RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - For generations, Kwitang has stood as Jakarta’s legendary book hub, a place where readers, collectors, and sellers gathered to explore secondhand treasures, rare editions, and literary classics.

Since the 1970s, its sidewalks were famously lined with stacks of books -- knowledge and stories waiting to be touched, opened, and read.

The market’s fame peaked in 2002 when it became the backdrop of the iconic Indonesian film Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What’s Up with Love?), an Indonesian coming-of-age romance and teen drama film that explores the classic teenage conflict between friendship and young love.

The romantic scene where Rangga and Cinta searched for Sumanjaya’s poetry collection AKU among Kwitang’s book stalls cemented its reputation as a literary destination.

Thanks to that moment, Kwitang briefly became a favorite spot for young readers and book lovers, blending cinematic nostalgia with literary discovery.

Today, Kwitang is quieter, with visitor numbers down by nearly 80% due to the rise of online bookstores and digital reading. Many vendors have moved to malls such as Atrium Senen, Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta, and Blok M Square Basement in South Jakarta, leaving only a fraction of stalls behind.

Still, one legendary shop--Restu Bookstore at Jl. Kwitang Raya No. 5, Central Jakarta--is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time, where bargaining is part of the tradition.

Despite the decline, Kwitang continues to offer a wide range of books, including works by Indonesian authors, translated editions, and English-language titles. Prices vary from IDR 10,000 (USD 0,56) for magazines or bargain novels to IDR 30,000-IDR 150,000 for reference works, popular fiction, and rare editions.

Though quieter today, Kwitang endures as a living archive of Jakarta’s literary culture, an oasis for those who still cherish the tactile joy of printed books in an increasingly digital age. ***