Reviews of Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta 5 stars

This hotel is far from 5-star standards — especially when it comes to service, which is surprisingly poor and urgently needs improvement. It cannot be compared to similar hotels in Bali or Jakarta. I believe I have a good basis for comparison, having stayed here for 4 nights and having lived in Jogja for 5 years. Staff offer plenty of smiles but also plenty of excuses. In true 5-star hotels, service is what earns the rating — here, the lack of genuine care puts the category into question. ⸻ Check-in Initially smooth, until the receptionist suddenly stopped addressing me and began discussing details such as breakfast and gym hours only with my Indonesian wife — despite the booking being in my name and the fact that we had spoken in Indonesian from the start. Why? ⸻ Spa A disappointing experience. Communication was minimal, and the therapist seemed unsure how to perform a proper foot reflexology massage. She attempted to switch to back and shoulder massage without asking, which I declined — there was a reason I chose a specific treatment. No basic touches expected at this price point: slippers not prepared for use, no inquiry about massage intensity, and constant clock-watching every two minutes as if she wanted to finish early. ⸻ Dinner On our last night, we dined at the hotel — a mistake. No greeting, no guidance to a table. Even budget hotels handle this better. We sat outside, ignored for 5–10 minutes until my wife went inside to get attention. The bartender showed visible annoyance when approached. My meal arrived 15 minutes before my wife’s, with the excuse that “orders are queued” — again, delivered with smiles but no real solution. Mid-meal, complimentary desserts appeared, seemingly leftover from the buffet. It felt like an afterthought, not genuine hospitality. No manager addressed the poor service. Food quality was mediocre — easily found elsewhere for a fraction of the price.

The breakfast is the best where you can taste all traditional Yogya food

Nothing bad

It was an entirely wonderful stay! We were there for s small family reunion. The executive lounge was perfect for enjoying a light breakfast and happy hour time together. The larger breakfast buffet had an expansive selection of delicious dishes to choose from. The hotel decor and gardens are lovely. We appreciated the accessibility services for my elderly mom which help to make her stay very enjoyable. All the staff were kind, courteous and professional. The location was a quiet haven to the bustling city and convenient to many attractions.

Nothing. It was a very enjoyable experience.

Great staff, great facilities, enjoyed our stay

The rooms can use a pick me up yet the bed is very comfortable

Very comfortable, clean and friendly. helpful staff. Very good location being close to the shopping mall.

We stayed in a Junior Suite, which was a lovely big size, with a setee to sit on, and lots of cupboards so we could keep the room tidy. A decent sized desk was also provided. The room had a lovely calming ambience. The hotel itself is a beautifully restored 1960s building. The foyer is spacious and beautifully kept. The breakfast buffet included European as well as extensive and delicious Indonesian foods, with Japanese and Chinese influenced offerings. The hotel staff were delightful, always welcoming and going to great effort to help with any request. Duty Manager Canggih was so helpful throughout our stay. The entire hotel had a beautiful decor, and includes some very large original mosaics well worth seeking out. We used the gym and pool, both well kept and generous sized. Proximity to Ambarukmo shopping mall next door (no road to cross) was a great bonus and we we travelled there often to eat and shop. We were fortunate to have Executive Lounge access with our room, which was such a great addition. It was quiet and beautiful, with attentive staff, and our complimentary cocktails were the equal of anywhere. Another thing to note which aded to the decor was that all of the plants (there were many) are REAL. Delightful!!! AND there were hotel grounds with trees and places to quietly sit, as well as a beautiful old traditional Joglo pavillion and a pool and pavilion where the Sultan used to sit while his wives and children bathed below! This hotel had everything needed for a comfortable pampered stay. Thoroughly recommended!!

Clean, spacious room and staff

A noisy sound in my room disturb our sleep, and breakfast menu just fair

Location

The smell in the elevator Breakfasts are included for the stay. We skipped the breakfast for the first day because we left early at 4:30 am to see sun rise. Our kids were too tired to wake up for breakfast the second day. We need to leave at 8:00am for our flight. We asked if they can pack some food for the kids. They said no according to the hotel policy. Most hotels are very flexible with where and when you can have breakfast and very supportive for packing food for day trips. Unfortunately this one is very strict about this.

Nice pool and gardens. Extensive breakfast. Friendly staff.

Staff is very well trained and accommodative with always a smile on their face. Excellent breakfast selection with a big Asian variety

I am personally not a big fan of aircon and for me its in Hotels in Asia to cold