Visit

Books for readers who go first.

Pelopor is a library, a bookshop and an archive of Indonesian history, set in the Menteng house where Des Alwi once lived. We opened in August 2026. Come to read, to browse, and to have a coffee when you are done.

Plan your visit Read the story
Opened
2 August 2026
Where
Jl. Prof. Moh. Yamin 11, Menteng
Open
Daily, 07.00 – 22.00
A fountain pen exhaling smoke that becomes hands holding an open book

A colonial house in Menteng, now full of books.

Pelopor Books lives in a Dutch colonial building that was once the home of Des Alwi: historian, diplomat and adopted son of Mohammad Hatta, a proclaimer of Indonesian independence.

A teal statue of Hatta greets you at the entrance. Inside you will find the library, the bookshop and a coffee shop. The coffee shop is a collaboration with Smiljan Space.

Pelopor

noun, Indonesian A pioneer. The one who goes first.

About three thousand books, and the papers around them.

Mostly non-fiction: Indonesian independence movements, international history, and Indonesian literature. Part of it is the Mulia family's own library, with further titles chosen by the curation team.

Independence and nationalism

Writing on Indonesia's independence movements and nationalist thought.

World history

International movements and histories.

Indonesian literature

From before independence to the present day.

Political thought

Texts on nationalism and politics.

Where the old magazines are kept.

Rare periodicals sit alongside the books. Among the titles held:

  • Siasat
  • Pantja Raja
  • Tempoearly issues
  • Star Weekly

The people behind it.

Pelopor Books draws on one family's library, with a curation team choosing further titles. Bani Maulana Mulia is the grandson of Soedarpo Sastrosatomo, who founded the shipping company Samudera Indonesia; photographs of Soedarpo are on display in the house.

Bani Maulana Mulia

Owner

Part of the library comes from his family's collection.

Tomi Wibisono

Curator

Founder of Buku Akik.

Rahmat “Kibo” Indrani

Architect and curator

Worked with Tomi and Bani to create Pelopor.

For the record.

The short version, for anyone writing about Pelopor.

Name
Pelopor Books
What it is
A library, bookshop and coffee shop, with an archive of history, the archipelago and maritime themes
Opened
2 August 2026, after a soft launch about a month earlier
Building
Dutch colonial house, former residence of Des Alwi
Collection
About 3,000 books, plus journals, newspapers and rare magazines
Company
PT Siasat Literasi Indonesia
Company office
Gedung Soedarpo, Jl. Blora Kav. 32-33, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat 10310
Owner
Bani Maulana Mulia
Curation
Tomi Wibisono and Rahmat “Kibo” Indrani
Instagram
@pelopor.books
Facilities
Library, bookshop, coffee shop, prayer room, black-box meeting space

Come in, shoes off.

Jl. Prof. Moh. Yamin No. 11
Menteng, Jakarta Pusat 10310

Every day, 07.00 – 22.00

Open in Maps

Getting here

Five minutes on foot from Cikini Station on the KRL. Parking is extremely limited, so please come by public transport.

In the house

Take your shoes off at the door; indoor sandals are provided. Food and drink stay out of the library, to protect the books.

Access

The entrance has steps and the interior is narrow, so the house is not wheelchair friendly.