Best hotels in Malacca: 8 incredible destinations for a weekend away

The 1825 Gallery Hotel is as much an art gallery as it is a tasteful, romantic hotel in Malacca. From humble beginnings as a flour storehouse, it is now a chic and interesting space showcasing fascinating artifacts in refurbished rooms that still boast the building’s original timber flooring and elegantly arched windows.

When you arrive at the hotel’s foyer, look up and take in a view of the sky through the Chinese-inspired sky-well. A wooden staircase leads to your room, where you’ll find a dark, moody bathroom complementing the lighter tones of the bedroom. Treat yourself to a River Suite for the best views of the water as well as a deep stone bath–a long soak at the end of the day works wonders on a tired body.

When it’s time to explore, step out of the hotel and onto the famous Malacca River Walk. Follow the flow of the river and take in the mix of architecture styles, street art, restaurants and bars. A 13-minute walk will bring you to Kampung Morten, an eye-popping village with more than 100 traditional Malay houses. When your belly starts rumbling, return to the Gallery for a long and lazy afternoon of canapés and wine at the on-site eatery.

For those seeking to check in to a Malacca hotel for a leisurely sleep, ibis Melaka claims to have beds so comfortable they’ll make you want to buy one for your own home. Wake each morning in generously sized rooms, then start the day under a refreshing rain shower before feasting on a buffet breakfast in the on-site restaurant.

Centrally located, this hotel puts you within walking distance of many of Malacca’s popular tourist attractions. St. Peter’s, the oldest operating Catholic Church in Malaysia, and Cheng Hoon Teng temple, built in 1673, are both a 10-minute stroll away.

A refreshing gin and tonic at the Ibis Lobby Bar is an ideal segue to dinner in Little India, an area teeming with shops and restaurants focused on Indian trading only two minutes away. Make your taste buds sing with banana leaf rice and roti specialities at Restoran Saravanna, or let the delicious aromas wafting through colourful streets lead you to your next meal.

The mini water park on the 9th floor of the Swiss-Garden Hotel is a hit with kids of all ages–and adults out for some fun! Add two Olympic-size pools, basketball and tennis courts and a glass-enclosed gymnasium and you’ve got one of the best hotels in Malacca for keeping the whole family happy.

After all that activity, Sky Garden restaurant on level 30 will certainly be calling. Settle into comfortable alfresco seating with a cocktail and signature dishes like baked lobster with cheese to take in the sunset as day gives way to the vibrant city lights at night. For a feast of infinite proportions, head to the hotel’s Garden Terrace for an international buffet dinner. Afterwards, your Family Suite will provide space for the kids to play before bed while you unwind with a nightcap on the sofa of your softly lit lounge room.

A good night’s sleep, followed by a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the hotel, will restore your energy for exploring the local area. With a 15-minute walk, you can get your fix of souvenirs and street food at the Jonker Street Night Market, explore a giant ship at the Maritime Museum or learn about Chinese explorer Zheng He at the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum.

If you want the vibrant Jonker Street Night Market to be right on the doorstep of your accommodation, book a room at Jonker Boutique Hotel. The hotel’s famously curved façade is located on the famed Jonker Walk, where you’ll have direct access to the culturally diverse fusion of food, shopping and cosy bars.

The three-storey hotel seamlessly combines the charm of original Art Deco light fittings and plaster arches with hardwood floors and leafy green plants in the foyer and courtyard. In select rooms, greet the day from your plush four-poster bed as sunlight streams in across ornate statement wallpaper (a great backdrop for selfies). After splashing your face in your cool, sharply black-and-white tiled bathroom, plan your day over a chilled coffee or sweet iced cendol at the on-site Jonker Café.

When you venture out to browse the knick-knacks of the neighbouring night markets, make sure to sample the food! Try the chicken rice balls (balls of rice cooked in spicy broth and served with tender chicken and signature sauces) before indulging in a smooth and satisfying coconut ice cream. For a change of pace, venture to Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia, and the Kampung Kling Mosque, both a 4-minute walk away.

The Ramada Plaza Melaka will greet you with a soaring ceiling and sparkling chandeliers, showcasing the international pedigree of this Malacca hotel. Getting around Malacca is easy when you’re a Ramada guest–just hop on the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service. When you’ve had your fill of shopping and exploring, return to the hotel and take a refreshing dip in one of the two pools. For a treat, book one of the Club Rooms and enhance your stay with a complimentary fruit platter, breakfast, cocktail and dessert.

A comfortable chair and a classic martini in the on-site Famosa Lounge, then dinner at the award-winning Long Feng Chinese Restaurant will put you into holiday mode. After a restful sleep in your plush bedding, begin exploring Malacca at Shore Shopping Gallery, a 5-minute walk away and an easy spot to access scenic river cruises and the monorail. If shopping and cruising aren’t for you, head to the second floor for the Shore Oceanarium, fun for the young and young at heart, or the 3D Interactive Park with its mind-blowing hologram theatre.

Get ready for serious shopping (with a side of luxury) when you check into Novotel Melaka. The contemporary rooms, styled in neutral tones with accents of red and sleek lighting, are steps away from some on-trend retail therapy. Book a room on the Premier floor and prepare for a day at the shops with a caffeine hit from your very own espresso maker, followed by a complimentary buffet breakfast.

The hotel is a five-minute walk from the legendary megamall, Dataran Pahlawan. Happily spend hours in the retail heaven of Malacca’s largest mall, with nine floors of shopping, eating and entertainment, then return to the hotel and cool your tired toes in the clear water of the pool surrounded by shaded sun loungers. Sip a freshly squeezed juice (or a cheeky mojito) from the poolside bar while any kids in tow splash in their own pool with water slides.

When you’ve had your fill of sun and sips, freshen up with a rain shower in your glass-walled bathroom, then sit back to soak in ocean or city views through your room’s full-length windows. As dinnertime approaches, order an in-room indulgence with a call to room service for local or international fare, or dine alfresco at the pool bar until 6 p.m.

You’ll feel like an Instagram celebrity at the on-trend Rosa Hotel Malacca – this Malacca hotel oozes chic, with raw brick and concrete, timber floors and flourishing plants for a distinctly urban jungle vibe. Select a pillow from the pillow menu when you first arrive to your super cool industrial room, then sink into the crisp cotton linen of your minimalist (yet luxurious) four-poster bed. Families will find spaces to suit here, too, as family suites provide beds for your little ones without sacrificing style–think exposed brick, statement slogan art and moody lighting.

Located in Malacca’s heart, cultural, historical and entertainment hot spots are within easy reach. Stroll five minutes to Malacca Funland, where a mirror maze, fantasy aquarium and virtual zoo are just some of the activities to keep the family entertained. There are plenty of dining options within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel, too. You can head to City Famous Seafood for a taste of the ocean, or indulge your sweet tooth at Bee Bee Pineapple Tart House. Alternatively, stay and chill in the chilled atmosphere of the hotel, where on-site Bica & Co will satisfy your cravings. Spice things up with bang bang chicken or a chili peanut tofu slider with tangy pickled onions and crunchy Asian slaw.

For a Malacca hotel break that combines sightseeing with relaxation, MOTY Hotel is your ideal accommodation. At just steps from the river, you’ll have easy access to the area’s river cruises for a leisurely afternoon on the water.

You can continue the aquatic theme back at the hotel, too, with a relaxing session in the steam room, sauna and whirlpool while the kids splash in the mosaic-style pool. Come dinner, drop into the on-site restaurant, MO TASTY, for authentic Japanese, Malaysian and Western delicacies like uramaki and prawn cutlets. You’ll want to swing back around in the morning as well for the hotel’s drool-worthy breakfast buffet.

You’ll find plenty of attractions within easy walking distance of the hotel here. Take a two-minute stroll for a hilariously disorienting visit to Upside Down House, a popular hit with kids and adults alike. Or for some fascinating local history, a 10-minute walk will take you to A’Famosa (the fort of Porta De Santiago), the remains of a settlement built by Europeans in 1511. When you’re tuckered out from all the sightseeing, you’ll welcome a return to your gold and polished wood-themed room for an early night in fresh, plush bedding–or you might opt to run a bath in your marble-themed ensuite while the kids hunker down in front of a satellite TV programme.