Edward Speirs
Why We Need It to Take It Slow (and How) Part 1
In this two-part feature, Edward Speirs (Part 1) and Widia Arianti (Part 2) explain why our efforts to keep pace with our fast-moving world are counter-productive, and how we can integrate slow living practices into everyday life in Jakarta. Read: Part 1 | Part 2 Part 1: Fast is good – right? Think back to
33 Indonesian Hotels & Resorts Receive Inaugural ‘MICHELIN Keys’
On 9 October 2025, Michelin unveiled a major extension of its iconic hospitality credentials with the launch of the Global MICHELIN Keys, a distinction for hotels that mirrors the prestige of MICHELIN Stars in the culinary world. Among the latest global recipients are 33 Indonesian hotels and resort, each evaluated individually for their excellence. Considered
Jakarta as a Global Dining Destination: What’s Missing?
Jakarta is already a city with a serious dining scene. From bustling street stalls and food courts to high-end restaurants and bars, the capital’s culinary offering is vast and diverse. Yet while individual venues often shine on their own, the city as a whole has yet to make the leap into being recognised as a
Going Further with Japan Airlines
From winning awards to an exciting collaboration with Garuda Indonesia that expands destinations in both Japan and Indonesia, Japan Airlines’ Country Manager for Indonesia, Ando Masato, shares the latest from Japan’s premium national carrier. Japan is the sixth biggest outbound destination from Indonesia, taking up around 4% of total outbound tourism (2025) and increasing annually.
Is Jakarta ‘Fit for Fitness?’
With more and more Jakarta residents adopting active lifestyles, the city’s urban landscape must adapt to its citizens’ needs. What’s driven this massive increase, and is Jakarta ready to accommodate this new culture? Strength in Numbers In April 2025, the fitness tracking and social networking application, Strava, introduced Bahasa Indonesia as an official language on
ERRE & Urrechu Jakarta’s Bold, Basque Flavours
Jakarta is no stranger to Spanish cuisine, but the recently opened ERRE & Urrechu Jakarta brings a little something different to the table, serving up the fiery flavours of the Basque Country. “Classic Spanish cuisine is very Mediterranean, rich with olive oils, lots vegetables, whilst the Basque cuisine is known for its beef and its
Students Explore ‘Advocacy in Action’ at Jakarta Scholars Symposium 2025
Present young people with an opportunity, or a challenge, and one can see just how well they can rise to the occasion. That is certainly the case for the students who took part in the latest Jakarta Scholars Symposium (JSS), an independent organisation that provides a platform for students to showcase and present their research,
A Kemang Revival: The Self Care Community Centre by Space Available
11 tons of locally-recycled plastic waste have been reimagined into a striking building that sprawls along the Kemang Raya street front. This is the Self Care Community Centre by Space Available Jakarta, a design store that goes beyond the traditional retail destination, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the unique spaces, showcases and experiences found
A Creative’s Guide to Bandung: Art, Design, and Inspiration in the City of Ideas
Bandung has long been a city of innovation. Once the playground of Dutch architects during the colonial era, this West Javanese capital remains an architectural treasure trove of Art Deco buildings. But Bandung isn’t just about its past—it’s a living, breathing hub of creativity, where students, artists, and designers shape its future. Home to some
Melati Wijsen’s Lessons from a Full-Time Changemaker
In her newly published book, ‘Change Starts Now,’ Melati Wijsen reflects on more than a decade as an environmental activist, and shares her valuable ‘100 lessons’ for any aspiring changemaker, young and old. At the age of 12, Melati and her younger sister Isabel began campaigning against single-use plastic bags in Bali, calling for an
Why Jakarta Needs Literature, with Laura Prinsloo of Pulau Imaji
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Laura Prinsloo of Pulau Imaji talks to us about literature. Did you know that Jakarta
Why Jakarta Needs Contemporary Art, with Venus Lau of Museum MACAN
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Venus Lau of Museum MACAN talks to us about art. London has the Tate Modern,
What is an SPK School? Understanding Indonesia’s Sekolah SPK Categorisation
Since 2014, private schools in Indonesia that once labelled themselves as ‘international’ were subjected to new regulations from the Indonesian Government’s Ministry of Education and Culture. This resulted in the new category of SPK schools, or Sekolah SPK, under which these academic institutions must also abide by specific requirements and education. In early years, international
