Restaurants and Bars

The lure of good food is as much a part of Malacca's magnetism as its narrow streets, old shophouses and ruins of European empires. To many, Peranankan or Straits Chinese cuisine, that unique blend of Chinese and Malay cooking styles evolved from the social dynamics of colonial chapters, springs to mind instantly with all its trademark piquancy. However, a diversity of cuisines has also proliferated from the colorful historic and ethnic tapestry of this city. In other words, the choice is vast.

Peranakan

You can't think of Malacca without thinking Nonya cooking. Its influence is pervasive and lasting with its imprints found in a great many menus in this city. Hotel coffeehouses, cafes, even pubs frequently carry one or more Peranakan items as a main course, a light meal or finger food. Specialist restaurants are predictably abundant. Standards are competitive and differences are more of decor and premises. The nicely upholstered Seri Nyonya Peranakan Restaurant is highly accessible with superb service to boot. The Galleri Cafe leverages on the marvelous restoration of Hotel Puri to add great ambience to commendable food quality. For authenticity of locale, Restoran Peranakan comes up top with a setting that is as close to dining in an upper-class Straits Chinese home of the bygone era as it can possibly get. Over at Taman Melaka Raya Ole Sayang Restaurant and Manis Sayang Restaurant are popular with package tourists.

Malay

Malaccan satay is a speciality of this city. It is different from satay found elsewhere in the country because the accompanying sauce is based on belimbing (a small sour fruit) rather than peanuts. Good satay are found in the numerous hawker centres and corner coffeeshops across the city, among which Restoran Jahara rates as one of the best in the business. Likewise, some of the best authentic Malay fare hails from humble premises and surroundings. Try, for instance the Jalan Melaka Raya Food stalls located directly across the Makhota Parade shopping centre. Other close contenders include Restoran Anda and Restoran Sri Percik. The southern coastal suburb of Kelebang Besar is known especially for its grilled fish and seafood and many roadside stalls are open until late in the evening.

Indian

Good North and South Indian fare is in abundance and available for a song. The city's Indian commercial enclave revolves around the junction of Jalan Bendehara and Jalan Laksamana and there are several long-serving restaurants in the area. The Selvam Restaurant and Caterers, for instance, is a typical coffeeshop style of eatery offering both North Indian (Tandoori, chapati, paratha) and South Indian (rice served in banana leaves) delights. Elsewhere, Dutch Square, Restoran Veni and Banana Leaf Restaurant are old hands of the trade and rarely disappoint.

Chinese

A variety of Chinese dining options abound throughout the city. There is a meal and a locale to suit every taste and wallet. The grandest and the most richly priced are typically found in the swankiest hotels. Heading this list are Long Feng Chinese Restaurant and the Golden Phoenix. A dozen more of the lantern-adorned and auspiciously decorated temples of feast dot the district of Taman Melaka Raya. Most carry a more or less standard Cantonese-centric menu with the occasional specialty of the in-house chef. Hong Fook Restaurant ranks as one of the most well regarded and well patronised, with ong Hua Shark's fin Seafood Restaurant, Ocean Shark's Fin Seafood Restaurant and Restoran Keng-Dom providing earnest competition in a crowded segment.

Numerous Chinese vegetarian restaurants do a brisk business from a constant stream of visitors to the 300 temples in and around the city. The quality and imaginativeness of the dishes—ever tried vegetarian African Duck?—are capable of making temporary dietary converts out of even the most ardent meat lover. Chances are you will find something out of the ordinary and to your taste from among Mei Lin Vegetarian Restaurant, Yang Sheng Vegetarian Restaurant Sdn. Bhd., Ci Sin Vegetarian Restaurant and Jitseng Vegetarian Restaurant, at varying price points and comfort. Malacca is also particularly famed for a delicious variation of the chicken rice theme—chicken rice balls. The specialty here is the golf-ball sized flagrant rice balls, which are cooked to perfection in butter and ginger and served with a plate of succulent steamed chicken. Hoe Kee Chicken Rice is purportedly the inventor of the dish and operates from the same pre-war shophouse as it did 3 decades ago, while Famosa Chicken Rice Ball is a recent upmarket entry. In the Chinatown, Restoran Swee Kee serves a mean dish of the conventional Hainanese chicken rice.

Eurasian

Eurasian cuisine in Malacca revolves around a fusion of Portuguese and local cooking styles -- Devil's Curry and Kapitan Curry being its most prominent representation in the local food landscape. For a tasting, try Portuguese Restaurant in Taman Melaka Raya and Restaurante San Pedro at the Portuguese Square. The Heeren House Cafe too serves selected Portuguese fare for lunch and dinner.

Others

For Japanese food, Kampachi Restaurant is a safe bet. Korean fare is limited and a rare find is Ye Da Won Restaurant. Many hotel coffeehouses feature comprehensive yet eclectic menus comprising a good representation of local and Western selections. In particular, Rest House Cafe, Garden Cafe and Straits Cafe stand out. Besides the hotels, western cuisines—of the non-fast food variety—are served in many pub dining locations, where food, beers, music, dancing, MTV, games and even Karaoke often come in a single package. Indeed, travellers used to cosmopolitan tastes and lifestyles will find both food and ambience totally agreeable in a bevy of chic and happening haunts such as Discovery Cafe, Coconut House Studio, Restoran Hoi San, and Geographic Cafe.