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Best Food in Makassar (2026)
Coto Makassar, a rich beef soup with offal and peanuts, is the city's signature dish. Head to Coto Nusantara at Jl. Nusantara No. 15 for a bowl starting at IDR 25,000.β¦ π Coto Makassar Must-Tries
Coto Makassar, a rich beef soup with offal and peanuts, is the city's signature dish. Head to Coto Nusantara at Jl. Nusantara No. 15 for a bowl starting at IDR 25,000. Another iconic spot is Coto Maros, located at Jl. Sultan Alauddin, open from 7 AM to 10 PM daily.
π’ Pallubasa for Lunch
Pallubasa is a thicker, coconut-milk-based version of Coto, often served with rice. Try Pallubasa Serigala at Jl. Serigala No. 12, where a portion costs around IDR 30,000. It's best enjoyed around midday when the broth is freshest.
π₯ Pisang Epe Street Snack
Pisang Epe is grilled pressed banana drizzled with palm sugar syrup, a popular evening snack. Find it at the street stalls along Jl. Somba Opu, especially near Fort Rotterdam, for IDR 10,000 per serving. Vendors operate from 4 PM until late.
π Konro Bakar for Dinner
Konro Bakar is grilled beef ribs marinated in a sweet soy and spice paste. Restoran Konro Karebosi at Jl. Karebosi No. 8 serves a full rack for IDR 50,000. It's open from 11 AM to 9 PM, but dinner is the prime time to go.
π Seafood at Losari Beach
Losari Beach's night market offers fresh grilled fish, squid, and prawns with spicy sambal. Look for the stalls near the Anjungan Pantai Losari area, where a full seafood platter costs around IDR 60,000. Visit after sunset for the best atmosphere.
π¨ Es Pisang Ijo Dessert
Es Pisang Ijo is a sweet dessert of green-colored banana wrapped in rice flour, served with shaved ice and coconut milk. Try Es Pisang Ijo H. M. Yasin at Jl. Kartini No. 20 for IDR 15,000. It's a refreshing treat on a hot day.
π₯€ Local Drinks to Try
Sarabba is a warm ginger drink with coconut milk and palm sugar, perfect for cooler evenings. You can find it at street vendors near Losari Beach for IDR 5,000. Another option is Es Campur, a mixed fruit ice drink, available at many cafes along Jl. Boulevard.
π Food Neighborhoods
Jl. Somba Opu is the heart of street food, with stalls selling everything from Coto to Pisang Epe. For a more upscale dining experience, head to Jl. Dr. Sam Ratulangi, where restaurants like Rumah Makan Nelayan offer seafood dinners for IDR 80,000. Both areas are easily reached by ojek or ride-hailing apps.
honestly the coto at Nusantara is solid but imo the real magic is getting there right when they open around 7am. the broth is still simmering from overnight and the meat is super tender before the lunch rush hits. i went at 9 once and it was still good but that early bowl hits different
also for es pisang ijo i gotta shout out the one near the university on Jl. Gunung Latimojong. it's a tiny cart run by an old lady and she makes the banana wrapping from scratch. costs like IDR 12,000 and the texture is way better than the chain places. just look for the green plastic table under the big tree
one thing the guide skipped is the sambal situation at most coto places. they all have their own house sambal and some are crazy hot. at Coto Maros they have this dried chili sambal thatll make ur nose run but its so good. ask for "sambal kering" if u want the spicy one
The seafood at Losari Beach is a solid pick but I'd say the grilled squid is where it's at, especially from the stalls closer to the Phinisi Hotel end. The sambal they use there has a bit of lime in it that cuts through the char really well. A full squid plate runs about IDR 35,000 and you can see them grilling it right in front of you.
For the Coto Maros recommendation, they also do a version with extra tendon called "coto tulang" that's worth asking for if you like chewy bits. It's usually not on the main menu but the staff will make it if you request it, just costs an extra IDR 5,000 or so. The tendon soaks up all that peanut broth flavor better than the regular meat in my opinion.
Pisang Epe is great but if you want something similar with a twist, look for the vendors selling "pisang goreng keju" near the Losari Beach fountain area. It's fried banana topped with grated cheese and condensed milk, sounds odd but it works. IDR 12,000 and they're usually set up by 5 PM.
ngl the pallubasa rec is spot on but i'd add that Pallubasa Serigala gets packed during lunch rush so go a bit before 11am if u want a seat without waiting. also their sambal is legit spicy, like the kind that makes u sweat a little
another thing is the pisang epe near Fort Rotterdam is great but the ones further down Jl. Somba Opu near the old market are cheaper and just as good, like IDR 8,000 sometimes. just look for the ones with the longest line of locals, that's always a good sign
for konro, i actually prefer Konro Karebosi's takeaway over dining in because the ribs get a bit more charred that way, but that's just me. also they run out by 7pm sometimes so earlier is safer
3 Days in Makassar: Itinerary 2026
Start your morning at Fort Rotterdam (Jl. Ujung Pandang), a 17th-century Dutch fort housing the La Galigo Museum. Admission is IDR 10,000, and it opens at 8:00β¦ πΊοΈ Day 1: Fort Rotterdam & Old Town
Start your morning at Fort Rotterdam (Jl. Ujung Pandang), a 17th-century Dutch fort housing the La Galigo Museum. Admission is IDR 10,000, and it opens at 8:00 AM. Spend about two hours exploring the grounds and museum exhibits.
π΅ Getting Around Makassar
Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Gojek and Grab are widely available and affordable. A short trip within the city center costs around IDR 15,000-30,000. For longer distances, consider renting a scooter for about IDR 70,000 per day.
π Lunch at Pasar Ikan
Head to Pasar Ikan (Jl. Penghibur) for fresh seafood grilled right in front of you. A meal of ikan bakar with rice and sambal costs around IDR 30,000-50,000. The market is busiest from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
ποΈ Day 2: Losari Beach & Islands
Spend the morning at Losari Beach (Jl. Penghibur), a waterfront promenade perfect for a stroll. From there, take a 30-minute ferry to Samalona Island (departing from Pelabuhan Paotere) for snorkeling; round-trip tickets are IDR 100,000 per person.
ποΈ Day 3: Culture & Shopping
Visit the Trans Studio Makassar (Jl. Metro Tanjung Bunga), one of the largest indoor theme parks in Indonesia, open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Tickets start at IDR 200,000. In the afternoon, shop for souvenirs at Mall Ratu Indah (Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim).
π Best Evening Spots
End your day at Pantai Akkarena (Jl. Tanjung Bunga), a beachfront area with food stalls and live music. Alternatively, watch the sunset from the rooftop bar at Hotel Claro (Jl. A.P. Pettarani) for a panoramic view of the city.
π° Local Prices & Tips
A budget of IDR 300,000-500,000 per day covers meals, transport, and one attraction. Street food like coto makassar costs around IDR 20,000 per bowl. Always carry cash, as many small vendors do not accept cards.
solid itinerary for a first timer, covers the classics well. if you have an extra hour on day 1, walk from fort rotterdam to the old china town area around jalan somba opu, there are some cool old shophouses and a few hidden cafes like kopi luwak yang sebenarnya serving proper local brew
for day 2, skip the main ferry schedule if you can and negotiate directly with a boatman at paotere for a private trip to kayangan island instead. it's quieter than samalona, the snorkeling is just as good, and you can often get a return trip for around 150k per person if you haggle a little. also try pisang epe from the carts along losari beach at night, they grill the bananas and smash them flat, costs like 5k each and hits different with the sunset breeze
You've got a good mix of things here, I'd just swap out Trans Studio for a morning at the Paotere harbor itself before you hop on the boat. The wooden phinisi schooners being loaded with cargo are a real sight, and the fish auction there around 6 AM is chaotic but worth seeing if you're an early riser. For dinner on day 3, skip the mall food court and walk over to Rumah Makan Nelayan on Jalan Sungai Saddang, their kepiting saus padang is some of the best I've had in the city and runs about 80k for a big plate.
honestly this is a really good starting point, i've done this loop a few times and it holds up. one thing the guide doesn't mention is that the fort rotterdam museum is closed on mondays, i made that mistake once and ended up just walking around the outer walls which is still cool but not the same
for day 2 if you're doing samalona bring your own snorkel gear if you have it, the rental stuff on the island is pretty beat up and the masks fog up instantly. also the ferry back to the city usually leaves around 3pm so don't get too comfy on the beach or you'll be stuck waiting for a random fishing boat like i was
ngl i'd skip trans studio unless you're traveling with kids or really into indoor theme parks. it's fine but it's a generic mall attraction. instead spend that day 3 morning walking around jalan somba opu like the other comment said, then grab lunch at pisang ijo khas makassar on jalan kartini for the legit version of that dessert. it's like 15k for a plate and way better than the touristy versions