Jonker Street in Melaka
Throngs of visitors from all over visit this lively street famous for its rich traditional Peranakan culture and heritage.
The best possible way to enjoy visiting Jonker Street would be to walk around this historical area which is in the core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Alternatively, traditional trishaws (becas) can be hired to take you on a nostalgic journey through this historical site.
Jonker Street in Melaka
The renown shop houses in this area are some of the countries oldest heritage buildings dating back to the 17th century.
Architecturally influenced by the Portuguese and Dutch, you will see an beautiful eclectic mix of cultures and deigns through this entire area of Jonker Street.
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Antique shops in Melaka |
On the main street which is called Jonker Walk, quite a number of antique galleries, art houses and souvenir shops are found well spread throughout the area.
Walk-in customers would know that the prices are well inflated to the unknown buyers while bargaining or haggling is a common practice here.
So do not be afraid to try your bargaining skills but do be realistic about it as we are all human after all. Some outlets practice a fixed price, so there is no bargaining.
It is here that you will find the world famous Baba Peranakan Museum of Melaka. A fee applies to visit this unique museum while the architecture is absolutely astounding from the main facade.
This would be the best place for you to explore if you want to find out more about the amazing Baba-Nyonya Culture and Heritage of Melaka.
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Classic old designs made from ceramic and wood |
Old buildings don mix architecture from the Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese era while they are clearly shown throughout the buildings here.
Looking closely, you can see the fine detailed work in these designs. Colours stand out on the engravings and carvings of these pre-war buildings.
Architectural works from the Utilitarian era all the way to Artdeco are found along this majestic street.
I took the picture above at one of the streets here in Melaka where neighboring units were divided with a circular hole in the walls.
Many of the centuries old buildings have been given a beautiful makeover, especially on the facade and main structures.
While most of the original businesses have faded away, new ones are seen popping up monthly, which are often taken over and renovated.
Lots of guesthouses and boutique hotels have also taken over some of the beautiful shop lots while cafes and souvenir shops seem to be the popular choices around here.
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Royal Press Jonker Street |
Most of them are well maintained as you can see from some of the pictures, and the best time to witness them in action are on weekdays during office hours.
Most of these traders close on weekends so you would be missing out if you go during that time.
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A traditional Mahjong shop at Jonker Street |
Sometimes I keep an extra eye out for these type of buildings during my walkabouts here as you never know what you will come across.
A good variety of local food can be found along Jonker Street while most tend to source for the famous Peranakan or Nyonya food around here.
One of the most famous dishes is a local delicacy called the Chicken Rice Balls. This dish is prepared in a unique way where cooked rice is rolled into balls and served with portions of boiled or roasted chicken.
There are about four shops that sell this unique dish that can be only found in Melaka, so choose wisely on which shop you patronise. The bigger the shop, the less authentic it is and more for the tourist.
This experience is something every traveler should try here. Famous for the Baba-Nyonya desserts and food, you will not be disappointed here.
I make it a point to stop here every time I visit Melaka for my fix of Shaved Ice (Ice Kachang), and provided it is on a weekday as it gets really crowded on weekends.
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Nancy’s Kitchen, a popular Peranakan Restaurant, only for the tourist |
Personally, I have tried most of them around Jonker and have no complaints. So let loose and enjoy your visit here.
For the record, Singaporeans love to make a weekend getaway trip to Melaka while those from Kuala Lumpur love to do day trips here, especially for the food.
They are open throughout the day serving local and international cuisine. At night, beers and cocktails are served with a lively atmosphere while there may be a live band performing.
There are some other bars located around here which are more laid back, so by walking around, you are sure to come across them.
Going on the weekend can turn out to be a nightmare as the entire street will be closed for the regular Night Market so expect throngs of visitors.
If you are planning to stay over, I would also recommend trying out the Puri Hotel in Melaka is it is indeed one of the most beautiful boutique hotels with a very affordable price too.
Other options would be to book the popular Heeran House or Baba Hotel there. All these hotels are strategically located around Jonker Street in Melaka.
Conclusion
Again, if you are here on the weekend, look out for the Popiah Seller at Jonker Street which is a vendor that moves around on this cart selling the popular spring roll.
Be prepared to wait a while if there is a crowd around the hawker. Update: Not sure if the uncle is still doing this.
As the main area is situated in the core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is advised to park outside and walk in on weekends due to the heavy traffic here.
Trust me, it can get really congested especially on Saturdays and Sundays. As for me, nowadays, I make it a point to visit Jonker Street in Melaka on weekdays.
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