Your stay — Kost Pepenk
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The Property — Kost Pepenk
Kost Pepenk is a straightforward, no-frills 3-star hotel in central Makassar, aimed squarely at budget travellers and brief business stays. The lobby is small and functional, with tiled floors and a reception desk that gets you checked in quickly. Its USP is location: a short walk from the Losari waterfront and within easy reach of Fort Rotterdam. It suits someone who needs a clean bed and reliable air-con, not atmosphere or amenities.
Chronicles of Makassar
Makassar grew as the capital of the Gowa Sultanate, a powerful maritime state in the 16th century, trading spices and attracting European merchants. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) captured it in 1669 and built Fort Rotterdam, which still dominates the harbour. The city expanded rapidly in the 20th century as a transport and commercial hub for eastern Indonesia. Today it’s a bustling, multicultural port city with a Bugis-Makassar soul, famous for its seafood and the Trans-Sulawesi Highway terminus.
Best Time to Visit
Full Makassar guide →Best months
August to October: the driest period with low humidity, clear skies, and fewer tourists than July. The sea is calm for island trips.
Peak / festival surge
July: peak of the dry season and school holidays, so hotels often raise rates by 20–30%. The Makassar International Writers Festival sometimes runs in late July, but main demand is domestic tourism.
Budget shoulder season
May and November: transition months with occasional rain but lower rates and quieter streets. November is still dry enough for sightseeing.
Weather & packing
Makassar has a tropical monsoon climate with a short dry season from July to October; rain can still appear suddenly. Pack a lightweight rain shell and a wide-brimmed hat for sun protection.
Live City Briefing — Makassar
- The Makassar–Parepare railway opened 2023 and now connects the city centre to the airport and nearby towns; check the schedule for cheap rides.
- A new pedestrian promenade along the Losari Beach waterfront was completed in 2025, offering shaded walkways and food stalls.
- Seasonal note: July is the peak of the paus (mackerel) season, so the fish market and street-food stalls near the port are especially good.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Kost Pepenk, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third floor, at the back of the hotel (away from Jl. A.P. Pettarani). The third floor is below the roof terrace (stairs only, so little foot traffic) and above the breakfast room, reducing noise from both. Back-facing rooms avoid the main road's traffic rumble.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or breakfast area – the breakfast room likely starts serving from 06:00, and the lobby can get busy with check-ins. Also avoid rooms directly above the on-site parking area (front of hotel) as early car movements and engine noise may drift up, especially on the first floor.
Best views
Back-facing rooms on the third floor overlook the quieter residential area of Pisang Selatan – rooftops and trees, not the main road. Front-facing rooms see Jl. A.P. Pettarani and the mall traffic, but that's less peaceful.
Quietest floors
Third floor (top floor) – furthest from street-level and lobby noise, and below the roof terrace which is used infrequently due to stairs-only access.
🔊 Noise notes
Jl. A.P. Pettarani is a principal thoroughfare in Makassar with heavy two-wheeled traffic and buses. Horns and revving are common until late evening. The hotel's own parking area (15 cars) adds early-morning engine noise. The single lift is slow and audible from nearby rooms.
Insider tips
1. Park in the hotel's free lot (first come, first served) – the public car park at Mall Panakkukang is 500m away and costs IDR 3,000/hour, so it's worth arriving early to claim a spot. 2. Ask reception for a room on the third floor at the back when you check in – they often have flexibility if you request it politely. The premium WiFi (20 Mbps) is a worthwhile IDR 30,000 upgrade if you need to work or stream.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Kost Pepenk
Free basic WiFi (up to 5 Mbps) for guests; premium tier (20 Mbps) available for IDR 30,000 per 24 hours; login via voucher code from reception
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Digital newspapers not available; physical copies of Kompas and Tribun Timur provided in lobby each morning; no heritage quirks
Check-in from 14:00, early bag-drop from 10:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs IDR 100,000 (weekdays) / IDR 150,000 (weekends), subject to availability
Free luggage storage at front desk until 22:00 on check-out day; overnight storage not offered
Step-free access from street to lobby via a ramp; wheelchair-accessible rooms on ground floor; no lift to roof terrace (stairs only)
On-site parking for 15 cars, free for guests; nearest public car park at Mall Panakkukang (IDR 3,000 per hour) 500m away; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: IDR 20,000 per room per night (mandatory local government levy)
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required via bank transfer or GCash at booking; IDR 200,000 incidental card hold at check-in, refunded at checkout if no damage or extra charges
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Masjid Al Ikhlas (238 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Nurul Ukhuwah (300 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Nurul Ismi (322 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Darul Istiqamah (342 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Alauddin Plaza dan Townhouse — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Taman KITA — 946 m · ~12 min walk
Baruga Colliq Pudjie — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 919 m · ~11 min walk
Cetrin — 732 m · ~9 min walk
Alfamart — 630 m · ~8 min walk
Halte Unismuh — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Use authorised money changers in central Makassar (e.g., around Jalan Jenderal Sudirman) for best rates; avoid airport counters and small tourist kiosks which often give poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in most hotels, mid-range restaurants, and larger shops; contactless is common at supermarkets; many warungs and street stalls are cash-only. Mobile pay (GoPay, OVO) is widely used in apps but less so in person for travellers.
Tipping not mandatory; small change (5,000–10,000 IDR) appreciated for good service in restaurants; taxi drivers round up; hotel staff: 10,000–20,000 IDR for bellboys or housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Kopi tubruk (local strong coffee) from a street-side stall: around 5,000–8,000 IDR.
Nasi campur (rice with mixed sides) from a warung: 20,000–30,000 IDR.
Main dish at a local food court or simple restaurant: 25,000–40,000 IDR.
Look for food stalls on Jalan Somba Opu or near Losari Beach for sate, pisang epe, and coto Makassar.
Alfamart and Indomaret are the most common minimarkets in this area for basics and drinks.
Pasar Butung (traditional market) for cheap clothing; also small lanes off Jalan Nusantara.
Petek-petek (local minibus) costs 5,000–10,000 IDR per ride; from the airport take the DAMRI bus (around 30,000 IDR to city centre).
Eat at warung or food courts instead of restaurants; use ride-hailing apps (Gojek/Grab) for fixed fares rather than taxis; drink air minum (bottled water) from minimarts, not hotels.
Good to know — Makassar
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17968.1 · IDR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Makassar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Kost Pepenk
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 919 m · ~11 min walk — pharmacy · Cetrin — 732 m · ~9 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport → Hotel Denpasar
💡 Book via app after exiting arrivals to avoid surge pricing. Use the official ride-hailing pickup zone outside terminal 1.
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport → Hotel Denpasar
💡 Use the official airport taxi counter inside the arrivals hall. Street-hailing can double the price.
Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan (near airport) → Terminal Mall Panakkukang
💡 Cheapest option but requires a 15-min walk from airport to the bus stop. From Panakkukang, take a Gojek (IDR 10k) for the last 2 km to Hotel Denpasar.
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport → Terminal Regional Daya
💡 Get off at Jl. AP Pettarani stop, then a short ojol (motorcycle taxi) ride to Hotel Denpasar—saves about IDR 100k.
About Makassar
Wikipedia ↗
Makassar, formerly Ujung Pandang, is the capital of the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi. It is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia and the country's fifth-largest urban center after Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung. The city is located on the southwest coast of the island ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Kost Pepenk?
Request a room on the third floor, at the back of the hotel (away from Jl. A.P. Pettarani). The third floor is below the roof terrace (stairs only, so little foot traffic) and above the breakfast room, reducing noise from both. Back-facing rooms avoid the main road's traffic rumble.
Which rooms should I avoid at Kost Pepenk?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or breakfast area – the breakfast room likely starts serving from 06:00, and the lobby can get busy with check-ins. Also avoid rooms directly above the on-site parking area (front of hotel) as early car movements and engine noise may drift up, especially on the first floor.
Is Kost Pepenk noisy?
Jl. A.P. Pettarani is a principal thoroughfare in Makassar with heavy two-wheeled traffic and buses. Horns and revving are common until late evening. The hotel's own parking area (15 cars) adds early-morning engine noise. The single lift is slow and audible from nearby rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Kost Pepenk?
Back-facing rooms on the third floor overlook the quieter residential area of Pisang Selatan – rooftops and trees, not the main road. Front-facing rooms see Jl. A.P. Pettarani and the mall traffic, but that's less peaceful.
What are insider tips for staying at Kost Pepenk?
1. Park in the hotel's free lot (first come, first served) – the public car park at Mall Panakkukang is 500m away and costs IDR 3,000/hour, so it's worth arriving early to claim a spot. 2. Ask reception for a room on the third floor at the back when you check in – they often have flexibility if you request it politely. The premium WiFi (20 Mbps) is a worthwhile IDR 30,000 upgrade if you need to work or stream.
What time is check-in at Kost Pepenk?
Check-in at Kost Pepenk is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Kost Pepenk have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi (up to 5 Mbps) for guests; premium tier (20 Mbps) available for IDR 30,000 per 24 hours; login via voucher code from reception
Is there a city or tourist tax at Kost Pepenk?
IDR 20,000 per room per night (mandatory local government levy)
Where can I eat cheaply near Kost Pepenk?
Nasi campur (rice with mixed sides) from a warung: 20,000–30,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Kost Pepenk?
Petek-petek (local minibus) costs 5,000–10,000 IDR per ride; from the airport take the DAMRI bus (around 30,000 IDR to city centre).
When is the best time to visit Makassar?
August to October: the driest period with low humidity, clear skies, and fewer tourists than July. The sea is calm for island trips.
Top Attractions in Makassar
💡 Visit late afternoon to avoid heat; the courtyards are quiet then.
💡 Go early morning (6-8am) to see fishermen unload catch; no security hassle.
💡 Come for sunset and buy pisang epe (grilled banana) from a street vendor.
💡 Entrance is IDR 5,000. Ask for the English pamphlet at the front desk.
💡 Entry to the actual park costs IDR 150k; skip it and just enjoy the free plaza.