The Majestic Malacca (大华酒店) | Hotels Review

the majestic hotel malacca

[ad#toppostlargerec]

The Majestic Malacca is a boutique hotel where modern comforts and the charms of Malacca’s bygone era come together beautifully.

If buildings could talk, YTL Hotels’ The Majestic Malacca (TMM) would surely have a few stories to tell.

This hotel began as a Chinese tycoon’s mansion in 1929. A quarter of a century later, it was converted into a hotel called The Majestic and remained so until it closed down in 2000.

Then YTL Hotels bought it over and restored it as a boutique hotel in 2008.

The old building has since sparkled again.

Last year, The Majestic Malacca was named South-East Asia’s best “Signature Boutique Hotel” at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2008-2010 – Regional Series.

The 54-room hotel is fitted with every modern convenience and has four meeting rooms but the owners have also taken great pains to preserve its Malaccan atmosphere.

This is reflected in everything from the decor to the spa facility, to the cuisine served at its restaurant.

The vintage clawfoot bathtub invites you to spend hours soaking in it.

The architectural style of the hotel reflects Malacca’s cosmopolitan heritage of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Peranakan influences. In the common areas, the hotel’s teak wood fittings, leather furniture and traditional Portuguese porcelain flooring are complemented by artwork and antiques that depict Malaccan history.

The guest rooms, on the other hand, are a perfect combination of traditional touches and modern luxury: the four-poster beds in rich silks and cool cotton, and vintage clawfoot bathtubs make you want to laze the day away indoors.

The hotel lobby

Speaking of indulging, one must point out The Majestic Malacca’s Spa Village Malacca. What makes it special is how the therapies incorporate Peranakan elements. Each of YTL hotel’s spas possesses its own unique pre-treatment ritual, and Spa Village Malacca is no exception.

Here, the 20-minute hair treatment ritual is inspired by the first step in the traditional Peranakan wedding.

Combining a hair wash, scalp massage and hair combing, the treatment is a pampering experience. The spa’s therapies, too, are based on Peranakan and traditional Chinese belief that each person has either “warm” or “cool” energies.

Since I apparently have a “warm” body, they recommended that I undergo a “cooling” treatment: the Egg Rolling Body Therapy, in which Thai massage techniques are combined with the rolling of warm hard-boiled eggs to calm the mind and loosen tight muscles.

Not only was the vigorous massage perfect for stretching out my tired limbs, it also left me feeling energised. Other “cooling” treatments include the Yoghurt-Guava Leaves Body Scrub, Limau Kasturi-Yoghurt Hair Mask, and Bird’s Nest Facial with Star Fruit Mask.

The Mansion restaurant of The Majestic Malacca is beautifully decked out in authentic Peranakan style.

“Cool” energy folks, on the other hand, should try their Nutmeg-Rice Rolling Massage, in which a Balinese-style massage is followed by rolling nutmeg and rice over the body to reduce aches and wind. They can also try the Malacca Palm-Sugar and Honey Body Scrub, the Pandan-Coconut Hair Mask or the Bird’s Nest Facial with Fermented Tapioca Mask.

To get a real taste of Malacca, look no further than The Majestic Malacca’s restaurant, The Mansion (lunch and high tea are served in The Lounge). Featuring a tempting fusion of Nyonya-Portuguese and Western cuisine, the menu reflects the melting pot that is Malacca.

The Majestic Malacca retains its historical roots and has a uniquely Malaccan atmosphere.

Taking it one step further, TMM also offers cooking classes with their Peranakan Master Chef, Kenny Chan.

An expert at Nyonya cooking, Chan has not only opened several Peranakan restaurants, but also hosted a television cooking show in Singapore.

His interactive cooking classes walk guests through the intricate steps in authentic Peranakan cooking, followed by a sampling of the dishes.

For history buffs, TMM’s Historical Walk is the perfect introduction to Malacca’s glorious past. Starting off at the hotel itself, the tour covers the Malacca River on the boardwalk (keep an eye out for the very large monitor lizards!) and passes many historical landmarks.

Besides prominent sites like the Red Square, the A Famosa fort and St Paul’s Hill, the walk also covers lesser-known places like the old Cathay cinema, the Kampung Jawa footbridge and many pre-independence residences.

Even those who have been to Malacca before will gain new insight from this walk, thanks to The Majestic Malacca’s resident historical guide Donovan Casimir Louis.

The majestic bedroom

A Malacca native, Louis is full of fascinating stories and information about the various landmarks and sites. Apparently, he does his own research to furnish the most accurate information possible.

The 20-minute hair treatment ritual is inspired by a similar practice that’s part of the traditional Peranakan wedding.

By the end of the walk (which lasts almost two hours), you will look at the city with new eyes, appreciating the long history that lives in every street corner. This appreciation for the past is what sets TMM above the rest.

While care has been made to provide the comfort associated with an exclusive boutique hotel, the place retains its local touch, making it not just a hotel in Malacca but a truly Malaccan hotel.

The Majestic Malacca is currently offering a spa and high tea experience that combines a hair ritual, a body, face or hair treatment, and a high tea at The Lounge, available at RM180++ per person.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/

Map, Location and Driving Direction to The Majestic Malacca Hotel: