At the newly opened Solène, the delicate flavours of Southern France cuisine arrives as a quietly confident addition to the evolving dining landscape of Jakarta. Set within the refined surrounds of The St. Regis Jakarta, the restaurant introduces a contemporary interpretation of the cuisine that feels both transportive and unmistakably modern.
At the heart of Solène lies la cuisine du soleil – a culinary philosophy shaped by sunlight, seasonality, and the inherent vibrancy of Mediterranean ingredients. It is a way of cooking that celebrates restraint as much as richness, allowing produce to speak with clarity rather than excess. Here, flavours are layered with intention: olive oil glistens instead of overwhelms, herbs lift rather than dominate, and each dish carries a sense of place – somewhere between the Côte d’Azur and the quiet charm of Provence.
Leading the kitchen is Chef Maxime Sacchetto, whose pedigree is firmly rooted in the discipline of classical French gastronomy. His trajectory through Michelin-recognised kitchens, including Hôtel de Crillon under the Rosewood Group, alongside his tenure at Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera and Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, informs a style that is both precise and quietly expressive. At Solène, he refines that experience into something more relaxed yet no less exacting.
The menu reads like a love letter to the Mediterranean coast, with dishes that are at once familiar and reimagined. The Tartine de Tomates et Mozzarella de Bufflonne captures the essence of simplicity done well – sun-ripened tomatoes, creamy buffalo mozzarella, and just enough seasoning to evoke late summer afternoons in the South of France. The Tataki de Thon and crudo de Sériole lean into a lighter, almost coastal minimalism, where freshness dictates the rhythm of the plate.
More composed offerings such as Daurade Rouge à la Vierge de Tomates showcase a delicate interplay of texture and acidity, while the Chou-fleur Rôti reveals a deeper, more caramelised dimension of vegetables – proof that the cuisine here is as much about produce as it is about provenance. To finish, La Tropézienne delivers a nostalgic indulgence, its airy brioche and cream filling offering a sweet, sunlit finale.
Beyond the plate, Solène’s presence within The St. Regis Jakarta feels intentional. It is not merely another fine dining address, but a considered extension of the hotel’s identity that balances heritage with contemporary sensibility. The result is a Southern French cuisine space in Jakarta, trading the city’s intensity for luminous Southern French cuisine.