Jalan Raya Darmo is a grand boulevard in Surabaya that demarcates one of the city's oldest residential areas, which is well known for the colonial architectural styles reflected in its private homes, government offices and consulates. Raya Darmo is also one of the best locations to capture the spirit of tempo doeloe, or yesteryear, in Surabaya. One hotel in this buzzing residential area that lets guests indulge in classical ambiance is the Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya.
Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya
Story by Barbara Hahijary
Photo by Antonius Widjaya, Bagus Tri Laksono, Renovatio design studio and Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya Doc.
The hotel, opened in 1973 as the Hotel Mirama, was taken over by the French hospitality group AccorHotels in 2007, when it saw its name change to the Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya. The name of "Mirama" was kept in a nod to the hotel's storied history, as well as the history of its environs. The Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya had been operating with 125 guest rooms, three meeting rooms, two restaurants, a gym, a spa and a swimming pool. The facilities made the hotel a busy destination with a high occupancy rate, considering its convenience for business activities and family trips. Accordingly, the hotel launched an extension of the property in 2013 to provide even more conveniences and to better cater to its guests.
The extension, completed in May, added 133 guest rooms in a new wing. Rooms feature a strong modern design and furnishings that refreshingly reflect local touches. Once the guests enter, evident are angkringan-inspired bedside tables, complete with bamboo rods for the bedside lamps. Interior designer Yohannes Mochtar evinced a keen eye as he realised Mercure's aim to give an authentic experience and sense of place to guests and embraced the local air. Yohannes designed the rooms with a dominant palate of purple, blue and yellow, the colour scheme of Mercure, for a youthful sense. All rooms are equipped with air conditioners, at-screen televisions, safe deposit boxes, mini-bars and en-suite bathrooms.
The hotel also offers 10 meeting rooms for business meetings and other occasions. Meeting rooms, which take their names from large cities from across the globe, can be configured in classroom or banquet-style, depending on the occasion. A 2x2-metre LCD screen, sound system, audio-visual equipment, reception tables, flower arrangements and choices of food and beverage menu can be ordered for any event. The hotel also has two ballrooms that can merge into a grand ballroom to cater up to a thousand people. The ballrooms are often used for company gatherings and weddings.
Among the hotel's restaurants are the Lan Hua Chinese Restaurant, which has long been celebrated for its dim sum selection, and Trimurti restaurant, which offers all-day dining. Trimurti has been extended and renovated with a contemporary concept. The restaurant, which locals and frequent guests referred to as "the one with the bicycle", saw its iconic design feature preserved by Yohannes, who expanded on the venue's heritage feel by introducing pieces such as antique hanging lamps and chinaware into the interior.
"Now it feels more casual due to its bright colour template and bold utilitarian design with exposed ceiling," Yohannes said. "We made the room feel lighter with the greenhouse that faces the swimming pool and the murals on the other side. This area is bathed in natural daylight." Meanwhile, the hotel's Ebisu Japanese restaurant was given a makeover during the restoration and now boasts a chic decor with a strong Japanese influence, starting from its Torii-inspired gate. Dining inside the restaurant, guests will feel satiated with Japanese dishes such as ramen, furai and a sushi station and have a chance to get a feeling of contemporary Japan. Two sides of the restaurant are decorated with murals, while the hanging red lantern gives a nuance of traditional Japanese architecture.
The formal lobby lounge has been replaced by the Coffee Cafe, which literally features a food-truck to develop a casual, hang-out vibe. The cafe has a coffee-themed interior, apparent in its tree-shaped columns, brown colour scheme to its coffee-gravured table tops. Guest can choose smoking or non-smoking areas. The Coffee Cafe is located next to the hotel entrance for easy access for walk-in guests.
Mercure Grand Mirama General Manager Sugito Adhi is upbeat. "Besides the renovated hardware, we are eager to better serve our customers. Guests will be pampered by the international standard service of Mercure, which is offered with our humble nature." The hotel is strategically located five minutes from downtown with easy access to Gubeng Railway Station and Juanda International Airport. From its location, traditionally detailed interior, exquisite service and savoury Surabayan dishes; the Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya is presenting the living heritage of Surabaya in a luxurious manner.
Project Data
Project Name
Mercure Grand Mirama Surabaya
Land Area
6,830 sqm
Gross Floor Area
16,309 sqm
Total Units
258
Unit Types
109 Superior
115 Premiere Superior
15 Deluxe
13 Executive Suites
6 Mirama Suites
Owner
PT Mirama Wisata
Architecture Consultant
Sony Sutanto Architects
Principal Designer
Sony Sutanto
Interior Design Consultant
Renovatio design studio
Principal Designer
Yohannes Adi Mochtar
Lighting Designer
Renovatio design studio
Mechanical & Electrical Consultant
PT Metakom Pranata
Civil & Structural Consultant
Indra Rosi Consultant Structure
Main Contractor
PT Jagad Konstruksi Adi Persada
Interior Contractor
PT Kota Jati Furniture and Design At Work
M/E Contractor
CV Dwi Telaga
Renovation Started
2013
Renovation Completed
2016
Address and Contact
Jl. Raya Darmo 68-78
Surabaya 60264
T +6231 562 3000
F +6231 567 8383
E info@ mercuresurabaya.com