Heeren Mansion is located in genteel Heeren Street and away from the kerfuffle of Jonker (Photo: SooPhye)
Whether for work, play or an impromptu getaway, Melaka ticks all the right boxes — and then some. Here are our top suggestions.
Heeren Mansion
Located in genteel Heeren Street and away from the kerfuffle of Jonker is an elegant, newly done up Melakan house aptly named Heeren Mansion. Long and narrow as all old Dutchera houses tend to be — so designed in order to cunningly avoid paying exorbitant taxes as the government of the time tended to levy tax based on the width, and not the length, of one’s dwelling — Heeren Mansion was conceptualised by chatelaine Jennifer Ker, who is also a stylist and interior designer, as a place where family and friends could come together to rest, relax and enjoy all that this Unesco World Heritage Site has to offer on their very doorstep.
Four sumptuously appointed rooms, each sleeping two adults and dressed in a different theme and colour, command the entire first level while the ground floor spans from the stunning tua thia (reception hall), a courtyard with a Moorish-inspired water feature, a stunning lounge with a baby grand piano and a 15-foot long bar, a formal dining room with a th’ng tok (long table) and a living room that overlooks a most-welcome modern addition: a swimming pool with a Jacuzzi.
The entire ground level is ideal for hosting events and parties and can accommodate 50 people comfortably. For families looking to rent the entire space for a little getaway, Heeren Mansion also thoughtfully comes with two parking spaces just outside the back entrance (a boon if you are familiar with Melaka on weekends) and 24-hour security.
To enquire about rates or a full villa takeover, message them via Instagram here.
Rosa Malacca
New York loft and warehouse vibes meet steampunk in this little hipster haven that is also conveniently close to one of Melaka’s top purveyors of dodol and pineapple tarts; just walk up the road until you get to Bee Bee Pineapple Tart House at 307A, Jalan Parameswara. But we digress. Once you get over Rosa’s rustic chic, choose from 60 guest rooms spread over a few different floors. Raw materials are the order of the day here, with clay bricks, cement rendering, upcycled wood, visible ductwork and piping, and exposed support beams all coming together to combine form and function. For those travelling in a small group, consider the spacious, open-plan family suite, which easily sleeps six adults. Sounds like a slumber party in the making already!
212, Jalan Parameswara, Kampung Bandar Hilir. Book here.
The Majestic Malacca
Built in the 1920s as the former mansion of a local tycoon, The Majestic Malacca is ideal for those looking to experience Melaka from a chic colonial point of view. The perfectly formed little bar (be sure to order a special cocktail using Tanqueray’s Malacca edition gin or check out its interactive gin cart), restaurant and lounge make up the heart of the hotel while the 54 rooms and suites (all with dreamy four-poster beds and clawfoot bathtubs) are all housed in a separate new annexe. What makes The Majestic Malacca stand out is its therapeutic haven known as Spa Village Malacca. Do not miss the unique treatments all inspired by the beauty and wellness rituals of the Baba-Nyonya, particularly the Suam-Suam Panas, a warming treatment that includes a body scrub using gula melaka and honey, a rolling massage with nutmeg and rice, a pandan-coconut hair mask and a bird’s nest facial with fermented tapioca.
188, Jalan Bunga Raya, Pengkalan Rama. Book here.
Ames Hotel
Just five minutes’ drive from the Ayer Keroh toll off the North-South Expressway, the Ames Hotel is ideal for those visiting Melaka on business or for leisure. The hotel is conveniently near the Melaka International Trade Centre and government offices while families with young children will appreciate the Ames’ proximity to Melaka Zoo and Night Safari, Melaka Bird Park, Wonderland Theme Park, Melaka Planetarium and World’s Bees Museum. The 13-storey five-star business hotel itself offers 302 well-appointed guest rooms and suites as well as all the facilities you’d expect, including 24-hour gymnasium, swimming pool, kids’ pool, yoga studio, a rooftop moon bar, restaurants and a pillar-less grand ballroom that can accommodate 800 people. A luxury spa inspired by the healing traditions of the people of the Silk Road is expected to open soon.
Jalan Pkak 2, Pusat Komersial, 75450 Ayer Keroh. Book here.
Courtyard by Marriott Melaka
Located right next to St Peter’s Church and the shortest of drives to the heritage heart of old Melaka, the Courtyard by Marriott hotel is ideal for whatever reason it is that brings you to one of Malaysia’s most charming and historic cities. With almost 300 rooms offering either views of the city or the Straits of Malacca, there is enough to keep you occupied without even leaving the property. The infinity pool on Level 8 is undoubtedly a main draw but do know that sights like the Stadthuys and the shopping and great eats of Jonker Street are but a short walk or drive away.
Lorong Haji Bachee, Kampung Bukit China. Book here.
Baba House
The Baba House’s location right in Heeren Street is pretty unbeatable, being mere doors away from the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, the Chee Ancestral Home and Tun Tan Cheng Lock House. There are several bileks (rooms) done up in a charming Peranakan style and you don’t even have to wander out to enjoy authentically delicious cuisine, which is served up daily at the Mari Chiak restaurant, local patois for “Let’s eat”. If you are a thirsty traveller, don’t miss checking out the Kaki Minom bar. There is also a bilek bacha (library), banquet hall, function rooms and rooftop tanning pools while the lounge boasts live music and the courtyard is an outdoor cinema on selected days.
121-127, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Taman Kota Laksamana. Book here.
Liu Men
Its name means “six doors” in Mandarin, paying homage to the Liu Men’s former life as six separate shophouses which sheltered six families in Melaka’s Jalan Tokong before WWII. After the end of the Japanese occupation and life resumed a semblance of normalcy, the families left to create new lives and a new family moved in, occupying all six lots and transforming them into a stunning home. Recently restored and, once again undergoing transformation, the Liu Men is now one of Melaka’s most stunning heritage hotels, fusing Art Deco and Baba-Nyonya aesthetics. Breakfast is served in an indoor courtyard where the eyes can’t help but be drawn to the wrought-iron spiral staircase. There are four grand suites and 30 rooms to choose from, each promising to imprint your stay with a uniquely Melakan touch.
46-56, Jalan Tokong, Kampung Dua. Book here.
Casa Del Rio
Located right on the banks of the Melaka River, Casa del Rio is a luxurious five-star property owned by the same group behind the Lakehouse in Cameron Highlands, the Boathouse in Phuket and Casa del Mar in Langkawi. Guests love the Mediterranean-inspired design of the hotel, complete with fountain and piazza, and its proximity to the food and culture Melaka is so famous for. It is just two minutes’ walk from Jonker Street. There are two-bedroom suites available, ideal if you are travelling in a bigger group, and the on-site Satkara Spa is perfect for aching feet and weary bodies after a hard day playing tourist. The hotel also has its own fleet of bicycles for rent. Given how difficult it can be to score a parking lot, un velo might be just what you need to explore the city in style.
88, Jalan Laksamana, Taman Kota Laksamana. Book here.
This article first appeared in The Edge Melaka magazine (Sept 11, 2023 issue).
