The self-proclaimed Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which seven people were killed.
It's been revealed Australian and United States intelligence agencies had warned of the heightened risk of a terror attack.
Indonesian police have named the man they believe is responsible for plotting a series of coordinated attacks in the heart of Indonesia.
Bahrun Naim has been known to the authorities since at least 2010 and is currently thought to be in Syria.
Indonesian police chief Tito Karnavian says police believe he'd been planning the attack for some time in a bid for power among militants in the region.
"In southeast Asia there's a militant named Bahrun Naim, who wants to be the Islamic State group's leader in the region. That's why he plotted this attack."
The attacks began with a suicide bomb, detonated outside a Starbucks coffee shop on Jalan MH Thamrin, one of the capital's main roads.
Three men then attacked the small police post on a traffic island at one of the road's busy intersections.
Five attackers and two victims were killed.
Witness Eliaz Warre has described what he saw.
"I was riding a motorbike when suddenly the explosion went off at the police post. I saw people running away and two people lying on the ground bleeding. I also saw two people on a motorbike with a backpack and they are the guys who threw the bomb."
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has condemned the attacks, urging Indonesians to remain calm.
"We condemn these attacks that have disturbed our society. I have ordered the police to capture those responsible for the attacks. We should not be frightened by what has happened. We should stay calm because everything will be under control."
Meanwhile, details have emerged about the warnings authorities had about a possible attack.
Australian and US authorities had notified Indonesia about intelligence suggesting communication between groups in Syria and those in Indonesia.
It's believed the suspects had discussed what they were calling a "concert" to be held in December which analysts believe was code for the attack, and that the plans had been postponed.
Indonesian MP Arief Suditomo has told the ABC youth radicalisation is a growing problem.
"They look like regular Indonesian youngsters, walking around, shooting a lot of people. This is some kind of new face of terrorism in Indonesia."
Meanwhile, Indonesians have been responding to the attacks with messages of defiance on social media.
The hashtag "Kami Tidak Takut" has begun trending - it means "we are not afraid".
The Australian government is warning Australians to stay away from affected areas.
