Melaka

File:Christ church melaka.jpg

Christ Church, Melaka

Malacca (Malay: Melaka) [1] is the capital of the state of Malacca, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.

Understand

Modern-day Malacca is a sleepy city that belies its wealth of history. However, its rich historical background enabled it to be honoured one of World Heritage Sites in July 2008.

History

There are some interesting legends surrounding the foundation and naming of Malacca. According to the 16th century Malay Annals, the city was founded by Parameswara, a descendant of Alexander the Great. More likely, he was a Hindu prince and political fugitive from nearby Java. The legend goes that Parameswara was out on a hunt in the region and had stopped to refresh himself near what is now the Malacca River. Standing near a melaka (Indian gooseberry) tree he was surprised to witness one of his hunting dogs so startled by a mouse deer that it fell into the river. Parameswara took this as a propitious sign of the weak overcoming the powerful and decided to build the capital of his new kingdom where he stood, naming it for the tree under which he had been resting. Another account says Malacca is derived from the Arabic word Malakat, meaning market. Malacca had a navigable harbor sheltered by nearby Sumatra across the narrow straits, ample supply of fresh water, enjoyed a prime location relative to the shifting monsoon winds, and had a central location in regional trade patterns, all of which soon made it a prosperous trading town. Its fortunes increased with its official adoption of Islam in the 14th century. The Sultans of Malacca were soon attracting Arab traders from far afield. However, Malacca continued to trade with merchants of all races and religions.

After the visit of the Chinese Muslim Admiral Cheng Ho in the mid-15th century, contact between China and Malacca intensified. In exchange for protection against Siam, Malacca became a vassal state to Ming China. To ensure Malacca's safety, a new powerful kingdom was founded by the Sultan of Samudra-Pasai.

The power of the Malays began to rise through the 15th century. In the Malay Annals,the sultan Mansur Shah was mentioned as having 6 wives and the fifth was stated to be a daughter of the Ming Emperor. However, in the Chinese chronicles, no such event was recorded.

Things started to change with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1509. They were at first welcomed, but Indian traders soon turned the sultan against the Portuguese and they had to flee. In 1511 the Portuguese returned, and at their second attempt seized the city. This marked the start of the formation of a large Eurasian community. The Portuguese turned the city into a massive walled fortress complete with a tower bristling with cannon. It was believed that such fortifications could withstand the encroachments of other European powers eager for a slice of the Asian luxury goods trade.

An alliance between the Dutch and the Sultanate of Johor Bahru saw the loss much of Malaccas power. In 1641 the Dutch navy put a blockade on Malacca and they seized the city after six months. During the siege much of the Portuguese city was destroyed.

Only after 150 years did the Dutch lose their hold on Malacca. In 1795 The Netherlands was conquered by the French, and the British were keen to take over the Dutch holdings in Malacca. By that time, Malacca had lost most of its former importance although it remained an important part of Asian trade routes.

The A Famosa gate is all that remains of the old Portuguese and Dutch forts. As the Napoleonic Wars wound down the British knew Malacca would be returned to Dutch control. In order to make the city indefensible the city walls were blown down. A last minute intervention by a British officer saved the gate. Shortly after its return to Dutch rule, the Dutch and British governments swapped colonies - British Bencoolen in Sumatra for Dutch Malacca.

Malacca is a center of Peranakan culture. When Chinese settlers originally came to Malacca as miners, traders and coolies, they took local brides (of Javanese, Batak, Achenese, etc descent) and adopted many local customs. The result of this is an interesting mix of local and Chinese cultures. The men are addressed as Babas and the women Nonyas by their servants meaning Master and Mistress.

A small group of Eurasians of Portuguese descent continue to speak their unique creole, known as Cristão or Kristang.

Get in

By plane

Batu Berendam Airport (Template:IATA) (Template:ICAO) is located about 10km from Malacca city and in 2006-7 is being upgraded to accommodate larger planes. There are no Malaysian domestic flights operating from this airport.

Riau Airlines (Office at airport. Tel: +60-6-3174577) flies five times weekly (no flights on Wednesdays and Fridays) at 1005am to Pekanbaru in Sumatra, Indonesia. The flight from Pekanbaru departs at 0730 and comes in at 0920. RM247 one way before taxes.

To get there/away: Any Batang Bus (yellow, cream and red) from Melaka Sentral will go past Batu Berendam Airport. Buses will stop by the main road about 200m from the airport building. Tuahbas No. 65 (blue and white) to Taman Merdeka also goes from Melaka Sentral past the airport via Bachang.

Although Malaysia Airlines does not fly to Malacca, it maintains an office at Lot 1&2, Block A, Ground Floor, Century Mahkota Hotel, Jalan Merdeka, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2829597.

By car

Malacca can be accessed from the North South Expressway. Leave the expressway at the Ayer Keroh exit. Alternatively, one can leave the highway at the Simpang Empat exit and proceed through normal road to Melaka. This route will pass through the town of Alor Gajah and now with the new highway (ring road) completed, the trip from Simpang Empat to Melaka will take approximately 20 - 30 minutes by car.

Malacca city is on the Coastal Trunk Road (Federal Route 5), and can be accessed from the Main Trunk Road (Federal Route 1) by turning off at Simpang Kendong or Tampin, Negeri Sembilan. Malacca is 150 km (93 mi) from Kuala Lumpur, 216 km (134 mi) from Johor Bahru, and 90 km (56 mi) from Port Dickson.

By bus

Many long-distance express buses connect Malacca with both Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Johor Bahru, Singapore and other parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

All long-distance and local buses now operate from the Melaka Sentral bus terminal, a good 3km from the historic core of the city.

From Singapore

Many bus companies operate from Lavender St. bus terminal directly to Melaka Sentral Google Map. Bus schedules vary between companies but some operates have hourly buses. Best show up and buy tickets in advance if you want to travel on Saturday morning and return Sunday afternoon as many Singaporean tourists have the same idea. The fares can vary starting from around S$14 up to S$50 one way depending on class of the bus.

Bus rides often take any time between 3.5-5 hours depending on how long it takes to cross the Singapore-Malaysia borders, which during peak periods can cause massive delay. You will have to get your passport stamped at each end of the border and you must bring all your luggages with you when you are making an entrance into each country. Generally, the bus will wait for you at the border but sometimes they will expect you to catch the next bus if you take too long going through custom. Make sure you remember what you bus looks like (the number plate is quite a handy thing to remember). The buses will also have a half an hour rest stop along the way where you can purchase food and use the toilet facilities (whose cleanliness can be questionable). The Singapore custom has decent toilet facilities, if required.

Some of the companies operating to/from Malacca are:

• Transnasional is the largest long-distance bus operator in Malaysia. It links the state with a host of destinations in Peninsular Malaysia like Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Singapore and further afield. Transnasional buses depart from Malacca City (Melaka Sentral), Alor Gajah, A'Famosa Resort and Masjid Tanah.
• Malacca-Kuala Lumpur Express: Hourly buses between Malacca City and Kuala Lumpur from 0530 to 1900. Tickets cost RM9.40.
• Jebat Ekspres: Buses to Kuala Lumpur via Masjid Tanah and Alor Gajah.
• Malacca-Singapore Express: Hourly buses between Malacca City and Johor Bahru and Singapore from 0800 to 1900. Tickets cost RM14.60 to/from Johor Baru, and RM17 to Singapore.
• Mayang Sari Express: Buses to/from Johor Baru. Tickets cost RM14.60.
• MCW Express: Frequent express services to Muar, Johor

By taxi

There are also chartered taxi services available at end of Jalan Kee Ann. These chartered taxis travel within Melaka state and outside Melaka such as to KLIA International Airport, Kuala Lumpur and even Singapore. They carry up to 4 passengers at a time. See Tourism Melaka for the official fare chart. Malacca has real lousy public transportation system, so, be ready to get your money riped off by taxi drivers, even for a 5 minute's drive, they sometimes charge you RM15.Most of the taxis in Malacca don't have a metered system, and they often charge according to their likes.

By train

Malacca Town is not served by any railway lines. The nearest railway station is at Alor Gajah District /Pulau Sebang(Former known Tampin)]] (Railway station Tel: +60-6-3411034), about 30 km (18 mi) away.

To get there/away: Tai Lye No 26 (red, blue and white) goes from Melaka Sentral to Pulau Sebang/Tampin via Alor Gajah. Stop along the main road near the level crossing just before entering Pulau Sebang/Tampin town. The station is about 400 m (437 yd) from the main road. Salira (light blue and yellow) also goes from Melaka Sentral to Tampin via Ayer Keroh and Durian Tunggal. Get off bus at same spot as Tai Lye.

By boat

Daily ferries run to and from Bengkalis, Dumai and Pekanbaru in Sumatra, Indonesia. All ferries arrive and depart from the Harbour Master's jetty (Jeti Shahbandar) at Taman Melaka Raya near the Maritime Museum. To get to/away from Jetty: Malacca Town Bus No. 17 (Green) goes near the Harbour Master's jetty which is just down the road from the Red Square.

• To/From Dumai:
  • Tunas Rupat Follow Me Express [2] (Malacca ticketing booth at Jln PM10 Melaka Raya. Tel: +60-6-2816766, office Tel: +60-6-2832506, +60-6-2832516; Dumai agent: Jl. Jend. Sudirman 4. Tel: +62-765-31398) operates two ferries daily. They depart Malacca for Dumai at 0900 and 1500. Journey time is just under two hours. Tickets cost RM110/170 one-way/return.
• To/From Pekanbaru:
  • Tunas Rupat Follow Me Express (Malacca ticketing booth at Jln PM10 Melaka Raya. Tel: +60-6-2816766, office Tel: +60-6-2832506, +60-6-2832516; Pekanbaru agent: Jl. Tanjung Datuk No 153, Pekanbaru. Tel: +62-761-858777) has ferries from Pekanbaru to Malacca on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0900. From Malacca to Pekanbaru, they depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 0930. The journey takes about six and a half hours. Tickets cost RM120/210 one-way/return from Malacca to Pekanbaru.
  • NNH Ferry Services (Malacca ticketing booth G-15, Jln PM10, Plaza Mahkota Melaka Raya. Tel: +60-6-2881334) runs the Pelita Jaya ferry from Malacca to Pekanbaru on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0900.
• To/From Bengkalis:
  • Laksamana Group (Malacca ticketing office stalls on Jln PM10, Plaza Mahkota Melaka Raya) has ferries from Malacca to Bengkalis in Riau Province, Sumatra, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays departing at 1100. Ferries connect to Selat Panjang where there are onward ferries to Batam and the other Riau Islands. From Bengkalis, ferries depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0930.
  • Mulia Kencana (Malacca ticketing office Stall No. 5, Jln PM10, Plaza Mahkota Melaka Raya. Mobile tel: +60-13-3733545, +60-16-6826896, +60-12-3398428) operates three ferries a week from Malacca to Bengkalis. Ferries connect to the town of Pakning. From Malacca, ferries depart on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1300. Tickets cost RM50/80 one-way/return. Tickets from Bengkalis to Pakning cost a further Rp10,000.

Note that Bengkalis is not listed as a visa-free or visa-on-arrival point of entry into Indonesia. However, those entitled to visa-free entry, or at least Malaysian passport holders, do not seem to face any problems.

Get around

Malacca is by no means a small city, but exploring on foot is a good idea. You could rent a bike. Don't be ignorant and stand in the middle of the road holding up traffic in order to take pictures of buildings, for heaven's sake. (This happens!)

By car

Streets in the older/historical part of the city are very narrow, so they quickly become clogged during rush hours.

By bus

• Malacca Town Bus No 17 (green bus): Melaka Sentral Terminal to the historic core, Mahkota Parade, Melaka Raya and the Portuguese Settlement
• Malacca Town Bus No 18: Melaka Sentral Terminal to Tengkera and onwards to Pokok Mangga
• Malacca Town Bus No 19: Melaka Sentral Terminal to Ayer Keroh
• Malacca Town Bus No. 50: Melaka Sentral Terminal to the Mahkota Parade shopping centre and nearby seafood restaurants
• Kenderaan Aziz (red and white): Buses from Melaka Sentral to Muar via Padang Temu also go past the historic core, Mahkota Parade and Melaka Raya
• Panorama Melaka (red): This hop-on-hop-off bus brings tourists to the attractions in town for a flat fee of RM 2 per day. Among its fleet are 2 double-decker buses, one with an open top. The bus service runs at 10 minute intervals from 6am - 12pm.

By taxi

Metered Taxis are just about everywhere. Chartered taxis on Jalan Kee Ann also travel within the city and should not cost more than RM10 per ride.

Others

Trishaws are available as well for short trips between tourist spots.

See

File:Malacca stadhuys1.jpg

The Stadhuys and clock tower at the heart of the historic quarter of Malacca

File:Malacca river1.jpg

Malacca River at dusk

File:Baba house.jpg

The Baba Nyonya Museum in Malacca which is in a typical Peranakan house

The older part of the city proper has, in addition to the old palace and the large buildings left by the Europeans, many private houses and shops from nearly a century or more ago, put up by Chinese traders. Many of these have beautiful details such as moulded porcelain tiles and painted plaster reliefs on the front. Unfortunately, they tend to be not well preserved and the city government decided to paint all the buildings in the historical district a bright brick red some years ago, which detracts from their aesthetic value.

Note that on Tuesdays, many museums, shops, restaurant are closed, especially in the Jonker Street area. If you have only one day to spend in Malacca, do not go on Tuesday!

Heritage area

• Stadthuys - completed in 1660. Nowadays, it houses the historical museum. This is one of the oldest Dutch buildings in the east.
• Christ Church - this church was built between 1741 and 1753. It replaced a Portuguese church, which was shattered. Bricks were shipped from Zeeland in the Netherlands. On the floor of the church you will find Dutch tombstones. It is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. On the altar you will see sacramental silverware, still bearing the Dutch coat of arms. Open: Thursday - Tuesday.
• Red Square - Beautiful square around Christ Church and the Stadhuys. On this square you will find the Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower, it looks Dutch, but it is not. It was built in 1886.
• Porta de Santiago - You will find this remains of the old Portuguese fort A Famosa on Jalan Kota, around St Paul's Hill. What you can see nowadays is a mostly Dutch reconstruction, bearing the VOC coat of arms.
• St Paul's Church - take a path up the hill and it will lead you to this church. It was originally built in 1521, by the Portuguese. It became a fortress in 1567, until 1596. After the Dutch siege it became St Paul's, before it was known as Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of Annunciation). It has been used as a burial ground for the Dutch. You can still see the tombstones, along the walls of ruins of the church.
• Muzium Budaya - Below the hill you will find this museum (Melaka Cultural Museum). It is a reconstruction of the istana of the sultan. It was built in 1985. It is open daily from 9AM to 6PM except on Tuesdays, and on Fridays from 1215-1445. Entrance fee: RM1.50.
• Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum. Tel: +60-6-2831233. Opening hours: 10:00-12:30, 14:30-16:30. Closed on Tuesdays - Step back in time with a visit to this museum which is an actual Peranakan heritage town house and is a great example of Peranakan culture. It is located on Heeren Street (now known as Tun Cheng Lock Street). The entry fee is RM8 per person and everyone has to follow a guide-led group.
• Jonker, Heeren and adjacent streets - This is the residential heart of Old Malacca just west of the Malacca River, with its narrow winding streets, beautifully decorated houses, tiny shops, temples and mosques. The whole area is undergoing a renaissance with new shops, restaurants and hotels catering to tourists mushrooming everywhere. However, the area still has a lot of atmosphere and is worth having a look around. One of the streets in this area is Harmony Street (officially Temple street or Jalan Tokong), so called because it contains the prayer houses of Malaysia's three main faiths - the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, the Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Hindu Temple, and the Kampung Kling Mosque.
• Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. [3] 25, Jalan Tokong. Tel: +60-6-2829343. Opening hours: Morning to 7pm - Oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia and has an inscription dating 1685 commemorating the deeds of by Kapitan China Li Wei King.
• Taming Sari Revolving Tower. Jalan Merdeka, 75000 Melaka. The latest addition to Malaysia's stable of skyscrapers. The 110m-tower seats 66 people at a time, taking them on a 7-minute ride offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the historic city and the coastline. Admission Fees for MyKad Holders: RM10 for adults, RM5 for children below 12 years old, and RM7 for senior citizens above 55 years old. Admission Fees for Visitors without MyKad: RM20 for adults, RM10 for children below 12 years old, and RM17 for senior citizens above 55 years old. Operating hours: 10am to 10pm daily

Others

• Portuguese Settlement - Here is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city centre, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square (Malay Medan Portugis) and Hotel Lisbon (sorry, unlike its Macau namesake, there is no casino here) on the waterfront. The people here may look Malay but peer into their houses and you'll see the characteristic altar with status of Jesus and Mary perched high on their walls. Quite a few still speak Cristao (or Cristang), a Portuguese patois. There are also many restaurants for you to sample Portuguese fare. The most interesting times to visit is during Intrudu - usually in February - when the you'll get a Songkran-like drenching with buckets of water thrown at you; Festa San Pedro to commemorate the Feast of Saint Peter in June, where there are processions, cultural shows and general merry-making; and Christmas when the whole settlement is decked in decorative lights. Getting there/away: Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 (destination "Ujong Pasir and Bandar Hilir") from Melaka Sentral will bring you right into the Settlement.
• St John's Hill and Fort. Malacca's other fortress located on top of St John's Hill in Bandar Hilir, south of the city. Pretty views of the surroundings from the top.
• Hang Li Po's Well - Legends have it that Hang Li Po was a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty who was sent to Malacca to wed Sultan Mansor Shah in the 15th century when the Malacca Sultanate was at its zenith. She had 100 followers who were all settled on Bukit China, which means Chinese Hill, and this well, at the foot of the hill, was where they got their water.
• Poh San Teng Temple - This temple is located at the foot of Bukit China and next to Hang Li Po's Well, was founded in 1795 by Kapitan China Chua Su Cheong as a graveyard temple. The main deity is Fu-te Zhen Shen. the temple was built to allow the descendants of those buried on Bukit China to conduct prayers to their ancestors away from the heavy rain and strong winds.
• Bukit China - Bukit China is the one of the largest Chinese cemetery outside of mainland China. Graves can be found here that go back to the late Ming dynasty (mid 17th century). The earliest grave found so far dates to 1622, but unfortunately many graves were exhumed during the British occupation of Malaysia. Bukit China is a famous jogging spot for the locals and jogging tracks are available all over the hill. When you climb on top of the hill, you will have a nice view of the town.

Outside town

• Geok Hu Keng Temple - Located at the junction of Klebang and Jalan Pokok Mangga, This temple has a history of 130 years. Managed by local communities, the temple was incorporated under the management of Cheng Hoon Teng in 2000.
• Kampung Morten - a village of traditional houses, it is located on the west bank of the Malacca River.
• Recreational Forest Ayer Keroh - The 359 ha (887 acre) Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest was opened on April 17, 1984 and offers visitors peace and tranquility within its cool green surroundings.
• Melaka Zoo - Located in Ayer Keroh, along the main road from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza to Melaka town. One of the best, if not the best, zoo in Malaysia. Even better than the National Zoo. The zoo is located in a reserved forest where the animal enclosures more resemble the animals' natural habitat. The trees within the zoo compound provide ample shades for visitors during hot and sunny days.

Do

• Go fly a kite, literally - Go to Klebang Beach and buy a cheap kite (fighter-style, but nowhere near that well-constructed) with Japanese cartoon characters on it for RM 1.50, or a styrofoam airplane for RM 5 if you don't have the necessary kite-flying mad skills.
• Jonker Walk - Jonker Walk is an open air night market held every weekend (and recently extended to eve of public holidays) evening to late night. Have a leisure stroll along the street, observing the locals' life, catching a free performance and shop for some local souvenirs can be a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
• Night Market / Pasar Malam - Night Market or more known as Pasar Malam is a market that is held from evening to around 9pm at night everyday(though at different locations, eg. Tuesday in Kampung Lapan and Friday in Malim). This is a good way to observe the life of locals. Pasar Malam sells basically almost anything, from food to clothing, small electronics to medicine.

Buy

• Jonkers Walk (6PM -12AM every weekend).
• The Orangutan House (59 Lorong Hang Jebat, +606 282 6872, [4]) has cool T-shirts as well as paintings for sale.

• JUSCO store in Ayer Keroh Very popular during the weekend where even the Singaporeans come to shop.

• Tan Kim Hock Product Center (85, 87, 89 Jalan Bendahara [5]) sells famous food specialties from Melaka, like Dodol, Cincalok, Belacan, dried fruits, durian cake, etc. Might be a good idea as souvenirs for friends back home. Mr Tan Kim Hock, the founder of the company, occasionally still walks around with his famous white suit giving out free stuffs.
  File:Tan Kim Hock durian cake.jpg

  Tan Kim Hock durian cake

• Dataran Pahlawan Mega Mall, is the latest landmarks in Melaka. It is also the largest mall in Southern Malaysia. Located in the heart of the historic centre and opposite Mahkota Parade.

• No.4 Jalan Tokong, just off the jonkers walk this is a lovely art gallery of contemporary art work by Titi Kwok, the work is beautiful and the prices even better.
• <buy name="Raz Kashmir Crafts" alt="" address="No. 12 Jalan Tukang Emas" directions="Near Jonker Street" phone="014-3283131" url="" hours="12" price="" lat="" long="">Owned by Khalid Chapri. They specialize in Kashmiri, Indian, and Nepali crafts. Beautiful handmade textiles. Not cheap, but totally worth a visit if you're looking for original gifts (not tourist junk).</buy>
• <buy name="Mahkota Parade Shopping Centre" alt="" address="" directions="located in Bandar Hilir opposite Padang Pahlawan" phone="06.2826151" url="http://www.hektargroup.com.my" hours="10am-10pm" price="" lat="" long="">as over 200 shops and anchor tenants are Parkson Grand Departmental Store and Giant Supermarket. Shops include The Body Shop, World of Cartoons, Royal Selangor, FOS, Reject Shop, Nokia, MPH Bookstores, Sony Centre, SenQ Digital Station, Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut. The biggest food court in Melaka is also located here. Has several bureau de change including Maybank and CIMB Bank which are open 7 days a week.</buy>

Eat

Besides the usual Malaysian fare, you'll be able to sample some rather peculiar Malaccan food. On top of the list is of course Peranakan or Baba-Nyonya food, which until recently was totally uncommercialised and confined to the kitchens of old grandmothers. Now, there are a string of restaurants claiming to serve Peranakan food, most unfortunately seem to be on the tour bus circuit. The dishes are slightly different from that of the Penang Peranakan. Usual ones include ayam pongteh (chicken in bean sauce, originally cooked with pork) and ayam buah keluak (chicken cooked with a bitter fruit) and a whole array of desserts. Another famous Malacca dish is what is commonly called "chicken rice ball". Although it is called Hainanese chicken rice, it is not from Hainan, China, but invented by the Hainanese immigrants to Malaysia a long time ago. The chicken for this dish is very much the same as the boiled chicken offered throughout Malaysia; what is unique is the rice - it comes in ping-pong sized balls. Yet another Malaccan speciality is satay celup. It is like lok-lok found in other parts of the country but instead of dipping your skewered foodstuff (fishballs, crabsticks, meat, prawns and etc) into boiling water, you dip them into a boiling vat of satay sauce. The sight of boiling satay sauce may not appeal to you but the crowds at the satay celup outlets seem to suggest that many have overcome their phobias.

Of course, Malacca is where you'll find Portuguese-Eurasian food. The greatest concentration of outlets will be at the Portuguese Settlement. Seafood is popular, as is the fiery "devil curries".

The recent tourism boom has seen many new food and beverage outlets open in Malacca, and especially in the heritage area of Jonker and Heeren Street. However, competition is great and some outlets fail to survive. Places you discover on your first visit may not be around anymore on your second.

Peranakan

• Restoran Peranakan. 107, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street). Enjoy the experience of eating good Peranakan food in the airy courtyard of a huge Peranakan house. Standard dishes available. Count on about RM10-15 per person.
• Restoran Ole Sayang. 198, Jalan Melaka Raya. One of the original Peranakan restaurants in town.
• Restoran Makko. 123, Jalan Melaka Raya. A few doors down from Ole Sayang.
• Jonker Walk has many food and drinks outlets which serve Nyonya laksa (laksa with coconut milk) and desserts like cendol, including the sinful durian cendol.

Chinese

File:Malacca chicken rice balls.JPG

The popular Malacca chicken rice ball dish.

• Chicken rice balls
  • Famosa Chicken Rice Ball 28 and 30, Jalan Hang Kasturi, corner of Jln Hang Kasturi and Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk). A huge restaurant serving the dish in an alluringly bright red building. It also has branches in Jalan Bendahara, Mahkota Parade Shopping Mall, Tesco Malacca and Jaya Jusco Malacca in Ayer Keroh. Very efficient service even when overflowing with people. However, some hardcore connoisseur of the dish regard this as a tourist trap and its quality not up to mark.
  • Hoe Kee 4, Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk). A few steps nearer to Malacca River from Famosa is this chicken rice ball outlet. You should get here early or you'll end up in a queue to get a table.
• Satay celup
  • Capitol Satay Celup, 41, Lorong Bukit Cina. Located a little distance away from the hustle and bustle of the historic centre of town. This is one of Malacca's most popular satay celup outlets and the crowds tend to confirm this. You pay for what you eat and at the end of the meal, the skewers are counted. The price per skewer is between RM0.50 and RM1.
• Noodles
  • Hing Loong Taiwanese Noodle, 11-J, Jalan Bachang. Located out of the town center but have been discovered by many non-Malaccans. Tasty beef, fried pork chop or pig trotter noodles in soup or in sauce. About RM4 a bowl.

Western

• Coconut House Studio, 128, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street). Popular for its wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas, which you can eat in a renovated Peranakan house complete with a courtyard. Service may be a bit slow when there are crowds. The same people run a similar outlet in Kuala Lumpur.

• Wok and Pan:East Meets West Cuisine , 22G PM4, Plaza Makhota, 75000 Malacca. Popular for its Pork Ribs and Pork Chop. It also serve Chinese and Local Cuisines. The boss is the former head chef for Renaissance Hotel

Cafes

• Geographér Cafe [6], 63 Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk). Tel: +60-6-2816813. The restaurant/bar occupied a renovated old Malacca shophouse. Comfortable and lively/noisy restaurant/bar serving Malaccan standards. Occasional live music.

Street food

• Jalan Kee Ann Night Open Air Eating Stalls, Jalan Kee Ann. Hours 18:00 to 23:00 every day. Open air eating stalls for locals and visitors. It is a good place to eat and see the world go by while eating in the open air. Local cuisines include won ton mee, popiah, yew keow, sugar cane water, sup kambing, satay,etc.
• Tengkera Mee Soup, Located along Jalan Tengkera near the famous Tengkera Mosque. Noodles (many varieties) served Chinese style but by a Malay/Muslim vendor and are therefore Halal. Open from mid-afternoon until when the noodles are sold out.

Drink

When in Malacca, don't miss the cendol ("chen-dul"), a sweet dessert of coconut milk, lurid green noodles and gula Melaka (Malacca sugar), made from palm sap.

• Clocktower cendol,Jalan Laksamana. Located by the Malacca River opposite the Red Square clock tower. Another Malacca legend, the cendol served by this Indian-Muslim hawker is superb. You can have it plain or with red bean and is a wonderful thirst-quencher when doing the historical sights circuit. There is also Indian rojak. It used to operate out of a mangosteen-shaped stall (hence he's also known as "Mangosteen cendol") but now has a more conventional-looking stall.

• Limau Limau Cafe, 49 Jonker Street. Wide selections of fresh juices, milkshakes and lassi, with no water or sugar added. They sell Lavazza Coffee too.

• Libra Restaurant and Cocktail House, Jonker St, [7]. Wide selection of beers and cocktails.

Melaka Raya is the nightlife area of Melaka. Countless Pubs, Discos, Cafes and Restaurants are located in this area. If you want to enjoy some Clubbing experience in Melaka, this is the place to go.

• Honky Tonk Haven Cafe - Nice little pub at Jalan Lorong Hang Jebat (1st cross street, i.e. turn left off Jonker Walk) also with a view onto the Melaka river, run by a musician New Zealander and his wife. Live music (specialising in jazz and also other type of music on request). As of 9 pm every night, good pub food.

Sleep

Malacca city offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Most backpackers/budget accommodation are found in two areas, namely in the old heritage heart where you will find atmospheric hotels and guesthouses in old typical Malacca terraces, and in Taman Melaka Raya, the new business centre built on reclaimed land only several minutes walking distnce to the east of the old heart of town. Hotels are found throughout the city.

Budget

Heritage area

• Chong Hoe Hotel (忠和旅店) 26 Jalan Tukang Emas (Goldsmith Street, opposite of Masjid Kampung Kling), Tel: +60-6-2826102 : It situated at a strategic location (at the centre of the historical places).It offers good value with air-con and TV room for RM30 which is without bathroom and air-con singles/doubles with TV and bathroom for RM45 onwards. The rooms are nice and clean.
• Holitel This place has standard rooms with aircon and a private bathroom. It costs 50 RM and the rooms are really clean. Friendly and helpfull staff. Better than most places in China Town.
• Sama-Sama Guest House [8] 26 Jalan Tukang Besi (or Blacksmith Street, one block north and parallel to Jalan Hang Jebat or Jonker Walk). Tel (mobile): +60-12-3051980 [9]. A laid-back guesthouse with 8 rooms. Rooms are basic, with no air-con. Large, friendly hang-out area with "no TV, just sweet reggae music" and occasional live music, and a nice back courtyard with burbling fountain. Laundry available. RM20-35.

Melaka Raya

• City Park Hotel Melaka [10]. No. 1 Jalan Melaka Raya 26, Taman Melaka Raya, Melaka, Malaysia. Tel: +60-6-2839833.
• Shirah's Guest House [11]. No.207B, 2nd floor, Taman Melaka Raya, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6 286 1041. 10 MYR dorms in a triple room; 15 MYR for a single room with fan; max double-room with AC & bathroom 35-40 MYR. Clean and nice with many in-house facilities.
• Travellers' Lodge 214b Jalan Melaka Raya 1, Tel: +60-6-2265709. Large, friendly hostel in a convenient location near several attractions. Rooms are clean with fan or aircon and en suite bathrooms available. The hostel also features a kitchen, laundry, roof terrace and cafe with internet access. Movies are shown every night. Good value. Fan room from 18 RM.

Other areas

• Kancil Guesthouse [12] 177 Jalan Parameswara, 75300 Melaka. (Located in the Bandar Hilir area just east of the Heritage Zone and adjacent to the Melaka Raya commercial area). Tel/Fax: +60-6-2814044. Friendly staff, quiet place. Fan room from 18 RM.

• Discovery Cafe & Guesthouse No. 3 Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka 75100. Cool guesthouse/hostel located only a 3 min walk from the central historic area. The rooms are quite simple, but they have AC. Shared bathrooms. Owner was extremely friendly and set up taxis and bus service for us. The downstairs cafe area turns into a fairly lively nightspot after dark with live music and cheap beers. Rooms were cheap. Contact Teng Kim Sia at tel: +6012-683-5606 or email at [email protected].

Mid-range

File:Hotel Grand Continental.jpg

Hotel Grand Continental

Heritage area

• Aldy Hotel [13]. 27 Jalan Kota, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2833232. [14]. Boutique hotel strategically located in the heart of the historic Melaka town. 3 stars. RM110-RM500.
• Baba House [15]. 125-127, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lok, 75200 Melaka. Fax: +60-6-2811217. RM95 doubles including breakfast. In an old terrace.
• Malacca Straits Hotel [16]. 37A Jalan Chan Koon Cheng, Off Jalan Parameswara. Tel: +60-6-2861888. The intimate boutique-style Malacca Straits Hotel captures the city’s rich history and its people’s good nature for a memorable experience for those who choose the pleasure of staying awhile. Room rates start from RM128++.
• Heeren House [17]. 1, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2814241. Fax: +60-6-2814239 [18]. Nice guesthouse at the start of Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock or Heeren Street. Rooms with all facilities face the Malacca River. Cafe and craftshop downstairs. RM139 nett double/twins, RM239 nett family. American breakfast included. Best English breakfast in town.
• Heeren Inn. 23, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2883600 (Located nearer the Malacca River end of Heeren Street). RM78 standard, RM88 delux, RM118 superior and RM148 Heeren (two double beds) room. Reported to have bed bugs in February 2008.
• Hotel Puri [19]. 118 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2825588. Highly recommended by homeliving magazine in Malaysia - Living Taste. RM110-RM500.
• Twenty Melaka Guesthouse [20]. 20, Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk). Tel: +60-6-2819761 (Located along the popular Jonker Walk near the Malacca River end. This guesthouse occupies the former Atlas Ice building, one of the oldest concrete buildings in Malaysia). New, clean, air con, continental breakfast included, internet, located in the heart of the tourist area. From RM95. Please note that all bathrooms here are on sharing basis.

Melaka Raya

• Hotel Tropicaville Malacca [21]. 7,9,11, Jalan PM15, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka (in the Taman Melaka Raya area near the jetty for ferries to Dumai, Indonesia). 3 stars. RM88-RM198
• Queenspark Hotel Melaka[22].43,45,47 Jalan Melaka Raya 24,Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-281 1188 Fax: +60-6-281 1187 [23]. Rooms with all facilities with Astro satellite channel, internet broadband access, air-conditioned room. coffee/tea making facility, own hot/cold shower bathroom, near to shopping havel, food court and commercial and banking centre.

RM88.00 nett for Superior Twin/Double. Deluxe Room RM118.00 nett,Family Room RM148.00 nett.

Others

• Accordian Hotel, Malacca [24] 114 Jalan Bendahara, 75100, Melaka. Phone: +60-6-2821911 Fax: +60-6-2821333 [25]. 3 Stars. RM75-RM200.
• <sleep name="Atlantic Park Hotel" alt="" address="9830 Bukit Baru 75150 Melaka, Malaysia." directions="" phone="+60-6-2810989" email="[email protected]" fax="+60-6-2815894 " url="http://www.aphotelgroup.com" checkin="2pm" checkout="11am" price="from Rm68"></sleep>
• Eastern Heritage
• Hotel Grand Continental, 20, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100 Melaka room rates RM125-200.

Phone: (60 6) 2840 088

• Kancil Hotel, Malacca [26] 9833 Bukit Baru 75150 Melaka, Malaysia. Phone: +60-6-2843848 Fax: +60-6-2815894 [27]. 1 Star. RM48-RM100.
• Mimosa Hotel [28] 108 Jalan Bunga Raya, 75100 Melaka, Tel: +60-6-2821113. [29] RM98-232
• Putra Sayang Resort [30] Putra Sayang Resort, Pantai Padang Kemunting, Pengkalan Balak, 78300 Masjid Tanah, Melaka. Tel: +60-6-3848946, +60193894196. [31] Room rates from RM60 - RM200

Splurge

Heritage area and Melaka Raya

• Holiday Inn Melaka [32]. Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2859000. 4 stars. RM240-RM685
• Hotel Equatorial Melaka [33]. Jalan Parameswara, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2828333 [34]. 5 stars. RM410-RM3300.
• Mahkota Hotel Melaka [35]. Mahkota Hotel Melaka, Jalan Merdeka, 75000 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2812828. 4 stars. RM158-RM448
• <sleep name="D-Paradise Park and Resort" phone="603 - 4256 0381" url="http://www.d-paradise.com.my" price="Rates start at RM 550">D-Paradise is located in Malaysia's most historic State - Melaka allowing easy access by car. Only a one and a half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and a three and half hour drive from Singapore. The "Village Restaurants" will provide you with a selection of the best in international cuisine. Created with our tropical fruits in mind and inco-operating the flair of their well known head chef. D-Paradise Tropical Fruit World and Aboriginal Native Village - A "must see" when visiting either Singapore or Malaysia. 63, Jalan Solok Uban, Kampung Brisu, Lubok, China, Melaka 78100, Malaysia.</sleep>

Other areas

• Avillion Legacy Hotel [36]. 146, Jalan Hang Tuah, 75300 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2816868 [37]. 5 stars. RM165-RM1080.
• Renaissance Melaka Hotel [38]. Jalan Bendahara, 75100 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2848888. 5 stars.
• The Emperor Hotel [39]. 123, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, 75100 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2840777 [40]. 3 stars. RM90-RM500.
• The City Bayview Hotel. Jalan Bendahara, 75100 Melaka. Tel: +60-6-2839888 [41]. 4 stars.
• MITC Hotel Melaka [42]. Lot 15232 & 15233, Jalan Food City, Melaka International Trade Centre, Ayer Keroh.

WikiPedia:Malacca Town Dmoz:Asia/Malaysia/States and Federal Territories/Melaka/Localities/Malacca City/