This is your special edition of Nacre Weekender. It is not about what might have been. It is about crafting a meaningful, beautiful Merdeka—filled with thoughtful culinary gestures, architectural echoes, creative gatherings, and quiet, memorable celebrations by night.
Eat with a Sense of Place
31 Aug: Merdeka Sunday Lunch @ Fritz, Troika
Once a month, Fritz opens its Park-view dining room for Sunday Lunch. And what coincidence Merdeka falls on said Sunday. The doubly-special Merdeka Sunday Lunch on 31 August draws from dishes Malaysians grew up with, reshaped in the restaurant’s elegant French style. Expect dishes like grilled Hainanese toast and kaya with their signature cultured butter, laksa butter beurre blanc cod, and Pomme Fritz with a salted egg twist. Lastly, Let us not forget to toast our 68th Merdeka with free-flow Champagne. Reserve your experience here.
READ ALSO: Review: The Sunday Lunch at Fritz, Troika Sky Dining
Sky-High Dining @ Merdeka Grill, Merdeka 118
Elevate your Merdeka weekend (literally) by dining sky-high at KL’s hottest grill. Merdeka Grill, the flagship restaurant of Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur in the soaring Merdeka 118 tower—the second tallest building in the world. Just steps from where independence was declared 68 years ago, the modern grill offers a setting that makes the city part of the meal.
The 3-course Set Lunch is thoughtfully priced at RM188++ accompanied by a variety of à la carte selections and beverages. On the lunch menu are precisely plated duck liver waffle, coconut lobster bisque, roasted duck confit with lime pepper sauce, and Chef Holger’s fantastic desserts.
Reserve your sky-high dining experience here.
Santapan Merdeka @ Oolám Dining, The Five
Fancy a tuak cocktail or two? A seasonal menu built from the pantry of Malaysia, Santapan Merdeka is Oolam’s tribute to the season of independence. In addition to their outstanding Southeast Asian-focused menu, this limited-time offering runs 29 Aug till 21 Sep. Hearty dishes like the Sup Ekor Utara with Northern spices, and Ayam Kampung Salai Masak Lemak speak volumes without saying a word.
Reservations are required at Oolam; Reserve your table here.
READ ALSO: Oolam Dining, Bukit Damansara Review: The Flavours of Southeast Asia
Merdeka 68 Afternoon Tea @ The Botanist Lounge, PARKROYAL Collection KL
Biophilic interiors of The Botanist Lounge & Bar meet pastries and savouries inspired by Malaysia’s flora and fauna. The Merdeka 68 Afternoon Tea with Dilmah is a Malaysian story told through Executive Pastry Chef Shahrudin’s delicate craft, poured into fine china and plated with restraint. Expect Dilmah Earl Grey-infused desserts, and bites like sambal lobster with pandan brioche tied together with fine teas.
This limited-time afternoon tea set—priced at RM168 for two—is available 3–6PM daily until 20 September. Reserve your table here.
READ ALSO: A Guide to the Local-Inspired Afternoon Teas of Kuala Lumpur in 2025
Honouring the Nation
31 Aug: National Day Parade — Dataran Putrajaya
The annual Merdeka Parade returns to Dataran Putrajaya, stretching along Persiaran Perdana in a spectacle that brings together over 14,000 participants, military displays, floats, and an aerial flypast. The parade is our country’s most visible expression of unity, pride, and collective memory.
To stand among the crowd is to feel the energy firsthand—the rhythm of the marching bands, the sight of aircraft sweeping overhead, and the shared swell of voices as the Jalur Gemilang rises. For all the long weekend’s dining and festivities, this remains the heart of Merdeka, and there is nothing quite like witnessing it in person.
Heritage Walk through Merdeka Square
Stroll through Malaysia’s memory lane this weekend. Start at Dataran Merdeka, tracing steps past the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, through KL City Gallery where miniature models and independence archives live, and the National Textile Museum’s batik and weaving heritage. Pause with a pastry or two at the ever-popular KLCG bakery, and conclude at Central Market, where the Check‑In Merdeka Pop‑Up is happening.
Arts, Craft & Community
30–31 Aug: RIUH Merdeka @ Putrajaya
If you’re in Putrajaya from the evening before or the afternoon after the annual parade, RIUH stretches Merdeka into a 30-hour non-stop celebration that blends the best of food, music, and culture. From Saturday noon to Sunday evening, the Millennium Monument carpark transforms into a festival ground with more than 40 food stalls showcasing homegrown brands, artisan makers, and local retail pop-ups.
Workshops add texture to the weekend, from mengkuang weaving to Tamil and Arabic calligraphy, alongside film screenings and a live stage anchored by performances from Malaysian artists including Yuna. The energy carries right through to Merdeka morning, making RIUH not just a festival but a shared pulse of national pride that runs in tandem with the parade itself.
More details over at @riuhinthecity on Instagram.
30 Aug: The Malaysian Table @ KLoe Hotel
KLoe Hotel marks Merdeka with an open-house afternoon that feels as warm and welcoming as the occasion itself. The Malaysian Table brings together light bites, craft, and music in a celebration that is free for all to attend.
Edeline How of The Line Kitchen serves local snacks while guiding guests through the art of wrapping nasi lemak the traditional way. Nearby, artisans from Jadi Batek lead hands-on batik painting, while Disko Santan spins vinyl steeped in Malaysian groove. It is an easygoing gathering of food, craft, and community spirit — a reminder that Merdeka is as much about coming together as it is about looking back.
29 Aug–1 Sep: Check-In Merdeka Market @ Central Market
Central Market becomes the beating heart of the city this Merdeka with Check-In Merdeka, a four-day cultural carnival that captures the season’s energy in full. From morning until late evening, the space will host a line-up of performances that bridge Malaysia’s many traditions—from Chinese martial arts and Bian Lian “face changing” to Indian cultural dances, kompang processions, and even a Bujang Lapok mini-theatre Beyond the stage, the market itself turns festive, with trivia games, traditional backyard pastimes, and a long list of local vendors filling stalls with food, crafts, jewellery, skincare, and more. It is the natural conclusion of the heritage walk from Dataran, where history meets community expression.
A ‘Rasa’ of Independence @ Ruang Teduh, Exchange 106
Running until Malaysia Day (16 September) inside the bustling Exchange 106, a space better known for finance than feeling, RASA Merdeka! transforms the corporate tower into a gallery of identity and expression. Curated by Ruang[ ]Teduh and supported by Galeri Puteh, the exhibition gathers works from 31 Malaysian artists whose practices range from bold abstraction to multimedia sculpture and everyday acrylics. Together, they articulate what Merdeka means—as memory, as freedom, and as a collective voice.
The gallery is free and open daily from 10AM–8PM, inviting everyone to step into Malaysia’s creative pulse. Highlights include Ahmad Shukri Mohamed’s colourful abstractions, Bayu Utomo Radjikin’s iconic sculptural forms, and Lina Tan’s layered portraits of daily life. Complete your visit to TRX with an evening of outdoor shopping at Pingmin Hub
30 Aug–1 Sep: Yang Lokal Market @ Pingmin Hub, TRX
Among Kuala Lumpur’s many pop-up markets, Pingmin has grown into one of the most favoured. Its Merdeka-themed Yang Lokal editions are some of the year’s biggest, filling Pingmin Hub at TRX with vendors that span food, design, lifestyle, and handmade craft. The mix is wide and eclectic, drawing makers and small businesses from across Malaysia into one convivial space.
Free to enter and welcoming pets, it is less a market than a gathering point—where community, creativity, and commerce meet under one roof. For those already visiting RASA Merdeka! at Exchange 106 nearby, Yang Lokal is the perfect extension of the day, carrying the energy of Merdeka into the rhythms of everyday life.
28-31 Aug: Campus Market @ The Campus, Ampang
Over the Merdeka long weekend, Maker & Co transforms The Campus in Ampang into a curated bazaar that balances artisanal retail with hands-on workshops. The market features a diverse line-up of local makers — from lifestyle goods and design objects to food vendors — but what sets it apart are the interactive sessions that allow visitors to create as much as they consume.
Among the highlights is Canting and Painting with Kapten Baik, where participants learn the basics of batik-making in a guided, approachable format. With its emphasis on process, craft, and play, the Campus Market feels like a natural Merdeka gathering, drawing people together through the textures of making and the joy of discovery.
Don’t Miss a Bite
The Nacre Weekender publishes weekly. Follow @nacre.asia and visit nacre.asia to discover where to eat, sip, and go each weekend.
Tag us if you’re attending this week’s highlights, and send us a message if there’s something new we should be paying attention to for future editions.
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