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Culture

Art, heritage, music and the people behind them — what NOW! Jakarta is watching beyond the table and the check-in desk.

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Medan Merdeka: Jakarta’s Symbolic Square of Freedom

At the very heart of Jakarta lies Medan Merdeka, an expansive square that has witnessed the city’s transformation from colonial outpost to modern capital. Whilst the soaring National Monument (Monas) stands at its centre, the square predates the iconic structure and indeed Indonesia itself.

More in culture

An Open Invitation to September at 25hours Hotel Jakarta The Oddbird

If your September calendar is already looking a little too predictable, 25hours Hotel Jakarta The Oddbird has a few ideas. The hotel is filling the month with dinners worth lingering over, cocktails worth ordering twice, live music, workouts and a creative morning by the pool. In other words, you could come with a plan and still end up doing something completely different.

Dining··2 min read

Studio Monkey Shoulder LIVE Brings Jakarta’s Music Scene Together

Jakarta’s vibrant underground music scene takes centre stage as Monkey Shoulder launches Studio Monkey Shoulder LIVE, a city-wide music series celebrating grassroots creativity, local communities and the art of bringing different influences together.

·2 min read

Jakarta Concert Orchestra Honours Dian HP Through Simfoni untuk Bangsa 2026

The Jakarta Concert Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Avip Priatna, will present Simfoni untuk Bangsa 2026: Jejak Nada Dian HP, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Graha Bhakti Budaya, a concert celebrating one of Indonesia's most accomplished figures in music. The evening pays tribute to Dian Agustini H., better known as Dian HP, whose work has left a lasting mark on Indonesian music for more than three decades.

Events··2 min read

Chef's Day Out Brings Hanoi's Street Food Soul to Silk Bistro 

Silk Bistro is inviting diners to discover the vibrant flavours and culture of Vietnam through Chef's Day Out: Vietnam Edition, a limited-time dining experience inspired by chefs Freddie Salim and Kartika Chandra's five-day culinary journey through Hanoi.

Dining··3 min read

Glengoyne and Tamdhu Showcase the Many Sides of Scottish Single Malt in Indonesia

Indonesia's whisky scene has welcomed two new names with the arrival of Glengoyne and Tamdhu. Officially launched at Cohiba Atmosphere Jakarta on 25 June 2026, the Scottish single malt distilleries share a commitment to traditional whisky making, but each has built its reputation in a very different way.

·2 min read