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BEHIND a single door in the Old Town lies a collection of over a thousand historical pieces—preserved and passed down over five centuries—that has finally been opened to the public.
Less than two years after first opening its doors, House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta has garnered global recognition; readers of one of the world’s most influential travel publications voted it one of the “Top 5 Best City Hotels in Indonesia” at the prestigious Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026.
Shafa Haura, a representative of House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta, stated that for them, House of Tugu has never been merely a place for luxury accommodation; it is a guardian of the romance, art, and soul of Indonesia—elements that were nearly forgotten.
“This recognition from Travel + Leisure readers belongs to our entire team and our guests, who share this same spirit. It revitalizes our mission to prove to the world that history is not a static museum artifact, but a living experience felt in every corner of this property,” said Shafa.
While typical city hotels often offer uniform and repetitive luxury, House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta stands apart as a rare oasis in the heart of the capital. Stepping in from the bustle of Jakarta’s streets, guests enter an enchanting, hidden world where the city’s clamor fades into profound serenity and timeless romance.
“Yet, what truly distinguishes House of Tugu is not merely its atmosphere, but the scale and authenticity of the stories it preserves. Forged over a nearly two-decade-long journey of meticulous historical restoration, this property now houses over 1,000 antiques and rare artifacts—some inherited from the Tugu family’s forebears, others acquired and preserved by the family over six decades. No corner here serves merely as decoration; every corridor, suite, and dining room act as a living archive,” she affirmed.
As Jakarta approaches its five-hundredth anniversary, House of Tugu preserves stories and artifacts that reach far beyond the city’s history as Batavia, offering a living record of this land, its people, and its ruling powers long before it transformed into the metropolis it is today.
To maintain this depth and exclusivity, the property offers only twenty-six guest rooms, no two alike. Each room brings to life a genuine chapter of Indonesia’s past—from the trading routes along Kali Besar to the households of the Peranakan in Old Batavia. Together, these rooms and the hotel’s various venues weave an unparalleled, comprehensive narrative of Jakarta’s centuries-old history.
At the heart of this narrative lies a story rarely told anywhere else in the world. House of Tugu is the only establishment in Indonesia dedicated specifically to the history of the Javanese upper-class Peranakan—a heritage distinct from the more widely known Peranakan cultures of Singapore, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian nations.
Driven by an enduring commitment to expanding this narrative for the capital, House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta now opens its next chapter with the debut of De Tiger, a long-awaited Far East-themed speakeasy bar.
While the hotel’s rooms preserve the elegance and romance of old Jakarta, De Tiger reveals a different side of the city. Centuries ago, the Old Town and Sunda Kelapa were not merely places of elegance; they were electrifying, slightly risqué, and steeped in a captivating sense of danger—stories that have since all but faded from memory.
De Tiger does more than simply revive this history; it boldly reinterprets it, extending the House of Tugu’s storytelling narrative from the guest suite into the realm of nightlife. It stands as a stylish nocturnal sanctuary, blending exotic heritage mixology with a provocative, mysterious energy—a space curated specifically for today’s tastemakers.
Through De Tiger, House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta continues its mission to place Indonesia’s magnificent—and often untold—historical richness firmly in the international spotlight. [sources/photo special]
