Nusantara is one of the most ambitious urban projects on the planet. Indonesia’s future capital, carved from the rainforests of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, is a city being built in real time, and it is already drawing curious travellers who want to witness history in the making. But beyond the architecture and the politics, this corner of Borneo carries a culinary identity shaped by the collision of Javanese, Dayak, Buginese, Makassarese and Kutai food traditions. Whether you are visiting as part of a wider Indonesian itinerary or making Nusantara your destination in its own right, this guide covers the ten essential foods and drinks to seek out, plus everything you need to know to get here, where to stay, and how to stay connected.
What Is Nusantara and Why Are Travellers Going There?
Nusantara (officially Ibu Kota Nusantara, or IKN) is Indonesia’s planned replacement capital, located in the East Kalimantan regencies of Kutai Kartanegara and Penajam North Paser on the east coast of Borneo. The project, valued at US$35 billion, is being built across five phases through to 2045. As of 2026, several key government buildings, the State Palace, the Vice Presidential Palace, ministerial offices and early residential areas are complete. The Vice President has already begun relocating to the city this year, with 1,700 to 4,100 civil servants expected to follow.
For travellers, Nusantara already attracts between 3,000 and 5,000 daily visitors. The access point is Balikpapan, approximately 35km away, which has an international airport (Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport). Samarinda, around 50km from the new capital, serves as a secondary gateway. A new Nusantara International Airport is planned for Penajam. The surrounding region is also home to Bukit Bankirai National Park and Kutai National Park, where orangutans, wild orchids and Borneo’s extraordinary rainforest biodiversity sit alongside the construction of a future city.
10 Foods & Drinks to Try in Nusantara and East Kalimantan
1. Corn Milk Matcha
A signature of Nusantara’s emerging modern food culture, corn milk matcha blends the sweetness of local corn milk with the earthy bitterness of Japanese-influenced matcha. It reflects the Gen Z-led fusion trend sweeping Indonesian cities in 2026, where native ingredients meet global café culture. Look for it at the newer cafés and food stalls appearing around the developing city centre.
2. Konro Bakar (Makassar Ribs)
Konro Bakar is a Makassarese grilled rib dish that has become one of the most sought-after flavours in the Nusantara region. The ribs are marinated in a spice paste built around coriander, candlenut, turmeric and lime, then grilled over charcoal until charred at the edges. Balikpapan, as the main gateway city, has a strong Makassarese community that has brought this dish into the broader local food scene. It is best eaten with steamed rice and a glass of cold fresh young coconut.
3. Nasi Goreng
Nasi Goreng is Indonesia’s most iconic dish and the baseline by which any Indonesian food experience is measured. Fried rice, wok-tossed with sweet soy sauce, shrimp paste, garlic, chilli and egg, it varies meaningfully from region to region. In East Kalimantan, local versions often incorporate crab or river fish alongside the standard prawn. It is available at virtually every warung, street stall and hotel breakfast in the Nusantara and Balikpapan area.
4. Buckwheat Granola / Soba-Style Dishes
Healthy eating trends have arrived in Nusantara ahead of much of the surrounding region, driven by the influx of civil servants and professionals from Jakarta and major cities. Buckwheat granola and soba-inspired bowls have appeared at the modern cafés and eateries emerging to serve the city’s new resident population. These are positioned as the functional breakfast option of choice, often paired with local tropical fruits.
5. Vegetable-Based Cocktails
Borneo’s extraordinary biodiversity extends to its botanicals. Vegetable-based cocktails using local ingredients, fresh turmeric, pandan, galangal, and indigenous Kalimantan herbs—are being developed by forward-thinking bars in Balikpapan and at Nusantara’s newer hospitality venues. These reflect both the wellness tourism trend growing across Indonesia and the region’s pride in its native flora.
6. Rendang (Sumatran “Steak”)
Rendang is one of the most celebrated dishes in the world. Originating from the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, this slow-cooked beef dish simmers for hours in coconut milk and a paste of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric leaf, kaffir lime and chilli, until the liquid is fully absorbed and the meat is encrusted in fragrant, deeply spiced aromatics. It has spread across the entire Indonesian archipelago and is considered the unofficial national dish. In the Nusantara area, Padang-style restaurants serving excellent rendang can be found in Balikpapan.
7. Mochi Pastries (Cromolyn-Style)
Japanese mochi culture has fused with Indonesian pastry traditions to produce a new category of confectionery gaining popularity in Nusantara’s emerging café scene. These mochi pastries, sometimes called Cromolyn-style, combine the soft, chewy rice cake exterior of Japanese mochi with sweet Indonesian fillings including pandan cream, coconut, and jackfruit. They represent the playful hybrid food culture of a city being built by a young, cosmopolitan workforce.
8. Satay Padang
Satay Padang is West Sumatra’s contribution to the satay canon and arguably the most complex of all Indonesia’s skewer traditions. The meat — typically beef tongue, offal or chicken — is first boiled in a spiced broth, then grilled over charcoal and served with a thick, turmeric-yellow sauce built on rice flour, lemongrass, galangal and curry leaves. The sauce thickens as it cools, coating the skewers richly. Padang-style restaurants in Balikpapan are the best local source.
9. Functional / Healthy Herbal Tea
Indonesia’s extraordinary range of native medicinal plants has fed a functional beverage culture that predates the modern wellness trend by centuries. In Nusantara’s context, teas built around temulawak (Javanese ginger), jahe (ginger), kayu manis (cinnamon) and local Kalimantan herbs are sold at markets and specialist stalls. Some are served hot, others cold-steeped. They serve as both a daily health practice and a genuine expression of the archipelago’s botanical heritage.
10. Babi Guling (Spit-Roasted Pig)
Babi Guling is a Balinese ceremonial roast pig that has become one of Indonesia’s most celebrated food experiences. While its cultural roots are specifically Balinese Hindu, the dish has spread to other parts of Indonesia — including East Kalimantan, which has a significant non-Muslim population, particularly among the indigenous Dayak communities. The pig is rubbed with a paste of turmeric, lemongrass, galangal, coriander and shrimp paste, then spit-roasted slowly until the skin crackles. It is typically served over rice with lawar (a spiced vegetable and coconut salad) and crispy offal.
How to Get to Nusantara from Europe and the UK
The main gateway to Nusantara is Balikpapan’s Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport, approximately 35km from the new capital. Lufthansa offers long-haul connections from major European and UK hubs via Frankfurt to Indonesian gateway cities, from which domestic flights connect to Balikpapan. Samarinda’s Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport is a secondary option, approximately 50km from Nusantara. A new dedicated Nusantara International Airport is under development at Penajam.
From Balikpapan, the journey to Nusantara takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour by road. A charter car or organised tour is the most practical option at present. Arriving during the dry season, broadly May to September, gives the best weather for exploring both the city development and the surrounding rainforest and national parks.
Staying Connected in Nusantara: Do You Need an eSIM?
Mobile connectivity in Nusantara and East Kalimantan is improving rapidly as the new capital develops. For international travellers, avoiding roaming charges while maintaining reliable data is essential for navigation, maps and communication. Airalo offers affordable Indonesia eSIMs compatible with most modern smartphones. The eSIM can be installed before departure, activating the moment you land without the need to source a local SIM card at the airport.
Where to Stay Near Nusantara 2026: Top Hotels
As Nusantara itself is still in development, Balikpapan serves as the primary base for visitors. Marriott Bonvoy has a strong presence in the city, with five properties spanning different budgets and styles. All five below can be booked via Booking.com.
| Hotel | Best For | Rating | Brand | Book |
| Marriott Hotel Balikpapan | Modern comfort, closest to Nusantara area | 8.9/10 | Marriott | Book |
| Sheraton Balikpapan | Spacious rooms, strong facilities | 8.8/10 | Marriott | Book |
| Four Points by Sheraton Balikpapan | Reliable mid-to-upscale, good value | 8.7/10 | Marriott | Book |
| Courtyard by Marriott Balikpapan | Contemporary business hotel | 8.6/10 | Marriott | Book |
| Four Points by Sheraton Samarinda | Closest high-rated option to Nusantara via Samarinda | 8.5/10 | Marriott | Book |
What to Pack for a Nusantara Trip
East Kalimantan is tropical, humid and, away from the new city centre, genuinely remote. Lightweight, durable luggage that can handle airport transfers, road journeys and rainforest excursions is worth investing in. Samsonite offers a range of well-built, lightweight cases and bags suited to exactly this kind of multi-environment travel. A carry-on and a daypack is the recommended combination for a week-long Nusantara itinerary.
Capture Your Nusantara Adventure as a Photo Gift
Nusantara is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the world right now: a rainforest capital rising from Borneo, where you can stand in the shadow of a brand new presidential palace and hear the calls of wildlife from the jungle a few kilometres away. These are not ordinary travel photographs. Printerpix creates personalised photo books, canvas prints and photo gifts that turn these memories into something permanent and shareable. A travel photo book from a Nusantara trip in 2026 will be worth rather more in ten years than it is today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Nusantara, Indonesia
1. Is Nusantara open to tourists in 2026?
Yes. Nusantara already welcomes between 3,000 and 5,000 daily visitors and is actively promoted as one of Indonesia’s super-priority destinations. The city remains under construction, but several government buildings, parks and early hospitality venues are accessible. Balikpapan, 35km away, serves as the practical base.
2. How do you get to Nusantara?
The main entry point is Balikpapan’s international airport. From Europe, Lufthansa connects via Frankfurt to Indonesian hubs (Jakarta or Bali), from which domestic flights serve Balikpapan. From the airport, Nusantara is approximately 45 minutes to an hour by road. Samarinda’s airport, about 50km away, is a secondary option.
3. What is the best time of year to visit Nusantara?
The dry season, broadly May to September, offers the most reliable weather for exploring both the new city and the surrounding rainforest and national parks. December to March sees heavier rainfall across East Kalimantan.
4. What food is Nusantara known for?
Nusantara’s food culture draws on East Kalimantan’s rich regional traditions — particularly Makassarese, Dayak, Buginese and Javanese influences. Key dishes include Konro Bakar (Makassar ribs), Satay Padang, Rendang, and Nasi Goreng. The city’s newer cafés and stalls are also producing creative fusion food reflecting its young, cosmopolitan resident population.
5. Do I need a visa to visit Indonesia?
Visitors from many countries, including the UK and most of Europe, can enter Indonesia on a Visa on Arrival (VOA) for stays up to 30 days, extendable once. Always verify current visa requirements with the Indonesian embassy or official government sources before travel, as policies can change.
6. Is Nusantara safe to visit?
Indonesia is generally safe for tourists with reasonable precautions. Balikpapan and the Nusantara development zone are considered among the more orderly and security-conscious areas, given the national importance of the capital project. Standard travel safety advice applies: keep belongings secure, use reputable transport, and check current travel advisories from your government before departure.
Where the Future Meets the Rainforest
There is nowhere on Earth quite like Nusantara right now. A city being assembled from scratch in the middle of Borneo, designed around sustainability principles, flanked by orangutan habitat on one side and the Makassar Strait on the other. It is one of the genuinely extraordinary travel experiences of this decade. The food culture around it, drawing on thousands of years of trade between Sulawesi, Sumatra, Java and the Dayak peoples of Kalimantan, is as complex and rewarding as anything in Southeast Asia.
Whether you fly in via Lufthansa and base yourself at a Marriott property in Balikpapan, or build Nusantara into a longer Indonesian itinerary, 2026 is a remarkable moment to be here. The city will look different in five years. Visit it now.
