THE MANSION

The Majestic Malacca, 188 Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka

TEL: 06 289 8000 majesticmalacca.com

The Majestic Hotel’s reputation precedes it. As one of the classiest hotels in Malacca, if not the classiest, this flagship restaurant does justice to its name. Quaint pieces of china, old photographs, and Peranakan table settings add to the Kristang theme. Crafted by Chef Melba Nunis, a proponent of Kristang culture, the menu here sees the likes of cincalok fretu, crispy and steamy krill fritters; obu bateh fretu, a seafood omelette with generous amount of crab; sambang terung, tender aubergine with sambal and a hint of lime; and kari keluak, which is out of this world with juicy pieces of chicken and an intense gravy—just the way it should be! Get the sago gula melaka for dessert— you are in Melaka after all. The rich and creamy ‘pudding’ is laced with genuine gula melaka, a local variety of sugar that’s often compared to molasses. A satisfactory selection of house wines is available for those who want wine pairings. Given the size of The Mansion, it’s no wonder the elusive staff are hard to pin down, but this shouldn’t be the case on days when the restaurant is nearly empty.