Here is my Hotel Puri Melaka review for anyone who wants a different accommodation experience when visiting this historical state in Malaysia. We’ve all stayed at modern or general hotels, but staying in a heritage hotel tends to give a very unique experience.

Hotel Puri Melaka Review

Hotel Puri in Melaka is unique due to many interesting features. The main feature is that the hotel building stretches a good 100 meters (328 feet) from front to back.

The facade of the building is intricately carved in the Utilitarian style, and every little detail in Hotel Puri is considered. Walking in and heading to the reception will take you back in time as you pass various antique furniture and memorabilia.

I’m staying here for the second time, and I always find Hotel Puri full of surprises. This time, I spent some time looking at the details of the entire boutique hotel. A carved wooden Peranakan window in the lobby area is something you hardly see nowadays, as there are no more skilled wood carvers doing these.

The lounge area is well decorated with retro furniture from the ’60s, while the floor and wall tiles were something to really look at, as they were original vintage English tiles. A reading area is provided where an old wooden shelf serves as a bookcase. If you need a bite, a small counter serves some light snacks and drinks.

Midway to the main reception area, you pass an old-style airwell decorated with mother-of-pearl Baba-style furniture placed against the walls. An old wooden spiral staircase sits in one corner, while a piano occupies the other. This is a typical Peranakan home layout dating back hundreds of years.

From the main lobby, you walk through some wooden doors into another room called the ancestral hall, filled with various Peranakan and Baba antiques. An antique wooden cart, Porcelain jars, a Baba prayer table, and paintings fill the space here, leading to the hotel rooms and courtyard. After dusk, if you come here and look up at the ceiling, you will see several swiftlets who make this place their home.

In the next section, you will find a mini business centre with Internet access and a mini museum of Melaka (Malacca). I found this interesting as foreign guests can learn more about Hotel Puri and its rich history. Some old photographs of Malacca are also framed with descriptions, and an old well with the hotel’s history is in one corner.

Navigating through the numerous doors of Hotel Puri may get you lost if you are new. The hotel has three floors with no elevator and only stairs. However, a few rooms are located on the ground floor near an indoor pond, which leads to the breakfast area.

At the courtyard of Hotel Puri, you will find the ‘Galeri Cafe,’ which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This beautifully designed cafe has about ten marble tables and old-style wooden coffee shop chairs.

Room at Hotel Puri Melaka

The room I booked was small, simple, and cosy. Wooden folding windows looked out into the hotel’s courtyard. A small television set with several channels provides basic entertainment, and all rooms are air-conditioned and have hot showers. The price I paid then was RM185.00 (US$61) a night.

The bed is pretty simple and standard. It’s nothing spectacular, but it is straightforward and comfortable. It’s not your regular five-star bed, but it’s close. There is no minibar, but a safe deposit box with standard hotel amenities is provided. Again, nothing is to shout about, but they are fundamental and straightforward.

Complimentary coffee and tea are available for guests, and old-style Chinese cups and saucers are provided, which is a nice touch. A water kettle is also available.

While the bathroom and toilet may be small, they serve their purpose. The shower is pretty strong, while the squarish sink gives the bathroom a modern touch. Standard toilet amenities are included here, and a hair dryer is also provided for convenience.

In the courtyard, one can enjoy sitting and reading amongst the lovely greenery that is well-maintained by the hotel staff. Note that after dawn, there may be mosquitoes.

Breakfast is served in another part of the ground floor, where it is served buffet-style indoors or outdoors, with local and Western choices.

When you walk outside Hotel Puri, you will be on Heeren Street, behind Jonker Walk or Jonker Street. A leisurely five-minute stroll will put you in the middle of Jonker Street, where you can spend the day just going from shop to shop.

If you explore further by foot, you will reach other famous Melaka sites like Stadhuys, A’Famosa, Dutch Christ Church, St. Paul’s Church, and the Peranakan Museum.

My Conclusion to Staying at Hotel Puri

I never doubted this place even after my first visit in 2007, and I did not hesitate to book a room for my recent trip to Melaka. Hotel Puri is my first choice when visiting Melaka, as getting around by foot from the hotel is convenient.

The experience is 5 Stars, and the boutique hotel caters to single travellers and families. The rooms may be small, but every detail is looked into. If you want a Peranakan experience, this is the place to stay, as no other hotel provides this unique boutique service.

Driving to Hotel Puri via car is easy. From the main North-South or NKVE highway, turn into Melaka/Ayer Keroh and head straight to ‘Pusat Bandaraya Melaka’, the town centre.The drive after the toll booth will take about 20 to 30 minutes, passing the Melaka Zoo and numerous traffic lights before arriving in the town area. Once in the town area, head to the old quarter of Melaka, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), or Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street).

GPS Coordinates for Hotel Puri – N2°11.783′ E102°14.720′

Final ThoughtsWhen you visit Melaka for a day trip or overnight, there are a ton of things to do in this historical city. The choices of hotels range from high-end to mid-range, guesthouses, and even boutique ones like Hotel Puri. The choice is up to you.

But if I visit Melaka again, I will stay at this hotel simply because of its location and unique character.  I hope you enjoyed my Hotel Puri Melaka review and that you will also consider this as one of the places to stay.