A Speakeasy Rooted in Batavia's Trading Past
North Jakarta's Kali Besar Barat strip, once lined with merchant warehouses serving the port of Sunda Kelapa, now has a new reason to draw visitors after dark. De Tiger, a Far East Speakeasy Bar inside House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta, opened on 26 June 2026, operating Tuesday through Sunday from 17:00 WIB until late.
The bar takes its name and its entire identity from a real animal: Merem, a one-eyed Javanese tiger rescued in the early 1900s by Raden Adjeng Kasinem, the first wife of sugar magnate Oei Tiong Ham. After being found injured at a public amusement arena in Java, Merem was brought to Batavia to recover and housed in a warehouse near Sunda Kelapa, which is now part of the House of Tugu complex. He escaped, was recaptured, healed, and eventually lived out his years at the Oei Tiong Ham residence before his remains were taken to Bangkok. That journey forms the emotional backbone of everything on the menu.
The Menu as a History Lesson
De Tiger structures its drinks list into thematic chapters, each exploring a different mood of old Batavia: ambition, adventure, mystery, and hospitality. The cocktails and mocktails draw directly from the commodities that once moved through Sunda Kelapa's docks.
Two signature drinks stand out. "100 Karung Kopi" references the moment Raden Adjeng Kasinem purchased Merem's freedom with large sacks of coffee from the Kawisari plantation, making the drink a literal toast to that transaction. "Gedoeng Goelo Matjan" nods to the sugar trade that built the Oei Tiong Ham commercial empire, pairing popcorn whiskey and marshmallow in a single glass.
The food follows the same logic. The kitchen blends Javanese, Peranakan, and coastal maritime influences, with dishes such as the Midnight Katsu Burger with Curry Leaf Slaw, described as an homage to Batavia's late-night tavern culture. The final chapter of the drinks menu, "The Last Lantern," closes with Midnight Tiger, a coffee and cocoa combination that loops back to Merem's origin story.
Live jazz and DJ sets shift the atmosphere as the evening progresses, so the experience changes depending on when guests arrive.
Part of a Larger Cultural Project
De Tiger joins Jajaghu and Babah Koffie by Kawisari as the third distinct venue within House of Tugu Old Town Jakarta's growing portfolio. The hotel was recently named the number four Best City Hotel in Indonesia at the Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026, according to observerid.com, which first reported the bar's opening details.
For the Tugu Group, the stated philosophy is that history should be experienced rather than simply displayed, and De Tiger is the most theatrical expression of that idea yet.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent operators in the Kota Tua and North Jakarta area now have a high-profile evening anchor nearby that can extend a guest's stay beyond the daytime heritage circuit. Hotels, guesthouses, and tour guides who build itineraries around the old town can position De Tiger as a natural end-of-day destination, pairing it with daytime visits to the Fatahillah Square area or a walk along Kali Besar. Guests who might otherwise head back to Central Jakarta for dinner and drinks now have a compelling reason to stay in the neighbourhood after sunset, which benefits the entire local hospitality ecosystem.
Details about De Tiger were first reported by observerid.com.
First reported by observerid.com.