Landmark guide · Jatinegara
Pasar Jatinegara
Pasar Jatinegara is the market that gave colonial Meester Cornelis its trade, and locals still call it Pasar Mester. Today it is a five-floor Pasar Jaya building on Jl. Matraman Raya, wrapped in pavement stalls, with a gemstone centre, flea stalls and decades-old food counters within a few minutes' walk of Jatinegara station.
Know before you go
- Hours
- Roughly 07:00–18:00 for most stalls; food stalls vary
- Entry
- Free
- Address
- Jl. Matraman Raya, Bali Mester, Jatinegara, East Jakarta
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with a food stop
- Getting there
- KRL to Jatinegara station, then a short walk
Checked October 2026; verify before visiting.
- Go in the morning, when produce is fresh and the heat is lower.
- Carry small notes; many stalls are cash only.
- Ask whether a stall sells retail before haggling over one item.
- Watch your phone and bag in crowded lanes.
- Combine the market, the gem centre and Gereja Koinonia in one walk.
History
The area takes its colonial name from Meester Cornelis Senen, a Christian teacher from Banda who acquired land on the Ciliwung in the 1600s and helped turn it into a trading settlement; the market became the Mester Passer. The name Jatinegara replaced Meester Cornelis around 1942, during the Japanese occupation. The present multi-storey building dates from a rebuilding begun in January 1969 under Governor Ali Sadikin, when it was one of Jakarta's most modern markets.
What to see and buy
Inside, the semi-basement has souvenirs, traditional cakes and staples, the lower floors are mostly clothing and the upper floor shoes. Many sellers are wholesalers, so ask before buying single items. Across Jl. Bekasi Barat, opposite Jatinegara station, the Jakarta Gems Center (Pasar Rawa Bening) has hundreds of kiosks of gemstones, batu akik and rings. Around the market you will also find flea stalls and the old Chinese shophouses of the former Pecinan.
Where to eat
Bakmi Lorong has served noodles in a narrow lane inside the market since 1970, and Ayam Goreng Ibu Haji (since 1948) and Toko Roti Gelora are close by. Follow our Jatinegara food trail for a full route.
Getting there
Jatinegara station is served by KRL commuter trains and some long-distance services. TransJakarta buses run along Jl. Matraman Raya, and the Gereja Koinonia heritage church stands at the market's western end.
Questions about Pasar Jatinegara
Is Pasar Jatinegara the oldest market in Jakarta?
It is often described as one of Jakarta's oldest markets, with roots in the Meester Cornelis trading settlement of the 17th century.
What is Pasar Jatinegara known for?
Clothing, shoes, household goods and traditional cakes, plus the nearby gemstone market and long-running food stalls such as Bakmi Lorong.
How do I get to Pasar Jatinegara?
Take a KRL commuter train to Jatinegara station; the market is a short walk west along Jl. Matraman Raya.
Stay nearby
Juno Jatinegara Jakarta
Jl. Matraman Raya 173–175 Guest-rated 4.8
Top-rated stay on Matraman Raya.
From about Rp346,000/night
Holiday Inn Express Jakarta Matraman
Jl. Matraman Raya 57 Guest-rated 4.7
179-room IHG hotel opposite Gramedia Matraman, with breakfast and a 24-hour gym.
Prices indicative, checked October 2026. We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. How we earn.
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