In the South of Sulawesi, Makassar is one of Indonesia’s main airline transit hubs, and it is worth stopping there for a few days. If you fly to East Indonesia like Maluku or Papua, there is a good chance you will transit via Makassar. The city has delicious food, a good party scene, and solid sightseeing activities.
While there are no true five-star luxury hotels in Makassar, the Novotel Grand Shayla is a great four-star option with the perfect location. Read on for my review of the Novotel Makassar hotel and info on what to do while you transit in Makassar.
Read the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla review and see how it went!
How to Get to the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
The Novotel Makassar is located about a 30-minute drive from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG).
At the airport, there is a Gojek counter just past the exit. Gojek is the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber; it is highly prevalent in Makassar and can be seamlessly used to travel around the city. It is incredibly convenient, especially if you do not speak Indonesian, as your destination is perfectly clear to the driver via the app.
Gojek fares usually do not include highway tolls, so do not be surprised if the driver asks you for extra cash. Our fare from the airport was 154,000 IDR plus 20,000 IDR for tolls (approximately 12 USD total).
The Novotel’s location is excellent as it sits near the popular Losari beachfront area and the historical fortress of Fort Rotterdam. It is nestled in a vibrant neighborhood with numerous local restaurants and coffee shops within easy walking distance.
Checking in to the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla was very efficient. We presented our passports and a credit card, and within minutes, we received our room keys while the bell desk brought our luggage directly up.
Upon arrival, we were offered a local traditional welcome drink called Sarabba. It was intensely flavored, warm with ginger, and pleasantly sweet!
The front desk staff also provided us with excellent recommendations on the best places to eat and visit around town.
Review of the Bedrooms at the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
We stayed in a Suite, which grants significantly more space than a standard room and features a completely separate living room area.
The suite occupies the corner block of the building, featuring expansive glass windows that afford sweeping panoramic views across Makassar city.
TIP: Always request a room on a high floor to secure the best view. The suites positioned on the west side of the building offer partial sea views over the harbor.
The Living Room in the Novotel Makassar Suite
The living room is completely closed off from the bedroom. It houses two comfortable sofas, a massive flat-screen TV, and a proper working desk. The hotel culinary team prepared a beautiful welcome platter featuring traditional sweet treats from various regions of Sulawesi, which served as a fantastic introduction to the local gastronomy.
The Wi-Fi connection in the room is solid and highly reliable, making the desk setup a productive place to work if you need to catch up on business during transit.
The suite comes fully equipped with premium tea and coffee-making facilities. While the mini-bar fridge was kept empty upon arrival, you can easily request items to be stocked or order fresh refreshments directly from room service.
The Bedroom at Novotel Makassar
The main bedroom is exceptionally bright, thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass walls covering two full sides of the room.
It features an oversized king bed layered with a plush duvet and an abundance of pillows. The mattress quality was incredibly comfortable, and the entire room is well soundproofed. We could barely hear any ambient noise coming from neighboring rooms or the city traffic below.
The air conditioning unit is powerful, fully adjustable, and capable of cooling down the entire tropical space within mere minutes.
It is worth noting that the large glass windows are completely sealed and do not open, meaning it is impossible to let fresh outdoor air cycle through manually.
The Bathroom at the Novotel Makassar
Finished in a bright, clean marble, the bathroom stands out as one of the highlight features of the entire suite footprint. It is incredibly spacious, anchored by a deep standalone soaking bathtub right in the center of the room.
The layout features an enclosed toilet cubicle alongside a separate walk-in rain shower enclosure boasting excellent hot water pressure. A comprehensive selection of signature bathroom amenities is replenished daily.
Directly connected to the bathroom area is a large walk-in dressing closet outfitted with soft bathrobes, room slippers, a digital safety lockbox, and a full-sized iron and ironing board.
Review of the Facilities at Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
The Novotel Makassar is a substantial property hosting over 300 guest rooms spread across 15 floors. It successfully delivers all the primary services and leisure amenities you would look for in a major city hotel.
The Swimming Pool
The property boasts a 25-meter outdoor swimming pool framed by a collection of lounge chairs. While it sits tucked away without offering a grand panoramic city view, the water is meticulously clean and provides an excellent spot to cool down and relax after a busy afternoon exploring the historic sights of Makassar.
The Fitness Gym
You rarely check into a mid-scale hotel expecting an elite athletic training compound, but the gym facility at the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla is surprisingly well-equipped for a standard hotel setup. It hosts a solid range of modern cardio machines alongside a complete rack of free weights.
TIP: The gym and swimming pool facilities operate strictly from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, so ensure you structure your workout schedules accordingly.
The In-House Spa
The wellness center features three dedicated private spa rooms offering a menu of therapeutic body treatments. I booked a 60-minute traditional massage, which proved highly therapeutic and effectively worked out all the muscle tension accumulated from long flights and city walks.
TIP: If you desire a massage session during peak evening hours, make sure to communicate with the front desk to book your treatment slot well in advance.
The Lobby Gift Shop
The main lobby floor hosts a lovely boutique gift shop selling authentic arts and crafts sourced from diverse cultural communities across Sulawesi. They collaborate directly with regional non-profit organizations to showcase these high-quality artisanal goods.
TIP: I originally held off buying souvenirs here because I was traveling onward to Tana Toraja later in the week, a decision I deeply regretted. The design quality and refinement of the artifacts curated inside the Novotel shop were noticeably superior to what I encountered in the tourist markets of Toraja.
The store also stocks classic local snack items and travel necessities. From refreshing chilled drinks to fresh salads and cakes, the selection is highly convenient and priced affordably.
The Kids Club
If you are exploring Indonesia accompanied by young family members, you will be pleased to find that the Novotel Makassar features an indoor Kids Club offering a playful environment packed with toys and scheduled children’s activities.
The Business Executive Lounge
Guests staying in premium suites or holding elite status tiers within the All Accor Live Limitless loyalty program receive exclusive access to the high-floor Executive Business Lounge. It provides a peaceful corporate environment with expansive views out over the city skyline, complete with dedicated private meeting rooms.
The Food Experience at the Novotel Makassar
Breakfast is presented as an extensive buffet service inside the main ground-floor restaurant. The selection boasts a massive variety of classic Indonesian dishes alongside dedicated live cooking stations showcasing traditional South Sulawesi culinary specialties.
I tried—and instantly fell in love with—the rich, aromatic, and spicy local beef noodle soup known as Sop Saudara. It is an absolute must-try when staying here.
Makassar functions as an absolute paradise destination for culinary enthusiasts, so we predominantly chose to step out and explore the local restaurants surrounding the hotel neighborhood for lunch and dinner. However, if you prefer to unwind in your room, the hotel’s central restaurant serves great à la carte dishes all day alongside a highly prompt room service menu.
Where to Eat in Makassar?
Makassar is globally recognized as one of the ultimate gastronomic capitals of Indonesia. Travelers visit from all over the archipelago specifically to indulge in the world-class fresh seafood, the rich local Coto Makassar (beef offal soup), or iconic Celebes-style fried chicken.
My absolute highest recommended Indonesian establishments nearby include **Pallu Basa Serigala**, **Coto Nusantara**, and the incredible fresh catches served at **Rumah Makan Seafood Apong**.
The city’s specialty coffee culture is also robust. You can find fantastic, trendy third-wave coffee shops lining the blocks immediately adjacent to the hotel building. For international cuisine, **Kai Japanese Restaurant** sits just a short 5-minute walk from the Novotel lobby and serves exceptionally fresh sushi and Japanese dishes.
Where to Party in Makassar?
Makassar supports a surprisingly high-energy nightlife landscape that transitions smoothly from relaxed acoustic live music joints to full-scale clubbing venues.
**W Superclub / HW Tiger** (formerly the iconic Holywings group) is an excellent destination featuring top-tier live pop bands after 8:30 PM, drawing huge crowds on weekend evenings. The adjacent high-end club venue is great for late-night music.
**Pizza e Birra** is another lively restaurant hub that draws big crowds. While the Italian menu items lean toward standard casual comfort food, the atmosphere mirrors a high-energy US sports bar, complete with excellent live cover bands taking the stage after 9:00 PM.
If you are searching for an absolute full-scale dance club experience, check out **Zona Cafe**. It hits its stride around midnight, serving up an intense mix of high-production live bands and electronic DJs, with Saturday nights being their absolute busiest event of the week.
Top Things to See in Makassar
Within a short, leisurely walk from the front doors of the Novotel Makassar, you can easily explore the beautiful Losari Beachfront promenade, the historic 17th-century Dutch fortress of **Fort Rotterdam**, and the architectural marvel of the Great Mosque of Makassar. You will likely be blown away by just how incredibly friendly, open, and welcoming the local people are as you wander the neighborhood streets. It is worth keeping in mind that most everyday street vendors do not speak fluent English, so having Google Translate loaded on your phone is highly useful.
Located roughly a one-hour drive out of the city center is the magical, enchanted valley of **Rammang-Rammang**. Following a serene 15-minute ride on a traditional wooden longtail boat navigating through dense river mangroves and scenic palm swamps, you emerge into a spectacular, prehistoric valley enclosed by towering limestone karst formations. It is a deeply peaceful place to trek around and connect with nature. Plan a minimum of two hours to explore the local trails and ancient caves fully.
Makassar also acts as the primary overland gateway to **Tana Toraja**, a highland region famous for its fascinating funeral rituals, unique architecture, and breathtaking terraced landscapes. If your travel itinerary permits an extra 3 or 4 days, making the trip up to Toraja is profoundly rewarding. You can read all about my complete Toraja travel itinerary here.
If you require a reliable private car and professional driver while staying in Makassar, I highly recommend contacting Ixan. He possesses an intimate knowledge of the roads, drives safely, and speaks fluent English. He is also fully equipped to handle multi-day long-distance driving trips up into Toraja. You can easily reach him directly on WhatsApp at **+6282194918590**. Securing a private daily car service around the greater Makassar area costs roughly 550,000 IDR (approx. 35 USD), which covers the vehicle, driver services, and fuel costs.
Conclusion and Final Verdict
The Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla stands out as a highly polished, reliable hotel option managed by friendly staff, offering clean and spacious rooms kept in excellent condition. If you find your airline itinerary transiting through South Sulawesi, do not hesitate to step out of the airport terminal for a few days to fully explore the rich food scene and stunning natural highlights surrounding Makassar.
