Melaka: Jonker Street, Floating Mosque & Veg Food Guide
Contents
This is the second part of our 2-part blog on visiting Malacca as an offbeat traveller. Read the first part here where we explore the heritage sites, Dutch square, forts and the “Red” side of this UNESCO heritage city.
Masjid Selat Melaka Mosque
After a leisurely lunch, we made our way to the Melaka Straits Mosque, also known as Masjid Selat Melaka. The mosque is built on the artificial island of Malacca, resting on a raised platform of stilts. In high tides, the mosque gives a striking impression of floating on the sea.
Plan your trip
Plan your trip- Construction date: CE
- Timings: hours for worshippers; AM to PM for visitors
- Entry fees: None
- Getting there: Grab
Note: Islamic attire guidelines apply to visitors. Women and girls must wear loose-fitting clothing that covers the entire body, along with a headscarf, leaving only the face visible. Appropriate attire can be borrowed at the mosque entrance for a refundable deposit of RM per item. Please note that during prayer times, security may temporarily restrict entry and allow visitors only once worship has concluded.
The mosque’s main entrance is between two intersecting archways, the passage covered by stained glass. There are separate entrances for men and women. We did not enter the mosque itself as it was a place of worship. A board advertised the Straits of Melaka as the ‘longest and busiest straits in the world’. We walked around the outer passage surrounding the mosque. We waited for the sunset, soaking in the picturesque views of the Malacca Strait, with the sea stretching out on three sides. Exiting the mosque, we went down a narrow path near the mosque to the small beach. The teal sea and the cyan sky gradually took on hues of yellow and pink as the sun started to dip into the sea.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (Harmony Street)
This oldest functioning temple in Malaysia dates from the Dutch Malacca era in the th century. Chinese Kapitans founded the temple in CE. The temple is a place for practising Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
Plan your trip
- Construction date: CE to CE
- Timings: AM to PM
- Entry fees: None
- Getting there: Walk/Grab/Trishaw (beca)
Note: Buddhist temple attire rules apply.
The temple is on a street named Jalan Tukang Emas, which translates to Goldsmith Street. This street is locally known as Harmony Street, named for the peaceful coexistence of three places of worship: the Kampong Kling Mosque, the Sri Poyatha Moorthi Hindu Temple, and the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, which practices the Three Doctrinal Systems.
The temple had a breathtaking entry gate with ornate carvings. The carvings seemed to represent the pantheon of the three belief systems the temple serves. The main temple hall housed the Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin (also known as Kwan Yin), at the central altar. To her left was the altar of Goddess Ma Choe Po, the Guardian of Fisherfolk and Sailors. To Guan Yin’s right are two deities – Datuk Poh Seng Tye Tay, the Guardian Deity of Well Being, and Datuk Hiap Tian Tye Tay, the God of Justice.
The entrance courtyard also featured a pair of extraordinarily tall flagpoles. There were also bushes on which kumquats were growing around the temple. This trip was the first time we tasted these fruits, and it was quite interesting for us to see them growing so freely.
Muzium Samudera (Flor de La Mar)
After lunch, we visited the Maritime Museum, known in Malay as Muzium Samudera. The museum houses exhibits from the Sultanate and colonial eras on the maritime heritage of Malacca. The museum was inaugurated in two phases – the first in CE and the second in CE.
Plan your trip
- Construction date: CE to CE
- Timings: AM to PM (closed on Monday)
- Last entry: PM
- Entry fees (Adults > 12 years): Malaysian: RM; Non-Malaysian: RM
- Entry fees (Children 6 years – 12 years): Malaysian: RM; Non-Malaysian: RM
Note: Obey the signboards that prohibit ascent to the upper levels of the museum portions housed in the replica ship. Some of the steps were damaged when we visited in the summer of . The ticket grants admission to the following museums within the Maritime Museum Complex: Museum of Ocean Phase I (Flor de La Mar), the Maritime Museum Phase II, and the Royal Malaysian Navy Museum. Please visit https://perzim.gov.my/harga-tiket/ for the latest information on timings and entry fees.
The first phase of the museum is housed in a towering replica of a Portuguese ship named the Flor de la Mar. The carrack, weighing tons, was one of the largest and most durable ships of its era. It supported the Portuguese conquest of Goa in CE, and later the conquest of Malacca in CE. The ship sank in a storm with treasures from the conquest, which still lie undiscovered at the wreckage spot.
The first phase of the museum houses artefacts such as models of ships, documents, dioramas of a prison brig, naval weapons, and seafaring instruments. Malaysian schoolkids on field trips were also visiting the museum at the same time, and they seemed pretty excited to learn about the maritime heritage of their nation.
We clambered down from the ship to go to the second phase of the museum. This phase featured life-size boats representing various regions of Malaysia. One of the prettiest boats on display was a painted fishing boat from East Timor (Terengganu). Also on display was a model ‘turtle ship’ of the Korean Navy. The museum also featured humorous exhibits where marine animals delivered tongue-in-cheek messages, urging humans to take better care of the environment. An interesting character we learnt about was Enrique of Malacca. A native of Malacca or Sumatra, he was ‘acquired’ as a slave by Ferdinand Magellan and accompanied him on the world-famous circumnavigation.
Malacca River Walk
After a relaxed lunch to beat the sweltering afternoon heat, we took a stroll along the bank of the Malacca River. The river had small cruise boats on it. Eateries on the river banks with outdoor seating lent a relaxed vibe to the setting. A couple of times, we saw huge water monitor lizards that were either swimming lazily in the river or scampering along at a fast clip on the river banks.
We visited the remains of the Malacca Sultanate Watermill, a structure built in CE that has sadly fallen into disrepair. Another interesting spot we came across was a bridge named Market Bridge (Jambatan Pasar). This picturesque bridge connects the old Central Market area, now known as Jonker Walk, to the Stadthuys. At night, the bridge comes alive with colourful lighting, casting a vibrant glow.
As the evening turned to night, we saw the weekend market being set up. A team of volunteers moved through the streets, clearing the litter in preparation for the market setup. We watched as the Jonker Street weekend market gradually came to life, bustling with energy and anticipation.
Jonker Street Walk and Weekend Market
After visiting the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, we took a stroll through the lively Jonker Street, taking in the bustle and getting a sense of the layout and the permanent shops before the weekend market took over.
We visited some interesting craft markets there, such as Art Flea Market/Jumbo Art, Idit Art, Rasa Sayang Galeri, and Jonker Gallery. For some reason, we saw lots of carved wooden geckos on sale everywhere. We saw some quirky wind chimes made from coconut shells.
We returned to the market in the evening after visiting the maritime museum. The market had fully come to life by then, and Jonker Street was closed to vehicle traffic! At the entrance to the market, we came across an entertaining street performance at one of the stalls. A young man skillfully shaved the outer shell of a tender coconut, revealing a smooth white sphere of flesh.
The market offered a dizzying variety of foods, such as:
- Boiled apples in pandan stock
- Incredibly detailed ice cream shaped like a cat face
- Jelly made from dried seaweed
- Mango sticky rice
- Coconut ice cream
- Dodol – a sticky toffee made from glutinous rice flour, palm or brown sugar, and coconut milk
The market showcased a lively display of handicrafts, ranging from wooden footstools and charmingly crocheted animals to detailed anime figurines and an assortment of unusual curiosities.
Street Murals
What stood out to us in Malacca was the city’s rich display of street art, with murals adorning walls across the city, each telling a unique story or reflecting the rich heritage.
- On our way from Little India to the Stadthuys, a towering mural of the epic duel between Laksamanas Tuah and Jebat caught our eye.
- Next, we came across a mural of a mouse deer kicking a hound into the Malacca River. This mural was on the wall of the Malacca Museum Corporation.
- We saw a giant mural with blocky shapes and funky colours on the wall of a boutique named My Kiehl’s Heritage.
- Another mural featured the actress Fan Bingbing portraying the Empress Wu Zetian of China in a television drama.
Jonker Street also had many walls with small murals that added to the old-world charm of Malacca.
Places to Eat (Vegetarian & Vegan Options)
We were on the lookout for vegetarian and vegan food, and it proved to be quite a challenge in Malacca. Our favourite haunts included:
- Restoran Saravana: Serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian South Indian fare.
- Relish The Moment: A quaint cafe which served a nice variety of Continental and Asian cuisine.
- The Botanist Cafe
- Anthony Vegetarian Restaurant
- The Butter: A cafe where we had scrumptious bakes, a heavenly jiggly pudding, and calming teas.
We tried the coconut shake in a stall near A Fomosa as it was a warm day. The special shake was worth it, though the coconut lychee (Kelapa Laici) one, made with canned fruit, was a bit too sugary for our liking. We stopped by Tan Kim Hock on Jonkers Street for some heavenly dodol. Durian lovers shouldn’t miss the durian dodol—it’s a must-try treat.
Places We Missed
We missed a few places that are usually on itineraries. You can try these highly recommended attractions if they interest you:
- Baba Nyonya Museum
- The Submarine Museum
- Port Dickson Beach
- Klebang beach
- The Shore Sky Tower
- Taming Sari Tower (Malacca Tower)
- Malacca River Cruise (Note: We enjoyed the river walk, but didn’t take the official cruise mentioned here)
- Malacca Zoo
And just like that, our trip to Malacca came to an end—leaving us full of memories!
Ramya
Ramya is the Itinerary Mastermind and travel planner for the family. She specializes in crafting efficient, culturally-rich trips, with a passion for India’s art, heritage sites, forests, and waterfalls. She brings the human emotion and logistical precision to their journeys.
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