Chinatown - Melaka
Chinatown - Melaka
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Mansions, temples and antique shops are packed into the narrow streets of the lively Chinatown district.
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4.0
717 reviews
Excellent
203
Very good
307
Average
174
Poor
26
Terrible
7
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,521 contributions
Feb 2020
The Chinatown of Melaka is basically the north bank of the River Melaka after crossing the Tan Kim Seng Bridge from Dutch Square. As Chinatown goes, this is pretty typical, but the authenticity of this one is without question and the number of good eateries is as good as you’re ever going to get. Many of the attractions in Melaka are also in the Chinatown area, especially the more local/cultural museums. This place should be on every itinerary for Melaka.
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sayang98
Melbourne, Australia79 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
We were told when in Melaka, we have to try the "Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball". Well, with so many of the restaurants serving them, we were so glad, our local friends knew where to take us... to the original restaurant.
Written 18 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sadee raghavan
Subang Jaya, Malaysia201 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
I guess they call it Chinatown because of the Chinese who operate most, if not all of the stalls selling their wares. It is actually Jonker Walk, which houses "Chinatown". There are also eateries where you get very good authentic Baba-Nyonya food, which are owned by the Baba-Nyonya Community ( Peranakkan - ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya ).
They sell all kinds of unneeded junk here. Bargain before you buy anything. But first learn the Art of Bargaining please. Any Malaysian will teach you and some tourists who have travelled to the Far East, including my family in the U.S. and England...they're experts!
They sell all kinds of unneeded junk here. Bargain before you buy anything. But first learn the Art of Bargaining please. Any Malaysian will teach you and some tourists who have travelled to the Far East, including my family in the U.S. and England...they're experts!
Written 9 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicente8
Singapore243 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Chinatown Melaka is a prodigious place for discovery, food and entertainment. Sadly, most tourists are channeled to Jonker Walk (Jalan Hang Jebat) the backbone street of Chinatown, full of restaurants and souvenir shops. If you have some time, it is worth visiting the nearby streets. Each of them is specialized. Coming from the roundabout on the other side of the river (the Dutch square at the Southern tip of Chinatown), the street parallel to Jonker Walk on its left side (Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock) is full of fantastic museums, historical houses, art and Peranakan culture. The street parallel to Jonker Walk on its right side (Jalan Tokong) hosts an amazing series of beautiful temples and mosques from different religions, showcasing the rich multicultural past of the city. If you have more time, you should visit the next street on the right side of Jalan Tokong: You will find there a lot of wholesale shops, some untouched for many decades, selling all kind of goods from rattan to grocery, and some quiet good restaurant along the river.
Even more peaceful, the small lanes perpendicular to Jonker Walk are a favorite place for art studios, quaint restaurants, food specialties and traditional arts and crafts like tin plates and dim sum baskets. Take your time and enjoy the walk!
Even more peaceful, the small lanes perpendicular to Jonker Walk are a favorite place for art studios, quaint restaurants, food specialties and traditional arts and crafts like tin plates and dim sum baskets. Take your time and enjoy the walk!
Written 31 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China175,691 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
In addition to visiting the collection of attractions on and around St. Paul's Hill, its worth your time to cross the river and visit the Chinatown area of the old town center of Melaka.
The most interesting point of entry is Jonker Street, which has a great weekend market, some local restaurants, bars and many souvenir shops. The antique shops of the old days seem to have been mostly replaced with modern shopping experiences but thats ok.
You can also see a few interesting temples in the area, including Hokkien Huay Kuan Temple, directly on Jonker Street as well as a small collection found on Jalan Tukang, which is also called Harmony Street. Here you can find, in very close proximity, the Kampung Kling Mosque, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Sri Pogyatha Vinoyagar Moorthi (hindu) Temple.
Some decent museum visits can be made in Chinatown as well, including one of the most popular in the city, Baba & Nyonya Museum and the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum.
As for dining and coffee shops, we have much enjoyed stops at Nancy's Kitchen and the Calanthe Art Cafe during a recent trip and have had a couple of nice stops at Geographers Cafe on Jonker over the years, makes this a decent option as well. Other long-standing restaurants can be found in the area that are also worth consideration.
Overall, Chinatown in Melaka isn't as spectacular or eventful as other Chinatowns you might have visited elsewhere. However, its a nice inclusion in the Melaka scene and a place worth spending some time when visiting the city.
The most interesting point of entry is Jonker Street, which has a great weekend market, some local restaurants, bars and many souvenir shops. The antique shops of the old days seem to have been mostly replaced with modern shopping experiences but thats ok.
You can also see a few interesting temples in the area, including Hokkien Huay Kuan Temple, directly on Jonker Street as well as a small collection found on Jalan Tukang, which is also called Harmony Street. Here you can find, in very close proximity, the Kampung Kling Mosque, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Sri Pogyatha Vinoyagar Moorthi (hindu) Temple.
Some decent museum visits can be made in Chinatown as well, including one of the most popular in the city, Baba & Nyonya Museum and the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum.
As for dining and coffee shops, we have much enjoyed stops at Nancy's Kitchen and the Calanthe Art Cafe during a recent trip and have had a couple of nice stops at Geographers Cafe on Jonker over the years, makes this a decent option as well. Other long-standing restaurants can be found in the area that are also worth consideration.
Overall, Chinatown in Melaka isn't as spectacular or eventful as other Chinatowns you might have visited elsewhere. However, its a nice inclusion in the Melaka scene and a place worth spending some time when visiting the city.
Written 26 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ceciltong
Singapore70 contributions
Mar 2012 • Family
Jalan Bunga Raya has been a "must go" place on all our annual trips to Melaka over the last decade. The "must eats" include the chendol at Min Chong Ice House (in the afternoon), the roasted pork rice (for an early lunch) in the coffee shop at the end of the row of shop houses (on the same side of Hotel Mimosa but to its right if you are facing the front of the hotel), the wanton noodles (in the same coffeeshop) but only for late dinner/supper, the dessert stall in the lane besides this coffeeshop (but only for supper), the fried dough stall at the junction with the road leading to Renaissance Hotel, the chai tow kuay stall outside Madam King managed by a plumb brother/sister team (but only for supper). You cannot afford to miss any of these if you are a foodie.
Written 10 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mikesierra
Bourne, UK1,986 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
A world heritage location, there are two main streets in China Town; Jonker Street (now called Jalan Hang Jebat) and Heeren Street (now called Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock). Start a walk of Chinatown from Dutch Square crossing the river bridge, turn left and then right into Heeren Street, which dates back to the 1750's. Stop at Number 8 on the right hand side, which is a heritage restored merchant's house. Continue to the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. After the museum, continue along Heeren Street and turn right at the next junction. On reaching Jonker Street perhaps stop at the Geographer Cafe on the corner or turn right back towards Dutch Square. Take the next left, where you should see the green roof of the Kampung Kling Mosque. When you reach the mosque, you are in Temple Street. If you wish include a visit to the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple turn left or to return towards Dutch Square turn right. Allow 1-2 hours for this walk - or longer if you spend time in the museums.
Written 2 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tunching218
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia111 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
This place has become so commercialized over the past years. The nght market is just like any regular pasar malam and it is very hard to find the traditional Peranakan delicalies as in the past. Most of the products are overpriced ... including the food.
Written 11 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
larslindbeck
Cape Town Central, South Africa83 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
firstly, most people call the jonker street area china town. which is not correct. that area is more a baby nyonya area. the "real" china town is in jalan bukit cina. and if you have been to china towns in other parts of the world this one is not going to impress you. but don't be to quick to judge it a non visiting zone. if you do like curiosa and want to buy something small or big to bring back home, china town could be a much better place to pick up a bargain than jonker street area where most antique shops are a bit overprised.
Written 9 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
teenagesab_87
Melaka, Malaysia307 contributions
Sept 2012 • Family
Shop till you drop. Eat till explode. =) Great for food hunters and photography lovers. Buy local delicaies like Aik Cheong Coffee (near Jonker Stage), pineapple tarts, chinese cookies, Nyonya delicacies, etc.
Written 20 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would like to know if the shops in Malaka will be open during eve of Chinese New year, as I am planning a 3 day 2 nite family trip to malaka during the period of 6feb(Sat) to 8feb 2016(Mon)
Written 28 December 2015
Hello Friend
As the majority of the shops are owned by the Chinese, it is most likely that the shops at Chinatown will be closed during the lunar new year. Advised not to visit Chinatown during the new year. At other times of the year the place is crowded during the evenings on Friday, Sat and Sun.
However the Chinatown in Singapore is open on New Year's eve and closed during the lunar new year for a week.
Written 30 December 2015
Jankay16
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Will Jonker walk be closed for traffic on 01/01/15 for the night market?
Written 30 December 2014
Hi there sorry i hv just accessed my email...really no idea abt that as i was also a tourist....anyway thks for asking n hapi new yr to u ..
Written 5 January 2015
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