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 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!
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How to get to the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
The Novotel Makassar is located about 30 minutes drive from the UPG airport.
At the airport, there is a Go Jek counter after the exit. Go Jek is the Indonesian version of Uber. It is prevalent in Makassar and can be used to travel around the city. It is convenient, especially if you don’t speak Indonesian, as your destination is clear for the driver.
Go Jek prices usually don’t include tolls, so don’t be surprised if the driver asks you for extra. Our fare from the airport was 154000 Rpies + 20000 tolls. ( about 12 USD).
The Novotel’s location is excellent as it is near the Losari beachfront area and the historical area of fort Rotterdam. It is in a neighborhood with numerous restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance.
Checking in to the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla was very efficient. We gave our passports and credit card, and within minutes, we had our room keys, and our luggage was brought to our room.
We were offered a local traditional welcome drink called Saraba. It was intense and sweet!
The staff also gave us some good recommendations on places to eat and visit.
Review of the bedrooms at the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
We stayed in a suite, which gives you more space than the standard room and a separate living room.
The suite occupies the corner of the building and has expansive glass windows affording great views of Makassar city.
TIP: Ask for a room on a high floor to get a better view. The rooms on the West side of the building will have a sea view.
The living room in the Novotel Makassar suite.
The living room is separated from the bedroom. It has two comfortable sofas, a huge TV, and a desk. They prepared a food display with food from various regions of Sulawesi, which was a great introduction to the local cuisine.
photo by @lexfilminc
photo by @lexfilminc
The wifi in the room is solid and reliable, so the desk is a great place to work if you need to.
The suite is equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities. The fridge was empty, but you can order from the hotel restaurant.
photo by @lexfilminc
The bedroom at Novotel Makassar
The bedroom is bright with glass walls on two sides.
It has an oversized bed with a plush duvet and plenty of pillows. The bed was super comfortable, and the room is soundproofed. We could barely hear any sounds from the other rooms or from outside.
The air conditioning is strong and adjustable and could cool down the room within minutes.
It’s worth noting that the windows do not open, so it is impossible to get fresh air from the outside.
photo by @lexfilminc
The Bathroom at the Novotel Makassar
With its clear marble cover, the bathroom is one of the high points of the suite. It is spacious, with a large bathtub at the center of the room.
photo by @lexfilminc
There is an enclosed toilet and another area with a rain shower. The water pressure was great. All kinds of amenities are provided.
photo by @lexfilminc
Attached to the bathroom is a large dressing room with bathrobes, slippers, a safety box, and even an ironing board.
Review of the facilities at Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
The Novotel Makassar is a large hotel with over 300 bedrooms spread over 15 floors. It offers all the facilities you would expect from a luxury hotel.
The pool
The Novotel Makassar boasts a 25-meter pool with a few lounge chairs. It doesn’t truly have a view, but it is an excellent area to cool down after a busy day exploring Makassar.
The Gym
You don’t go to hotels expecting the most fantastic gyms globally, but the gym at the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla is quite good for a hotel gym. It has a range of cardio equipment and weights. It is worth stopping there for a few days.
TIP: The gym and the pool open from 7 am to 7 pm, so plan your workouts accordingly.
The Spa
The Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla has three spa rooms and provides a range of treatments. I had a 60-minute massage, which was very therapeutic to relax my muscles after a day of exploring Makassar.
TIP: if you want your message at a specific time, make sure you book ahead.
The gift shop
The lobby is home to a gift shop that sells artifacts from all the regions of Sulawesi. They work with non-profits from all over Sulawesi and display their beautiful products.
TIP: I didn’t buy anything in the shop as I was traveling to Toraja later, and I regretted it. The quality of the artifacts in the Novotel gift shop was higher than what I saw in the shop in Toraja.
There is also traditional food and first need items. From drinks to fresh salads or cakes, it is convenient and affordable.
The kids club at the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
If you are traveling with kids, you will be happy to know that the Novotel Makassar has a kids club with various activities
The business lounge at the Novotel Makassar
Premium rooms and people with premium status on Accor club have access to the business class lounge, it is a pleasant area with a great view of Makassar. At the time of our visit, it was closed due to COvid but could be opened upon reservation. The lounge also has a meeting room.
The food at Novotel Makassar.
Breakfast is served buffet style. It has a vast selection of Indonesian food, including a few stations with traditional Sulawesi food.
I tried and loved the spicy beef soup called Sop Saudara.
Makassar is an incredible destination for food lovers, and we chose to experiment with the restaurants around the hotel for lunch and dinner. The Novotel, however, has a restaurant located on the ground floor and also provides room service if you prefer to eat in.
Where to eat in Makassar?
Makassar is one of the gastronomic capitals of Indonesia. Indonesians come for the seafood, the Coto Makassar, or the Celebes fried chicken.
Recommended Indonesian restaurants include Pallu Basa Serigala, Coto Nusantara and Rumah Makan seafood Apong.
The coffee culture is also solid, and you can find great coffee shops in the streets near the hotel.
Kai Japanese restaurant is a 5-minute walk to the Novotel and has delicious Japanese food.
Where to party in Makassar?
Makassar has a vibrant nightlife that ranges from restaurants with live music to full-on clubbing.
Hollywings is a restaurant with live music after 8:30 pm and gets busy on the weekend. Right next to it is the Hollywings club.
Pizza and Bira is another restaurant that gets lively at night. The Italian food is a bit bland, but the vibe is similar to a US sports bar. It is one of the most popular places in Makassar, and they also have live music after 9 pm.
If you are looking for a full-on club, check out Zona. It opens at midnight and has a great vibe with a mix of live music and DJs. Saturday is their busiest night.
What to see in Makassar?
Within a few minutes’ walk of the Novotel Makassar is the Losari beachfront area, the old fort Amsterdam and the new great mosque of Makassar. You will be surprised by how friendly and welcoming people in the streets around the hotel are. Worth noting that most people don’t speak English so bring google translate with you.
An hour’s drive away from Makassar is the enchanted land of Ramang Ramang. After a 15-minute boat ride through mangroves and swamps, you reach a heavenly-looking area surrounded by lime karst. It is a lovely place to walk around and enjoy a sense of peace. Allow a minimum of two hours to enjoy it fully. Two caves can be visited.
Makassar is the gateway to Toraja, an enchanted land with a strong culture and beautiful landscape. If you have 3 or 4 days, it is really worth going there. You can read about my trip to Toraja here.
If you need a car and driver in Makassar, contact Ixan. He knows the area well and speaks perfect English. He can also drive you to Toraja. He can be reached on WhatsApp at +6282194918590. A car around Makassar for the day costs around 550000 Rpies ( 30 USD) including car, driver, and fuel.
In conclusion of my review of the Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla
The Novotel Makassar Grand Shayla is a great property with friendly staff and comfortable rooms in mint condition. If you transit via Makassar, don’t hesitate to stay for a few days and explore Makassar and around.
