Hotel Tugu Malang Named One of Top 10 Best City Hotels in Asia-Pacific by Travel + Leisure 2025

TIMESINDONESIA, MALANG – Hotel Tugu Malang has been named one of the Top 10 Best City Hotels in the Travel + Leisure Asia-Pacific Luxury Awards 2025, a recognition that not only highlights the hotel’s unique charm, but also marks it as the only property outside Jakarta to be honored in this prestigious category.

Each year, the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards spotlight hospitality that transcends trend — honoring places that deliver soul, story, and lasting impressions. For a boutique property in Malang, East Java — a city often overlooked on the international map — to stand beside world-renowned names from Jakarta, Singapore, and Bangkok is not just remarkable. It is proof that deep authenticity, cultural richness, and timeless charm can compete on the global stage.

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Founded by Indonesian art collector and historian Anhar Setjadibrata, Hotel Tugu Malang was never meant to be just a hotel. Since its founding over two decades ago, it has stood as a living museum — a space dedicated to preserving forgotten stories of Indonesia through art, atmosphere, and sincere hospitality. Located in the heart of Malang, a cool highland city steeped in colonial architecture and Javanese heritage, Hotel Tugu Malang is a soulful gateway into East Java’s past.

Each suite is uniquely themed and tells its own story. The Babah Suite is a celebration of the colorful Peranakan culture. The Raden Saleh Suite, named after Indonesia’s legendary 19th-century painter, features his iconic painting “The Arrest of Prince Diponegoro” as its focal point. The Apsara Residence, a presidential suite unlike any other, is inspired by celestial love stories of ancient Asia and features a custom-designed bathtub and a 3.5-meter-long bed — more than accommodation, it is a myth brought to life.

Culinary experiences at Hotel Tugu Malang are just as storied. Melati Restaurant, open 24 hours, offers over 175 dishes — from classic Indonesian home recipes and nostalgic Peranakan delicacies to colonial-style steaks and international favorites — all served in a romantic “Tempo Doeloe” setting. Meanwhile, SaigonSan Restaurant & Rooftop Terrace transports guests to the vibrant heart of Indochina, with spaces like The Royal Angkor, inspired by the grandeur of Angkor Wat, Saigon, which evokes the bustle of Southeast Asian night markets, and a breezy rooftop perfect for sundown cocktails.

Many of the hotel’s event venues are steeped in cultural references. The Babah Room pays tribute to 1930s Peranakan Chinese communities, complete with silver dining ware, vintage portraits, and Wayang Potehi puppets. Radja Room — also known as The Sugar Baron Room — tells the story of Oei Tiong Ham, one of Asia’s wealthiest men from Semarang, with antique Chinese art from the Han to Qing dynasties. The Bangsal Merah Boepati, meanwhile, honors the legacy of East Java's local rulers, with artworks discovered by Tugu Hotels depicting the unique blend of Javanese and Chinese Peranakan traditions.

For those seeking a quieter indulgence, Ban Lam Wine Shop & Bar offers a refined, salon-style atmosphere with antique furniture, fine wine selections, and art from the owner’s private collection. Und Corner serves nostalgic Indonesian pastries and old recipes alongside Kawisari Coffee — the oldest coffee plantation in Java — and a curated selection of locally made gifts and souvenirs, perfect for taking a piece of Malang home.

The romantic Endless Love Avenue, softly lit by candles and shaded in hues of pink and purple, ends with Gustav Klimt’s famed painting “The Kiss.” A beloved photo spot, the corridor captures the dreamlike spirit of Hotel Tugu Malang.

To complete the experience, the Apsara Javanese Wellness Sanctuary offers deeply grounding treatments rooted in ancient Javanese philosophy — a place where the body and mind find harmony through time-honored rituals.

This recognition is more than an accolade — it is a quiet affirmation that destinations outside of capital cities can still captivate the world with stories, sincerity, and spirit. As Tugu Hotels continues to grow, this moment lights the path forward: preserving heritage, embracing soulful hospitality, and reminding the world that true luxury is not in what’s polished, but in what is heartfelt, meaningful, and enduring.

Hotel Tugu Malang remains, as ever, a reflection of what Tugu stands for: art, soul, and romance — of Indonesia, and of travel itself.

Other hotels in the Tugu Hotels & Restaurants collection are Hotel Tugu Bali, Hotel Tugu Lombok, Hotel Tugu Blitar, and House of Tugu, Old Town Jakarta. 

You can find our restaurants across Indonesia—from the vibrant city of Jakarta, where we have Dapur Babah Elite, Lara Djonggrang, Shanghai Blue 1920, Tugu Kunstkring Paleis, Jajaghu Restaurant, and Babah Koffie by Kawisari, to the tropical charm of Bali with Ji Terrace by the Sea and IWA Restaurant. In Lombok, we welcome you at Kokok Pletok Restaurant, and over in Malang, you’ll find Melati Restaurant and SaigonSan, while in Blitar, The Colony Restaurant awaits.

Kawisari Coffee Plantation, part of Tugu Hotels & Restaurants, the oldest coffee plantation in Java, presents its fully organic certified, specialty coffee, farm to table, in all the Kawisari Cafes & Eateries in Bali, Jakarta and Malang. 

For more information and reservations, feel free to contact Hotel Tugu Malang at (+62341) 363 891 or +62 813-3491-9097. You can also reach Melati Restaurant at +62 822-3126-3723, or SaigonSan Restaurant at +62 812-5997-7618.

We’re also happy to connect with you through Instagram at @hoteltugu_malang, @melatirestaurant_tugu, and @saigon_san, or visit our official website at www.tuguhotels.com (*)

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