend.

SWEET TREATS

Tea-based cheese tarts such as Hokkaido Milk Tea and Matcha Red Bean (43,000 to 49,000 rupiah, or S$3.40 to $$3.80) are the highlight at industrial-chic cafe Itsumo Tart, which opened in mid-2025. I sample all six tart flavours and conclude that the bestselling London Fog is the best one by far, thanks to its floral Earl Grey notes. But its shortbread crust could be less chunky.

Alternatively, order the soft serve ice cream (43,000 to 48,000 rupiah). The TWG Earl Grey soft serve is just as creamy and fragrant as the tart version.