House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta Brings Indonesia’s Cultural Legacy to the Global Stage.

Jakarta, March 2026 - Time Magazine has named House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta to its prestigious World’s Greatest Places 2026 list, an honor reserved for destinations around the world celebrated for their cultural significance, authentic guest experiences, and lasting impact on global travel. Proudly, House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta is the only Indonesian property recognized this year, a milestone that places Indonesia’s cultural heritage squarely in the international spotlight.

Time was founded in 1923 and for decades has been one of the most influential publications in global media. Its recognitions — such as Person of the Year, the Time 100 Most Influential People, and more recently the World’s Greatest Places — often shape international public conversation.

For the Tugu family, this recognition is not merely an accolade in hospitality. It is a profound acknowledgment of a lifelong mission: to safeguard Indonesia’s vanishing cultural soul. In the 1960s, founder Anhar Setjadibrata, then a young salesman journeying across the archipelago, saw history slipping away — antiques discarded, traditions fading, and stories forgotten. He began collecting these threatened artefacts not as a collector, but as a rescuer. Alongside his wife Wedya Julianti, that commitment became the foundation of Tugu: a love letter to Indonesia’s identity, preserved through living history.

Today, under the leadership of Lucienne Anhar, co-owner of Tugu Hotels & Restaurants Group, that mission continues with renewed urgency.

“We never set out to build a hotel empire,” she reflects. “We set out to protect a civilization. Each space in House of Tugu tells the story of Indonesian people whose voices could have been lost.” Lucienne Anhar, co-owner of Tugu Hotels & Restaurants Group.

Time highlighted House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta for offering something rare in Indonesia: a public home for Peranakan heritage, a culture once suppressed and now finding renewed visibility. Through its art, architecture, and storytelling, the property serves not only as a destination, but as a custodian of collective memory, a place where Indonesian heritage is preserved, celebrated, and shared with the world.

The property is also home to Jajaghu, a refined Nusantara dining destination inspired by ancestral recipes, and Babah Koffie by Kawisari, a nostalgic café celebrating Java oldest colonial-era coffee estate. Building on this spirit of storytelling through experience, Tugu will unveil De Tiger in May 2026 — a poolside speakeasy and live music salon designed as a tribute to the golden age of Batavia’s nightlife. Later, in June 2026, House of Tugu will reveal its most ambitious chapter yet: the opening of The Huang Museum, showcasing thousands of previously unseen artefacts drawn from Tugu’s vast private archives.

More than a destination, House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta embodies a movement — one that invites the world to rediscover Indonesia not merely as a place to visit, but as a civilization to understand. This honor from Time Magazine reaffirms Indonesia’s position as a nation of profound cultural influence and creativity, with House of Tugu standing proudly at its forefront.

This recognition carries deep significance for Indonesia’s tourism landscape. At a moment when global travelers seek meaning and authenticity, House of Tugu stands as an emblem of how Indonesia’s living heritage can inspire the world. For a property built on conviction ratherthan commerce, Time’s recognition is not an ending, but a beginning — a renewed call to preserve, champion, and share the richness of Indonesian and Nusantara culture with future generations.***

Further information: https://tuguhotels.com/hotels/jakarta