We begin our three-part feature revisiting favorite coffee destinations in Malaysia with historic Malacca.
A two-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur (there’s also a longer route from Singapore to Johor Bahru, then JB to Malacca), the city of Malacca boasts of heritage architecture with influences from the Peranakan, Portuguese, Dutch and British cultures. It’s an easy get-away from the city bustle to enjoy the Jonker night market and street food on weekends, chicken rice balls and of course, cup after cup of coffee!
Here are six must-visit cafes and coffee shops in Malacca for the caffeine addict:
THE STOLEN CUP
Just a few steps away from the arc welcoming you to lively Jonker Street, The Stolen Cup is perfectly located to start your coffee crawl. Its inviting open coffee bar displays different manual brewing equipment and various local coffee beans.
It was my third time in Malacca which I specifically planned for a coffee crawl.
On my first day in Malacca, I spent hours here chatting with the owner Jay, sharing how similar and different Philippine and Malaysian coffee cultures are. We had so much to share that I forgot the time and was not able to visit one more shop in my list! Good thing I had the next day dedicated to coffee alone.
Apart from their coffees, another item from The Stolen Cup’s menu that I heard is worth a try is their Salted Egg Yolk Croissant — something I won’t forget to order when I come back!
Address: 12 Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thestolencup
IG: @thestolencup
AKUSUKAKOPI SPECIALTY COFFEE
What I love about Akusukakopi is its homey vibe: a simple Peranakan house with big spaces and natural light.
The cafè was located on the parallel street to Jonker, Tun Tan Cheng Lock, where you see the Chinese influence in the rows of houses and businesses. Even better, it was just beside the hostel I stayed at.
I had Vietnamese coffee on pourover brewed by a friendly barista. The coffee was bold and sweet!
At this writing, Akusukakopi has moved to Shah Alam, a more typical business area where their bold brews should be most welcome.
Address: 15, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Malacca City (closed); 4-34-G, Worldwide Business Centre, Jalan Akido 13/46, Seksyen 13, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia (new location)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Akusukakopi
IG: @akusukakopi
THE WOODS
I love walking along busy streets while traveling, but it’s also nice to step away. A precious find on the quieter side of the city, The Woods transported me to 90’s countryside Japan.
I love how serene the place is once you enter the garden. Inside is a rustic artist’s house: shelves piled with books, the air filled with mellow jazz and the aroma of coffee.
I ordered coffee brewed via siphon and browsed the shelves while waiting. My cup of coffee came with a milky St. Michel galette to balance out the bold coffee. What a perfect pair for an afternoon slowdown.
Address: 35 Jalan Gajah Berang, Malacca City, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thewoodsbookstore
IG: @thewoodsmelaka
MODS CAFE
SERIOUS COFFEE DRINKER ONLY – that’s what the sign on the door says.
I would’ve wanted to try their Yemen Mokha coffee but it was a bit over my travel budget. So I settled on a flat white and watched the barista brew coffee on what seemed to be a traditional kettle.
Talk about passion and control! I sneaked a photo since I’m too shy to come up and take a photo of coffee that I did not order.
The shop is quaint but a little intimidating. It was still a good experience!
Address: 14 Jalan Tokong, Malacca City, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/modscafe
CALANTHE ART CAFE
Located at the heart of the city, this art cafe is well-loved by locals and tourists. People flock here for their extensive recipes featuring Malaysia 13 States’ Coffee and the colorful, artsy vibe which is a definite treat for your senses.
The menu includes a description for each coffee recipe featuring locally grown coffee in Malaysia.
Back in 2015, I got myself a nice coffee float to cool things down. Can’t wait to try the 13 States’ Coffee!
Address: 11. Jalan Hang Kasturi, Melaka 75200 Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/calanthe.melaka
IG: @calantheartcafe
BACKLANE COFFEE
True to its name, Backlane Coffee is located behind a small shopping area in Jonker Street.
The interior is modern and chic, with wide space for plenty of IG-worthy photos.
On my visit, I opted for an affogato since it was a very hot afternoon. It was a cool break from the strong manually-brewed coffees of Akusukakopi and The Woods.
I love the vanilla ice cream mixing with dark espresso for a late afternoon dessert!
Address: 129 Jalan Hang Jebat, Malacca City, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Backlane-Coffee
IG: @backlanecoffee
THE DAILY FIX
After a hefty and delicious Peranakan lunch, my palate craved something sweet. Glad I found The Daily Fix for my coffee and dessert combination! Rumor has it that this cafe in Malacca has delicious french toasts to go with their coffees.
Even on a hectic afternoon, the staff smoothly took my order while I waited for my table. I opted for a refreshing iced rose latte and gula melaka cake. The sweetness of the cake is balanced by the surprising lightness of the concocted latte. Rose and coffee always go well together in my experience and this was one of the best!
Address: 55 Jalan Hang Jebat, Malacca City, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thedailyfixcafe
IG: @thedailyfixcafe
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I would have liked to visit more coffee shops like The Coffee Jar, Sin See Tai, Navy Café (which has a salted egg french toast!) and Alley No.5 Café but I ran out of time!
I hope to be back in Malacca soon, to try old favorites and find some new ones.
We travel to Penang in the next article!