Stallone Tjia
Jan 20, 2026
In the heart of Gunawarman’s refined dining district, Issen Tea Bar opens its doors as a quiet sanctuary where Japanese tea rituals meet the craftsmanship of cocktails. Designed as a slow digestive bar, Issen offers an intimate closing ritual to the evening—inviting guests to wind down, sip slowly, and reconnect with presence.
ISSEN TEA BAR Tea Arrives in Gunawarman, Jakarta
The name Issen (一煎) translates to “one infusion,” a term rooted in Japanese tea culture that refers to the first steep often the most aromatic and expressive. This philosophy becomes the foundation of Issen: a bar where each drink is crafted with intention, warmth, and depth, allowing every sip to linger.
Thoughtfully positioned as an extension of a high-end yakiniku dining experience, Issen is created to complement rather than compete. The bar focuses on digestif-style cocktails, blending curated Japanese teas from Sakurai Tea Experience, Tokyo, with elements of fermentation, kampo herbs, and Indonesian jamu resulting in a cross-cultural dialogue that feels both grounded and contemporary.
As part of its introduction to media, Issen Tea Bar will present two fundamental expressions of Japanese tea: Gyokuro and Usucha, offering guests a deeper understanding of tea as both ritual and experience.
Gyokuro, one of Japan’s most prized green teas, is known for its meticulous cultivation process, where tea leaves are shaded before harvest to enhance umami, sweetness, and depth. Served slowly and intentionally, Gyokuro at Issen highlights its velvety texture and lingering, savory notes inviting guests to experience tea in its most refined and contemplative form.
Alongside it, Usucha, a light and airy style of matcha, will be prepared using traditional whisking techniques. Unlike heavier matcha preparations, Usucha offers a balanced bitterness and gentle freshness, emphasizing clarity and softness rather than intensity. Presented as a moment of pause, it reflects Issen’s philosophy of quiet attention and mindful enjoyment.
Through these tea presentations, Issen introduces tea not merely as a beverage, but as a sensory dialogue between aroma, temperature, movement, and time.
At Issen, cocktails are not designed for spectacle. Instead, they are carefully infused, gently poured, and served in handcrafted Japanese glassware, emphasizing tactility, aroma, and calm. Inspired by Japan’s mindful dining rituals, the space embraces stillness, softness, and restraint allowing time to slow naturally.
The interior reflects this philosophy through poetic minimalism, subtle lighting, grainy textures, and steam-inspired visuals that evoke a sense of release and ease. Every detail, from the soundscape to the weight of the glass, is designed to support quiet reflection in the middle of Jakarta’s dynamic nightlife.
Located in Gunawarman, South Jakarta, Issen Tea Bar welcomes urban professionals, creatives, and connoisseurs seeking an intimate, experience-led bar whether for a quiet solo indulgence or an unhurried conversation.
