The 10 Best Restaurants in Malacca, Malaysia

The Baboon House consistently rates among the best restaurants in Malacca for burgers. Menus burst with a selection of beef, chicken and pork patties served in enormous portions. The restaurant itself sits inside an old Chinese shophouse with an open-air courtyard surrounded by flowers. Inside, old photographs decorate the walls, which makes the place appear like you’re stepping back into the 1950s. Hungry travellers can stop by this mid-range restaurant after a day’s sightseeing in Malacca (try the oriental chicken burger and baboon beef burger).

The award-winning Geographer Café offers Asian-Western fusions. Located inside a pre-war shophouse along Jonker Street, the trendy restaurant-cum-bar lures locals, backpackers and mid-range travellers. Step inside and find an east-meets-west décor and welcoming atmosphere. This ranks among the top restaurants in Malacca for the chance to meet other travellers. Culture Trip recommends the pineapple fried rice and sour plum juice. Alcohol is available too.

Kedai Kopi Chung Wah is a Kopitiam (Malaysian-style coffee shop) serving a local speciality: chicken rice balls. From the moment this modest looking restaurant opens, long lines of Malaccans wait to get their fix. Arrive early in the morning and combine this culinary treat with a Nescafé ice (Malaysian ice coffee). Apart from the mouth-watering food, this is among the cheaper restaurants in Malacca and highly recommended for budget-conscious travellers.

Nancy’s Kitchen is a small, family-run Peranakan restaurant. Malacca has a flourishing Peranakan community whose ancestors descend from early Chinese immigrants. Family recipes passed down generations promise a culinary treat inside a restaurant that feels like you’re eating in a neighbour’s house. All dishes (try braised pork or their signature assam fish) use local ingredients and fresh herbs picked daily. This is among the best restaurants in Malacca to taste Peranakan food, as well as some of the city’s best cendol. As a bonus, Nancy’s Kitchen offers cooking classes that teach satisfied customers the tricks of the trade.

This mid-range spot serving Nyonya-style dishes feels more like a museum than a restaurant. Antique portraits and Peranakan kitchenware decorate the dining area, creating a vintage style found nowhere else in the city. Apart from traditional treats (recommend asam prawns and fish in pineapple sauce), Restaurant Nyonya Makko transports customers back in time for a glimpse into Malacca’s Peranakan culture. Pro tip: This is among the more popular restaurants so make a reservation the day before.

The upmarket Wa Zen consistently rates among the best restaurants in Malacca for Japanese food. Step into the classy space and order from their vast menu of sashimi and sushi. Generous portions come at surprisingly budget-friendly prices. We recommend Wa Zen to anyone craving high-quality Japanese food in Malacca, especially families. Just remember to make a reservation a few days in advance.

Veggie Planet is among the highest rated vegetarian restaurants in Malacca. A wide selection of rice-based dishes, soups and noodles come at mid-range prices. We recommend laksa with vermicelli noodles or the homemade Nyonya curry ramen. Despite its location a few kilometres from the old town, this restaurant attracts a younger crowd with a smattering of tourists. Take a taxi or Grab Car from the centre.

Seeds Garden near Cheng Hoon Teng Temple provides the ultimate plant-based gastronomical experience in Malacca. The trendy bistro serves a fusion of Southeast Asian and European dishes including pasta, pizza and porridge. Ingredients for each meal receive approval from an on-site herbalist – guaranteeing their quality. Apart from the food, Seeds Garden creates some of Malacca’s best fruit juices and coffee.

The classy Seri Nyonya Peranakan Restaurant sits on the third floor of the elegant Hotel Equatorial Malacca. Besides its distinct ritzy style, this is the only Halal-certified Nyonya restaurant in Malacca. Customers can order either a full course meal or individual dishes (try Nyonya chap chye or hee peow soup). Culture Trip recommends Seri Nyonya for Muslim travellers looking to taste Nyonya food and those looking for a romantic meal. Expect high prices by Malaccan standards.

Bulldog combines a Nyonya restaurant and pub on the ground floor of a restored shophouse. The menu provides a fusion between traditional and modern Nyonya food, with a spicy flair. Anticipate budget-friendly prices inside a minimalistic, yet stylish interior, with regular live music. Order Nyonya laksa for RM9 ($2.20 USD) with a drink and a bowl of cendol (made from gula Malacca and coconut milk) for dessert.