2. Hotel Majapahit Surabaya

Surabaya’s answer to Singapore’s Raffles Hotel dates back to 1910 (when it was originally known as Oranje Hotel) and features similar alabaster-white colonnades, terracotta roof tiles, manicured gardens and Art Deco interiors. The hotels even have a shared pedigree – both were founded by members of the Sarkies family of hoteliers. Behind Hotel Majapahit’s elegant exterior is a long and sometimes volatile history. During World War II, it was taken over by Japanese forces and used as their East Java headquarters. In 1945, Indonesian revolutionaries protested the Dutch flag flying over the hotel by tearing off its blue stripe, which created the red-and-white national flag used today. Join a hotel tour to hear all about the Majapahit’s storied past, or enjoy the ambience during afternoon high tea in the lobby lounge.