[Melaka] Bayou Lagoon Park Resort

Accommodation type: Resort/Hotel
Price range: RM175-RM600
General highlights: Exclusive water park
Facilities: Spa, Multi-level carpark, convention centre, indoor amusement game centre, 3D theater
Address: Bayou Lagoon Park Resort, Jalan Wakaf Utama, Bukit Katil, 75450 Melaka
Phone number: 06-233 0888
URL: http://www.bayoulagoon.com.my/

The Bayou Lagoon Park Resort changed its management a year ago. One of its main features is the exclusive water park which attracts visitors from all around the nation. The resort also offers an indoor game room, 3D theater and a large convention centre that fit 3000 pax.

The good features about this resort are its various room types. You can choose from a studio apartment, 2 bedroom apartment, 3 bedroom apartment or the penthouse. No matter your family size, you are able to find an apartment that fit your party. Also, it has 3 blocks of apartments. Chances of getting a place during peak time is high.


However, it is also a nightmare to visit this resort during peak time. The hotel is under-staffed. As we enter the lobby at 12pm to check in, the reception area is chaotic. When we get the keys and heading to our room, dishes are left outside the hotel room corridor. There were no staff to attend to the mess until 4pm. The waterpark is not big enough to accommodate the guests when it is fully booked.


The location of the resort is out of the normal tourist spots. You will need your own transport to access to other locations as the resort is away from the rest of the world. Food is also limited. The most convenient way for a quick meal is to dine at the hotel restaurant.


It is a family resort. We would recommend it for parents that needed a quick getaway for their kids. It is also a great place for house party. Avoid school holiday season as it would be a peak time for the hotel. 

[Melaka] Eleven Bistro & Restaurant

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Price range: RM15 - RM80 per dish
Halal/Non-halalAmbience: Restaurant
Style of cooking: Fusion of Portuguese and Nyonya
Address: 11, Jalan Hang Lekir, Melaka
Business hours: Daily; 11:00am - 2:00am

Located on the smaller alley next to the crowded Jonker Walk, Eleven Bistro is very easy to locate. Just look out for Geographer Cafe and turn into the alley. The unique selling point about this restaurant is the ambience. It is a place where visitors come to relax in a family-pub environment, and at the same time able to enjoy some Malaccan food.


The style of cooking at Eleven Bistro is also something different. Unlike other Malaccan restaurants that serve authentic Portugues or authentic Nyonya food, this restaurant merge the two styles of cooking, such as improvising a traditional Portuguese dish using typical Nyonya ingredients. The locals may find it hard to accept as they are accustomed to what is "authentic Portuguese" or "authentic Nyonya" cuisine. If you put aside your criticism and just enjoy the food as it is, you will find it full of characteristics.


We had the opportunity to sample most of their popular dishes and we can conclude that their signature dishes are recommended to order. It is best to skip those common dishes and save your stomach space for better options.

Hai San Baked Fish (RM40-RM70). Don't be fooled by the spicy gravy of the dish. It isn't as spicy as it seems. This dish is a must to order.

Creamy Garlic Mussels (RM15/RM25) cooked with butter and cream with a little taste of curry leaves.

Salted Egg Crab (RM80-RM100 for 2 crabs). The way of preparing salted egg crab is entirely different from other places. The crabs are tossed in salted egg gravy. Make sure you ask the waitress if it is crab season when you are ordering.

Fried fish roe (price not available). Be warned that this dish is extremely high in cholestrol. We love this dish for the generous amount of fish roe in each bite. The batter is crispy and crunchy, while the fish roe melts in your mouth. Every bite is so sinful, yet so satisfying.

Gula Melaka Chicken Wing (RM15 for 3 pieces). The chicken wings are marinated in local gula melaka (palm sugar) and santan (coconut milk). This dish is one of the special ones that you cannot find elsewhere. Best taken with a pint of chilled beer.

Gula Melaka Crab (RM80-RM100 for 2 crabs). The crabs are cooked in local palm sugar and tossed with shredded coconut flakes.

Portuguese Dable Curry Chicken (RM15/RM25). This is a typical Portuguese Devil's curry chicken. Not as spicy as it looks, but it can be intimidating for foreign tongues.

Salted egg squid (RM15/RM25). Not in menu. The normal way of preparing salted egg squid is to toss in the squids into a salted egg batter and deep fry it until golden. We didn't expect to see the squid served in salted egg gravy. The squids are cooked in perfection - not too chewy.


What we love about Eleven Bistro is their adventurous style of cooking. The dishes can be a hit or miss, depending on what you order. Do ask for recommendation to be safe. The prices are reasonable too. 

[Melaka] Freeport A'Famosa Outlet

Type: Shopping
Opening hour: Daily; 10:00am - 10:00pm
Address: Jalan Kemus, Simpang Ampat, Alor Gajah, Melaka
URL: http://www.freeportafamosa.com/


Something new to bring you out of the usual jam-packed town area while visiting Melaka. The Freeport A'Famosa Outlet (FAO) is now fully operating with more than 100 fashion brands under the roof. Strategically located within the vicinity of A'Famosa Resort, the FAO is 5 minutes away from Simpang Ampat toll (if you are traveling to Melaka from North-South Highway) which is far away from the congested traffic in town.


FAO is a marriage between Freeport (an investor, asset manager and operator for portfolio of European outlet centres) and Langkah Reality Sdn. Bhd. The current operation is only the first phase of a total 3 phase project. The first phase is good enough to attract shopaholics to keep coming back with the unbelievable deals.

The retail concept reflects the Dutch elements based on the Melaka's historical value. Designed by leading Australian architect, LGM Architecture, the retail shops are all in single-storey and open-air construction is pretty unique compared to other retails in Malaysia.


Current brands that are available at FAO:

• Nike
• Forever 21
• Levi's
• Triumph
• Clarks
• Rip Curl
• Carlo Rino
• Moodboard
• Sacoor Brother
• Puma
• Crocs
• Luv Lux
• Esprit
• Cotton On
• Cosas United
• Narquirkee
• G2000
• Curiosity
• Only
• Vero Moda
• Sketchers
• Florsheim
• Samsonite
• Sembonia
• Elle
• Folli Follie
• Stay Fit
• Poney
• Aviva
• Nature Republic
• Daphne
• Melinda Looi
• Camel Active
• Geox
• Aivoria
• Wonder Rococo by Candy Flowers
• IL Fragrance
• City Chain
• L Celebs
• U.S. Polo Assn.

... and many more opening soon!

One of the must-visit store at FAO is the 57th Street by Zang Toi Cafe. This is the very first Zang Toi Cafe in Melaka. Take a sip of their signature Zang Toi's Tea Punch after a long day shopping to refresh yourself.

For something more energizing, you can opt for a shot of espresso from Dr. Cafe coffee cart.

While the prices are cheap and amazing deals in every shop, be reminded that most items are passed season. There is only one luxury boutique, which is Luv Lux, located near the windmill. The boutique carries brands such as Stella McCartney, Moschino, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Tods, Miu Miu and Sergio Rossi. The best deal we spotted was Moschino handbag for only RM700+. It was a steal!

We recommend you to visit FAO when visiting Melaka, especially to shopaholics who are looking for bargains. Don't miss out the chance to grab the attractive offers that you can't get in regular retails.

Some of the shopping tips for you:

In case of crowded carpark, go into A' Famosa Resort and park near the Cowboy Town. There is a small access at the side of the carpark to the main road. You can walk along the main road to reach FAO. It's about 1 minute walk, which is not as bad as getting stuck in the carpark with no space to park your car.

Wear flat shoes! There will be a lot of walking. And also bring some water, just in case.

Some stores allow you to keep your haul at the counter before check out. You can scout the entire place first before settle for the best. If you decided to let go of your haul, do have the courtesy to tell the cashier. 

The FAO is a single storey construction. It is pram and wheelchair friendly.

[Melaka] Lemon8 Hotel Apartment

Accommodation type: Boutique Hotel
Price range: RM98-RM300
Facilities: Carpark, Family lounge
Address: No.21, Jalan PB 1B, Taman Puncak Bertam, 75250 Melaka
Phone number: 06-332 2662 / 013-513 5138

Humble lobby at the entrance

It is no surprise if you find all accommodations fully booked in the weekend when in Melaka. The demand for hotel rooms exceeding the supply (we are talking about a comfortable crash pad). If you have your own transportation and don't mind traveling out of town, Lemon8 Hotel Apartment is one recommended place for you to put up a night.

Crips clean room

What we love about this hotel are the flexibility, most strict rules that you are accustomed to at hotels are negotiable with the management. For example, check-in/out time can be adjusted according to your itinerary and number of persons allowed in an apartment is not confined to certain limit.

A room perfect for small family

This hotel is managed by Sayang-Sayang which is a well-established hotel chain in Melaka. In terms of cleanliness standard, hotel management, and quality of stay you will not be disappointed.

Standard bathroom

The price of the apartments and rooms are attractive. Budget traveler will find this place a haven, especially when traveling in a big group. The 3-bedroom apartment can accommodate up to 6 people for only RM298. The apartment is equipped with basic living room and kitchen utensils. With interior and decor set up by the management, the apartment gives a feeling of home away from home.

Double room - RM98
Triple room - RM138
Family room - RM168
2 Room Apartment - RM248
3 Room Apartment - RM298
VIP room - RM118

Family lounge

However, what this hotel lack of is the location. It is located about 16km away from the usual tourist spot - Jonker Walk. You will need your own transport to get around. The surroundings of the hotel area is also not appealing. There is no mini mart nearby where you can get your quick fix for snack or coffee. The hotel does not provide food as well. 

[Melaka] Machap Baru Night Market Food Stalls

If you are a seasoned traveler to Melaka and Jonker Street don't attract you much, try to expand your visitation to Machap Baru Night Market. Machap was a sleepy Chinese town located about 30km away from the city. Recently, netizens are posting up photos and comments on this hidden gem, attracting tourists from around the globe to visit this small town. The journey to Machap will bring you across a long and winding road along palm oil estate. It is only accessible if you have a car and one can easily get lost in the jungle without proper guidance of GPS.


Expect to find about 100+ food stalls at the Machap Baru Night Market. All the food stalls fully operate by 6pm on weekends only. However, we would advise you to be there earlier to avoid human traffic. It is also easier to look for parking places if you reach earlier. At the entrance of the night market, you will be greeted with the fragrance of chao tofu (fermented beancurd). It can be a pleasant smell or a total turn off, depending on your preference for chao tofu.


Most of the stalls have Chinese signboard and the sellers speak very little English. The scene painted a feeling of being in a Taiwanese night market. Occasionally you can find the elders singing oldies on a small stage at the T-junction.


The recommended foods at the Machap Night Market are red noodle (hong min), salted mustard vegetables bun (mui choy pao), fried durian, petai glutinous rice (petai lomaikai) and mushroom bun.

The red noodle is made of handmade noodles soaked in char siew broth and served with char siew, fish balls and fish cakes. The taste leans toward sweet and salty. Also try the dog's ear wanton soup from the same stall. Be warned that the queue can be very long and tables are limited. Some patrons are seen enjoying their meal standing on the side of the street.

There are two bun stalls that have the same name. Due to the signage in Chinese, we are unable to provide the name. Both located a distance away from each other to grab the attention of the different crowd at different places. Their specialty is the mui choy bao (salted mustard vegetable bun). It was not disappointing. Best served hot.

Another must-try food is the fried durian. The owner prepares the delicacy from the famous and rare musang king durian. Be reminded that the fried durian cake is not cheap. It cost about RM12 for 5 small pieces.

Also at the same stall, you can find the infamous petai lomaikai glutinous rice with petai). Unfortunately we are not able to comment on the fried durian and petai lomaikai due to our preference not to have it. But we do receive plenty of comments that they are good.

Another unique specialty here is the mushroom bun which resembles real mushrooms. The bun is soft on the outside and has melting mushroom cream filling. If you are a fan of mushroom, don't miss this out.

We notice that the stall owners are very creative in their food presentation. You can find amusing food such as panda bun, watermelon juice inside watermelon shell, coconut ice cream served in coconut shell and many more.

Food lover, you are highly recommended to visit the Machap Baru Night Market. The rows of food stalls will leave you plenty of choices. Don't settle for them too soon. Take a stroll along the street until you decide on what to have.


This place is not Instagramable-friendly due to lack of lighting. Put your phone aside and just enjoy the food.

For tourists, we wish you good luck in searching for the place. Search for 2.3818° N, 102.3298° E on your GPS.

[Melaka] Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball

Rating: 4 out of 5

Price range: RM20+ for two

Halal/Non-halal

Ambience: Restaurant

Style of cooking: Malaysian local (Asian)

Recommended order: Chicken rice ball, steamed chicken, assam fish

Address: 4, 6 & 8, Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka

Business hour: Mon - Fri 9:30am til 5:30pm; Sat & Sun 9:30am til 7:30pm

If having chicken rice ball is in your Melaka bucketlist but you can't tolerate the queue at the famous Kedai Kopi Chung Wah, the next best thing is the Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball. Located just ten steps away, this restaurant is a pretty good substitute, not to mention, more down to earth with the friendly smiles from the servers. Another alternative would be Famosa Chicken Rice Ball which appears to be more commercialized that Chung Wah and Hoe Kee.

Although this restaurant serves most of the spilled over customers who gave up queuing at Chung Wah, the taste is comparable, though not as highly praised. Hoe Kee also offers variety of side dishes which you can't find in their competitor's restaurant next door. Dishes like kiam chai boey (leftover dishes cooked in assam brooth), assam fish head, lotus roots soup, black bean soup and fried cabbage are among the frequent orders besides the famous chicken rice ball.


A standard single person order is equivalent to 5 rice balls and a quarter steamed chicken. For extra rice, additional 2 rice balls will be served. For RM20 or less, you can get a pretty decent chicken rice ball meal for two.

Historically, plantation workers shape their rice into balls to keep the rice warm, convenient to carry into the jungle and easy to eat. Now we enjoy the chicken rice balls for its aesthetic purpose more than practicality. 

Have you tried the chicken rice balls? Let us know what you think of it in the comment below.

[Melaka] Root Patisserie Cafe

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Price range: RM8 to RM30

Halal / Non-halal: Pork free

Ambience: Cafe

Style of cooking: Dessert

Recommended order: Churros, Savory Mushroom Muffin

Address: No. 57, Jalan KL 3/8, Taman Kota Laksamana Seksyen 3, 75200, Melaka, Malaysia

Phone number: +610-8856659 (Trisha Tan)

URL: https://www.facebook.com/root.patisserie.cafe?fref=ts

Business hour: 1.00 pm - 6.00 pm, 7.30 pm - 11.30 pm (Closed on Tuesday)

 

Whenever we are craving for dessert, we go straight to Root Patisserie Cafe!  

This little humble cafe is the brainchild of a married couple who both are experienced hotel pastry chef prior opening this cafe. Everything you see on the menu is made from scratch, with love. They are pretty adamant to only serve the freshest dessert to patrons. 

Root Patisserie Cafe is the only dessert-oriented cafe in Melaka. They serve wide variety of sweet & savoury treats and pastry on rotation basis, including éclair, macaron, short bread, panna cotta, croissant, rainbow cake, churros and anything they feel like it. A few of the permanent items are rainbow cake, kaffir cheese cake and chocolate snickers cake. I bet you have a hard time making up your mind as everything seems luring in the display!

Well, if you need some suggestion, you can't go wrong with their Cinnamon Churros (RM 13), served with tangy custard and chocolate sauce! It is crisp on the outside yet chewy on the inside, very very addictive. The Kaffir Lime Cheesecake (RM 12) infused with a hint of curry leaves is something different from what other cafes offer. We also enjoy their Rose Macaron (RM 4.80) which are not cloying at all and Red Wine Soft Chocolate (RM 5.50), 70% dark chocolate infused with red wine. If you do not have a sweet tooth, you may opt for their fulfilling Savory Mushroom Muffin (RM 12.80), studded generously with mushroom and tomato.

Coffee and hot chocolate are pretty decent. If coffee is not up your alley, try their refreshing Lychee Blueginger and Cucumber Lemon Tea, thirst quenchers on a hot day!

If you ever plan to work from this cafe, do not expect to be productive because the aroma of freshly baked pastry is going to distract you from thinking properly #truestory.

[Melaka] OldTown Grand

Rating: 3 out of 5

Price range: RM8 to RM30

Halal/Non-halal

Ambience: Cafe

Style of cooking: Asian & Western

Recommended order: OldTown Nasi Lemak, OldTown Sotong Sambal Petai

Address: No. 25, Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/15, Taman Kota Laksamana, Melaka 75200, Malaysia  

Phone number: 06-2882211

URL: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Town-Grand/792027277547343

Business hour: 9.30am - 12.30am (Open daily)

As the name suggests, OldTown Grand is indeed grandeur in term of ambiance. Push open the wooden door and you'll be instantly mesmerized by its vintage English interior. We adore the cozy couches and it seems like an ideal place to spend a lazy afternoon, with a good book on hand. This OldTown Grand is associated with the adjacent Premium Hotel and is the second Grand outlet in Malaysia, with the first in Ipoh. 

The menu is slightly different from the ordinary OldTown where premium ingredients are included into dishes at an affordable price. 

The signature OldTown Nasi Lemak (RM 16.80) certainly lives up to expectation and more. Nicely plated fluffy fragrant santan rice accompanied with satay, lekor (fish fritters), turmeric fried drumstick and the usual sides. Almost everything on the plate are done right, except the dry and hard drumstick. 

From the Western menu, the OldTown All Day Platter (RM 13.60) and SUPREME Fish & Chips Platter are slightly lackluster compared to the Asian dish. They tasted rather mediocre with no oomph factor. 

Obviously there are some hits and misses when it comes to the food. For first timer, to play safe, try ordering from the Asian Rice & Noodle menu. 

And a meal is never complete without a cup of their aromatic white coffee at OldTown, Grand or not.

The service is top notch during our visit at late noon. However, a revisit at night is such a let down. The order was messed up and dishes take forever to be served. Try visiting at a non-peak hour to avoid disappointment. The management shall consider adding a call button on each table as some seatings at corner are unnoticeable.

It is not difficult to spot OldTown Grand, however if you need some direction advice, OldTown Grand is located behind Bei Zhan Restaurant, the white Chinese restaurant. 

[Melaka] Puri Padi Home Decor Center

The welcoming front yard of Puri Padi always attracts a second glance from passerby. After a tired walk around Jonker Street, one can be thrilled to see Puri Padi, mistakenly assume it as a spa because of the Balinese decoration.

Puri Padi (located next to Geographer Cafe at Jonker Street) is a Balinese accented home decor center cum clothing boutique. The display in the shop housed items ranging from cushions, household fittings, clothing, accessories, leather handbags, tapestries, wooden furniture, sculptures and other interior decoration items and handicrafts which are sourced from all over South East Asia.

Step into the shop and you will be transported to Ubud immediately. The serene and calm ambience separates the world in Puri Padi from the hustle and bustle human traffic outside. If you are looking for a specific decoration item for your Balinese themed house, this is the place to be. Or simply stroll along the towers of Buddha's head to find some interior design inspiration.

The prices are not as fair as what you can get in Bali, but it does make up to the shipping. It is reasonable to purchase one or two items. However, if you are remaking your entire house into a Balinese pad, it is still advisable for you to source them directly from Indonesia. Tips for those who are planning to buy two items or more, after the first purchase, you will be give a discount of RM10 for your next purchase. Don't pay the two items in a single transaction. Haggling of price is not available, unless you are getting a limited piece with huge price tag.


Note that no photography and food is allowed in the premise.


Operated in three pre-war homes, the owner have created a gem of sorts and credit must be given to  him (or her) for preserving and conserving much of the original structures of the old dilapidated home. By saving such, visitors are able to see and appreciate the wooden framework and brick wall of the past era. 

[Melaka] The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple Series Talk

The Cheng Hoon Teng temple ("Temple of Green Cloud") is a Chinese temple practicing the Three Doctrinal Systems of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. It is the oldest functioning temple in Malaysia.

Venue: Cheng Hoon Teng Main Hall, Jalan Tokong 

Entrance fee: Free of charge 

Organizer: The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple committee 

18th Sept 2015 (Friday); 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Cheng Hoon Teng religious phenomena and its reflection on the political inclination of the adherents of late Ming Dynasty by Prof. Ong Seng Huat. Prof. Ong is the CEO of Xian En Culture Foundation, Professor of Beijing University Cultural Resources Research Centre, Advisor cum editor of the compilation of the Malaysia Encyclopedia (Chapter of Religions and Humanities). 

25th Sept 2015 (Friday); 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Cheng Hoon Teng's building & its decorative art works by architect Tan Yeow Wooi. Mr. Tan is a specialist in traditional Chinese architecture, cultural and historical research. He also provides architectural and cultural consultancy service in conservation and restoration of heritage buildings. 

26th Sept 2015 (Saturday); 8:00am - 10:00am and 10:30am - 12:30pm

Guided tour of Cheng Hoon Teng building & its decorative art works by Tan Yeow Wooi. Workshop of "cut and paste" (the art of Teow Chiew "chien-nian").

16th Oct 2015 (Friday); 8:00pm - 10:00pm

The collection and study of Malacca Chinese tomb-stone inscriptions by Dr. Ch'ng Khin Yong. Dr. Ch'ng involved in the study of the history of the Chinese of Malacca and Singapore since 1980s, especially in the collection and research on the epigraphic materials. He was the Assistant in-charge of the Singapore Archive.