It is always a good idea to go for a weekend respite with your family or friends to unwind from work and get away from the fast-paced lifestyle of the city. An underrated neighbouring city bursting with rich history and culture that some of us may overlook is Malacca.

Contrary to popular belief, there is more to this UNESCO World Heritage Site than you may think. While history buffs might fall in love with the rustic charms Malacca can offer, the activities go far beyond just admiring ancient cultural sites.

Give this Malaysian city a chance the next time you are thinking of going on a short trip! You may be pleasantly surprised at what you can find there. Here are 12 Tips On What To See, Do & Eat There.

DAY 1 IN MALACCA

#1 HAVE LUNCH AT THE DAILY FIX

1pm: The Daily Fix is a charming, vintage cafe that is hidden behind a souvenir store at Jonker Street. The cafe serves a menu featuring fusion mains and desserts, complete with house brews and tea. Go for their signature pancakes which come in both savoury and sweet flavours!

Heading to Jonker Street?
Here are 7 fun things to do there.

Photo Credit: Eddy Rush Fat Boy

#2 TRY THE FAMOUS KEBLANG ORIGINAL COCONUT SHAKE

3pm: Cool off from the sweltering heat with the Keblang Original Coconut Shake which is an extremely popular roadside stall visited by both locals and tourists. Expect to queue for their coconut shakes with ice cream and nasi lemak.

Photo Credit: Pantip

#3  TAKE OOTDS AT MALACCA’S WHITE SAND DUNE

5pm: No time for the Sahara Desert? No problem! This hidden attraction in Malacca has recently been gaining attention on social media for looking almost similar to a white sand dune or desert (it is actually a land reclamation project).

Depending on traffic and weather conditions, Padang Pasir Keblang Meleka is about 15 to 30 minutes drive from Malacca’s city centre. Take your OOTDs against the breathtaking landscape!

DAY 2 IN MALACCA

#4 HAVE A MEAL AT CHOP CHUNG WAH

11am: Chicken rice balls are iconic in Malacca and one of the most renowned shops you can find there is Chop Chung Wah. The trick to skipping the infamous long queue under the hot sun? Visit them in the early afternoon during the weekdays!

#5 EXPLORE THE ICONIC SITES AT JONKER STREET

12pm: Religious structures of various faiths are widely respected by the locals in Malacca. You are more than welcome to stop and take a look at the many worshipping places that are located around Jonker Street.

Some of the more well-known ones include the red Christ Church, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple.

Photo Credit: Hotels.com

#6 PAY A VISIT TO THE BABA NYONYA HERITAGE MUSEUM

2pm: Learn more about the Baba Nyonyas and how they contributed to Malacca’s trade industry by visiting the museum. There are daily time slots where you can go for guided tours.

#7 DESIGN YOUR OWN SNACK AT MAMEE JONKER HOUSE

4pm: Feeling a sense of nostalgia? We feel you. Mamee Jonker House is a museum featuring everything Mamee-related here including t-shirts and soft toys. Make some time for the Mamee Cafe and Mamee Gallery as well.

#8 GET CLOSE TO SIBERIAN HUSKIES AT THE HUSKITORY

6pm: Located along Jalan Taman Asean, The Huskitory is about 15 minutes drive away from the city center. The cafe-cum-pet shop is home to more than 20 huskies so expect only chaos from a bunch of extremely excited dogs. Dog lovers have to make it a point to visit this cafe!

Interested to find out more? Read our review here.

DAY 3 IN MALACCA

#9 HAVE BREAKFAST AT KAYA KAYA CAFE

11am: Boasting vintage vibes and a sunny courtyard, Kaya Kaya Cafe is an excellent place for breakfast if you want to skip the crowd at Jonker Street. Fuel up for the day with their Kaya Breakfast!

#10 FILL UP YOUR TUMMY AT HOE KEE CHICKEN RICE

2pm: It is easy to tell that Hoe Kee Chicken Rice is a strong competitor against Chop Chung Wah by the large lunch crowd. Unlike the latter, Hoe Kee Chicken Rice has more variety on the menu which includes sides such as vegetables and soup.

#11 SATISFY YOUR CAFFEINE FIX AT BACKLANE COFFEE

4pm:Spend your afternoon at Backland Coffee with a cuppa and some desserts. We love how spacious the cafe is, with comfortable sofa chairs and floor-to-ceiling window panels that allow natural sunlight to filter in.

This coffee sanctuary is a welcoming place for those who wish to rest their weary feet from a day of shopping at Jonker Street.

#12 DROP BY DATARAN PAHLAWAN MELEKA MEGAMALL

6pm: Who says Malacca does not have modern entertainment? Hop over to this bustling megamall which has everything a shopaholic would want from a shopping spree—fashion, retail and branded goods. You can also find a karaoke studio, 3D Art Museum and Kiddie Rides for the little ones.

Penang is another neighbouring Malaysian city you have to explore and you can plan a trip there with only S$250. 

If you have been to Malacca, you would have heard of Chop Chung Wah and their signature chicken rice balls. This is a traditional chicken rice shop in Malacca that has been serving the same dish since it first started out.

Apart from its famous steamed white chicken, Chop Chung Wah is also known for having ridiculous queue lines that snake out of the shop. On our visit to Jonker Street, we were advised by locals to visit the shop earlier to beat the crowd.

Does Chop Chung Wah live up to all the hype and attention it has been getting all these years? Carry on reading to find out!

We were lucky that there was no queue when we decided to swing by on a Tuesday morning. So the trick to avoiding the crowd is to visit before lunch hours on a weekday, as the tables start filling up fast once the lunch crowd arrives.

The interior is kept simple and clean so all the attention is on the food that has been meticulously prepared for diners.

Visitors can even watch the stall owner in action as he cuts up the chicken expertly before it is served to you.

One thing to note when you are dining at Chop Chong Wah is that the menu consists of only poached chicken, chicken rice balls and drinks. Unlike Hoe Kee Chicken Rice, seasoning is kept light here so that it does not overshadow the savoury chicken meat.

While we enjoyed it, we felt that it can be rather plain if no dipping sauce is added to compliment the meat.

Minimum order at Chop Chung Wah starts from Half Chicken (RM22.30/S$7.20). You can get One Whole Chicken for RM44.60/S$14.30 and Chicken Rice Balls at RM0.40/S$0.13 each.

Chop Chung Wah
18 Lorong Hang Jebat
75200 Malacca, Malaysia
Daily: 8.30am – 3pm

For more recommendations on where to go, read our food & travel guides on Malacca.

Hoe Kee Chicken Rice is a popular destination for Malacca’s iconic chicken rice balls. Having been around since 1962, the chicken rice shop has been dishing out scrumptious chicken and other side dishes to their regular customers.

It is advisable to reach early or be prepared to wait in line for your turn. Hoe Kee Chicken Rice opens early in the morning and closes just before evening time or when ingredients run out.

If you are around Jonker Street, drop by Hoe Kee Chicken Rice for a delightful lunch.

With a large dining area and efficient service from the staff, we did not have to wait for long before our food was served up. However, we definitely recommend visiting during the weekdays.

You may think that all chicken rice shops sell the same Hainanese chicken rice dish but that is not the case. An obvious difference between Hoe Kee Chicken Rice and Chop Chung Wah (another famous chicken rice shop at Jonker Street) is the soy sauce drenched all over the chicken.

The chicken was flavourful, moist and tender. Yes, it is a little more oily because of the sauce but we enjoyed the chicken meat more than the one at Chop Chung Wah. Have it with fragrant chicken rice balls.

The friendly staff would recommend the best portion size for your dining group. If not, you can also have the whole chicken (RM45+/S$14.5+), Half Chicken (RM22.50/S$7.20+) or others. Rice balls go for RM0.30/S$0.10 each.

Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
4, 6 & 8, Jalan Hang Jebat
Malacca, Malaysia
Tel: +60 6283 4751
Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 4pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 4.30pm