One of the Malacca’s most celebrated dishes is chicken rice balls, and at Kedai Kopi Chung Wah, a coffee shop specialising in this delight, it is serious business. Conveniently located in Jonker Walk, Kedai Kopi Chung Wah sits right opposite the giant San Shu Gong outlet, at the end of the row of shop lots at Jalan Hang Jebat. Interior-wise, the eatery embraces the Malaysian-style coffee shop decor – wooden chairs and marble-top tables occupy the floor space, with hawker stalls being used as workstations where food is prepared. As with a lot of local eats, prices are inexpensive with a plate of five balls, steamed chicken and drinks going for about RM11 per person. With lines of eager diners outside the property throughout its opening hours, Chung Wah is immensely popular, and for all the right reasons.
Learn MoreLocated in a narrow alley just off the well-known Jonker Street, Calanthe Art Cafe is like a quiet oasis, even though the decor doesn’t quite say the same thing. It is vibrantly furnished with eclectic and creative touches such as rattan furniture hanging from the ceiling, hand-painted walls, and little trinkets on shelves throughout the property. With the tagline ‘The First and Only One’, Calanthe Art Cafe serves specialty coffee drinks from all the 13 states of the country, so if you’re an adventurous coffee aficionado, this is definitely something you want to try. As for their food items, Calanthe Art Cafe specialises in local food, and does so expertly, as it was listed in top 50 best laksa outlets in Malaysia by the Malaysian Tourism Body. Laksa is a Nyonya spicy noodle soup, and the cafe’s version is loaded with ingredients such as tofu puffs, fried bean curd skin, eggs strips and fishcake slices, all in flavourful coconut gravy infused with lemongrass, turmeric and spices.
Learn MoreNancy's Kitchen has long been the number one place to go for good Nyonya food in Jonker Walk, and it isn’t hard to see why. Its atmosphere isn’t at all pretentious - it's like stepping into a friendly neighbour's dining room for some delicious food, and dishes come piping hot from the kitchen.
Learn MoreSituated idyllically by the Malacca River, Hard Rock Café Malacca has a similar layout (outdoor and indoor seating areas, a bar, and a live stage) to the rest of the chain’s outlets worldwide, with a Straits Malacca-inspired patterned floor for a distinctively Malaccan flavour to the decor. With portions large enough to share, food at Hard Rock Cafe Malacca is certainly meant for big parties, or for those with large appetites. Either way, its usual Tex-Mex menu consists of well-known items such as sandwiches, ‘Smokes’ (barbecued chicken and beef ribs) and Legendary burgers, with an addition of Malaysian favourites such as the ‘Percik’ burger (juicy burger patty with a paste of Malaysian spices), the seafood char kuey teow and asam pedas fish. A separate kids’ menu is also available for the young ones, and its dessert options are to die for: laden with premium ice cream Haagen Dazs, they will certainly top off a great dining experience.
Learn MoreThe Baboon House is a quaint cafe with a great laidback vibe – complete with an open-air courtyard and greenery snaking up the walls, spacious seating arrangements, eclectic furnishings, and visitors are often greeted by the owner’s adorable pet dog and cat. The Baboon Houses’s peaceful and cosy environment is a pleasant contrast to the busy lanes of Jonker Street, making it the perfect eatery to go for a taste of American cuisine with authentic Malaccan hospitality. Portions served at The Baboon House are slightly bigger than most burger joints, so sharing is encouraged. We highly recommend the ultra creamy Vietnamese drip-coffee with your choice of homemade chicken, beef or pork hamburgers. While waiting to be served, visitors can browse the ethnic crafts on sale or simply relax on a swing chair by the greenery area.
Learn MoreSituated within the Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum, Café 1511 retains many Peranakan elements such as high ceilings, arched doorways and tiled floors as well as a hotchpotch of Southeast Asian ornamental objects. After visiting the Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum, it is almost compulsory for visitors to savour some authentic delicacies before exploring the sights and sound of Jonker Street.
Learn MoreEleven Bistro and Restaurant is located along Jalan Hang Lekir, which is about 200 metres away from Jonker Street. The restaurant is very spacious compared to most of the restaurant in Jonker Street and is adorned with vintage decorations and furniture.
Learn MoreHarper’s Café is one of Malacca’s best known restobars. Serving up an excellent (though limited) menu of Malay-European fusion fare, its focus is on its seafood selections. Elegant and breezy, the upstairs bar/lounge commands excellent views of the Malacca River. The café has a very laid back, New Orleans’ vibe with simple décor: dark wood floors, cosy chairs, tables set right beside large French windows almost touching the river, with decorative ceiling fans and chandeliers. For mains, we recommend the stuffed chicken breast sautéed in a leek-and-mushroom sauce and pepper-crusted chicken breast with creamy polenta. If you are in the mood to try Harper’s Café’s seafood selection then go for the Japanese-style baked salmon with baba ganoush (eggplant mashed and mixed with olive oil and various seasoning) and pickled zucchini or sample the red snapper.
Learn MoreGeographer Cafe is an award-winning, corner lot pub with lots of flair for a Malaccan nightlife joint. Set in a traditional, pre-war Malaccan shop-house in Chinatown, the beautifully preserved building is a historical artefact in itself. Decorated with natural greenery, quirky decor, a trendy bar that dominates the interior, high tables and chairs, Geographer Cafe has been attracting a steady clientele for years. Wooden tables and chairs rest on wooden floors, while the walls are adorned with all manner of global paraphernalia and random antiques sit on a shelf. A miniscule courtyard offers air and light, with an upstairs dining area, an inside dining area, and a more open, casual seating area with a bar in the frontage, Geographer Cafe offers plenty of space while maintaining a cosy and intimate ambience for its loyal visitors.
Learn MoreA kooky lime green-painted bistro with a definite upmarket ambiance, Limau-Limau Café is set opposite Kampung Kling Mosque. Soft jazz music and ice cold pints make it a favourite spot to while away the afternoon: in fact a lot of its customers seem reluctant to leave when their food and drinks are finished. There is a selection of pastas on offer but the array of inventive sandwiches comes highly recommended: try the mango and chicken foccacia or dragon fruit and chicken sandwich. Meanwhile there is also a range of pancake offerings and undeniably popular are the banana pancakes drizzled with honey and served with two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream. Drinks available include a variety of beers on tap, 100% fruit blends (including lychee and lemon, apple and asam boi, dragon fruit and lychee, plus lots more) as well as a delicious selection of coffees and teas.
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