Heeren Straits Hotel — Hotel in Malacca

Superb location right at the heart of the Malacca UNESCO World Heritage site, within easy walking distance to major attractions. Museums, Jonker Walk and recommended places to eat are just steps away. Housed within a beautifully restored Peranakan shophouse, Heeren Straits Hotel oozes understated old-world charm fusionised with modern conveniences. The facade is misleading as the hotel appears to be rather narrow and small when viewed from the outside but is unusually long and spacious inside.The characteristic features of most shophouses on Heeren Street, aka Jln Tun Tan Cheng Lick, aka Millionaires Row are high roofs, open courtyards, small wells and wooden, ornate double front doors and Heeren Straits are a reflection of these. ||||Definitely a must-stay if only to experience a time capsule of Peranakan opulence and history steeped in a diverse mix of cultures that are predominantly Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and Dutch-influenced  ||||||Check-in was friendly and efficient. Our room was however, only ready at 3.30 p.m. (it was a weekend), upon our return after lunch. Was served a refreshing towel and a cold welcome drink - a lovely touch while we waited for our rooms.||||||Stayed in the quad-sharing Grand Deluxe Suite - a duplex unit with 2 King-sized beds upstairs, and a bathroom and 2-seater lounge downstairs. Spacious and clean, with super comfortable beds and pillows that absolutely promoted a good night's rest for me. The quiet environment was a lovely respite from the busy streets and a welcome sanctuary after a long, hot day out. Really convenient to nip back to the hotel for a quick shower or drop off your shopping in between hours. Be forewarned though, it IS a split-level unit - stairs are steep and could be slippery - novelty for the young and young at heart, but may not be suitable for the elderly. ||||||What I can't stop raving about is Heeren Straits' location, location, location! Amazing choices of restaurants and watering holes nearby, serving local specialities like Chicken Rice, Peranakan food, Popiah, Cendol, Nyonya Chang, etc. and of course, your libation requirements! Absolutely spoilt for choice! Special mentions (all within a short walking distance) include Our Kitchen Nyonya Restaurant (3min/700m); Poh Piah Lwee (1min/150m) - Popiah, Nyonya Chang; Wild Coriander (1.2km - restaurant is by the Malacca river) - Malay & Peranakan. Will try the highly reviewed homemade gourmet burgers at The Baboon House (1min/200m) on my next visit. ||||||My only gripe is the hotel policy of 1 key card per room. Highly impractical even for twin sharing, what more when there are four guests. As the key card is required to activate the electricity, that means occupants cannot go out individually. ||||||Areas of improvement for me would be the inclusion of a hairdryer socket in the bathroom, and a wider selection of breakfast spread at its sister hotel, Heeren Palm Suites. My scrambled eggs were a little overcooked and had the texture of chopped omelette. Need to work on getting them to a consistency that's slightly runny, and fluffy. Jazz up the local selection with food that reflect our traditional staple breakfast - colourful nyonya kuihs, nasi lemak Bungkus, kaya-butter toasts, etc. are a visual feast, fuss-free and resplendently rich in Malaysian food heritage, and should sit proudly at the breakfast counter! ||||||All in all though, the hotel deserves a high rating for location, cleanliness, service, ambience, and value for money! Would...

Check-in Experience: Upon arrival, I found the check-in process to be smooth and hassle-free, with the staff providing a warm welcome and efficient service. This initial encounter set a positive tone for the rest of my stay.

Room Comfort and Cleanliness: Entering my room, I was pleased to find it pleasantly clean and inviting. The comfortable furnishings and well-appointed amenities contributed to a relaxing atmosphere. The bathroom, in particular, met expectations, maintaining the same level of cleanliness and comfort as the rest of the room.

Room Amenities: The room boasted a selection of nice and functional furniture, along with a large smart TV that enhanced the entertainment options available to guests. Additionally, the inclusion of a small safe in the closet provided peace of mind for storing valuables during the stay.

Internet Connectivity: One standout feature was the consistently good internet speed, ensuring reliable connectivity for both work and leisure purposes throughout my stay. This reliability is often overlooked but greatly appreciated by modern travelers.

Toiletries and Bathrobes: While the toiletries provided were sufficient, it was noted that toothbrush and toothpaste were not included, a deviation from the recent trend of hotels offering these essentials. Nonetheless, the inclusion of bathrobes added a touch of luxury to the experience, complementing the variety of towels available.

Mini-Bar Convenience: The fridge stocked with a selection of drinks, albeit at typical hotel prices, offered a convenient option for refreshments without the need to leave the room, adding to the overall convenience of the stay.

Overall Impression: In conclusion, my first visit to the Heeren Straits Hotel was a pleasant one, characterized by smooth check-in, comfortable accommodations, and thoughtful amenities. While minor improvements could be made regarding the inclusion of toothbrush and toothpaste in the toiletries and perhaps the pricing of minibar items, these did not significantly detract from the overall positive experience. Therefore, I am pleased to award the Heeren Straits Hotel a commendable rating and look forward to...

We came here having travelled by car (and driver) from Singapore. Check-in is across the street at their sister hotel the Heeren Palm (where breakfast is served). ||Swift check-in. Room prepaid via Booking.com but we also had an additional refundable ‘deposit’ of RM100 held on our credit card. It would not be released apparently for 10 days or so after departure. Still not sure what this was for! ||||Anyway, our luggage was taken across to the Heeren Straits to our King room on the first floor. Note - this is a heritage Peranakan property so no lifts. The property has been beautifully restored and is very attractive. (I asked reception where they suggest for lunch - said the Heeren Garden next door but it was closed! We sought sustenance elsewhere). ||||The room was a good size, the AC worked well, as did the WiFi. Free to use safety deposit box, inside the wardrobe. Kettle plus tea & coffee in room. Mini-fridge. We also found that the smart TV had Netflix (although we didn’t watch it!). We had a small balcony that was in the middle of the hotel and overlooked a small inner courtyard so there was no view, and rather redundant. ||||As above, breakfast is taken at the Heeren Palm, another beautifully restored Peranakan house. Although not sumptuous, breakfast was adequate with good coffee, eggs cooked to order, noodles, rice, bread, fruit etc. More than enough, and very pleasant kitchen staff. ||||I asked at reception on the first night if we could have a little ice, assuming they would have it as they have a kitchen to prepare breakfast. Was told ‘no ice - need to go to the 7/11 for ice’. Not very helpful particularly as we had to locate the 7/11 first and hope the ice didn’t defrost in the boiling hot weather! ||||At checkout I was asked to pay RM3 tourist tax. Only an extremely small amount but this was another little irritation. ||||Although we had some minor irritations (that I accept could have been lost in translation), this is a lovely heritage hotel in an excellent location in the...