Home to one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, Melaka looks like a scene straight out of a historical film set in the 1950s. Aside from being known for its extravagantly decorated rickshaws and of course, lip-smacking bowls of icy chendol, Melaka’s café industry is slowly booming – giving way to lots of hipster eateries scattered across the city.

Credit: Giphy

Without further ado, here’s 8 halal cafes in Melaka that you can’t leave the city without trying!

1.     Halia Inc (Muslim-Owned)

A quaint riverside café in Central Melaka, Halia Inc is located in a renovated customized warehouse. Upon entering the café, you’ll be greeted by the stylish hipster interior design consisting of exposed orange bricks, wooden boards and recycled materials.

Credit: @amynasuhaa on Instagram

Some of the popular items on the menu include the Hawaiian Pizza and the Carbonara Spaghetti.

Credit: @itsmewinchell on Instagram

Craving for dessert? You can’t go wrong with waffles and ice cream! They have a variety of waffles in store such as the red bean waffles with matcha ice cream, banana waffles with salted caramel sauce, Oreo cookies with dark chocolate sauce and chicken mustard waffles!

Credit: @diahrlestari on Instagram

In addition to the Western fare, Halia Inc also offers delectable local sets such as Portuguese Baked Fish and Nyonya Curry Prawn. Talk about yummy! With all the good food that you’ll be able to sample, you can wash it down with mocktails such as the notorious Pina Colada and Lychee Mojito.

Address: No. 1 Jalan Merdeka, Quayside Heritage Centre, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka
Opening Hours: Tue – Thurs: 7.00am – 11.00pm, Fri – Sat: 7.00am – 12.00am, Sun: 7.00am – 10.00pm
Facebook | Instagram

[ P.S. Use our 3D2N itinerary for your next historical Melaka getaway! ]

2. Cofeology Café & Restaurant (Muslim-Owned)

Established in 2014, Cofeology’s owner made a decision to serve the Melaka community by providing a comfy setting for Muslim diners to sip quality coffee and savour local delicacies.

Credit: @suhir_javamari on Instagram

Tapping on the owner’s contacts and his experience as a certified professional barista from SCAE (Speciality Coffee Association of Europe), he began another chapter in the history of superlative coffee and also sourced for the freshest ingredients from fellow locals.

Credit: @suhir_javamari on Instagram

We would recommend the Cofeology Waffle Tower – a triple decked stack of waffles with a caramel drizzle and berries.  Another local favourite among the crowd is the Nasi Lemak – best served during breakfast of course  Once you’re done going local, have a go at the different artisanal coffee selection and light bites there.

Credit: @cofeologycafe on Instagram

Address: 23 Pangsapuri Ixora, Jalan Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs, Sat & Sun: 8.30am to 11.30pm, Friday; 10.30 am to 11.30pm
Facebook | Instagram

3. Dutch Harbour Café (Muslim owned)

Fancy a dinner by the river? Swing by Dutch Harbour Café, a cafe that is strategically positioned by the Melaka River! Be it a romantic night out with your significant other or a short catch up with your high school friends, this restaurant tops the list for the most amazing views of the city canal.

Credit: @frizalky on Instagram

The dishes served at the cafe are reasonably priced too! Dutch Harbour Café’s elaborate array of dishes cover both Western and Malaysian cuisine. We would recommend trying their monster burgers and other Western cuisine such as their pastas.

Credit: @j0hn_j0hnny on Instagram

Address: Jalan Laksamana, Bandar Hilir, 75100 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun: 9am to 11pm
Facebook | Instagram

4. Le Que Café (Muslim-Owned)

Listed as one of the top 10 halal restaurants in Melaka,  Le Que menu offers a myriad of Western dishes. Le Que is also known for its amazing local cuisine at unbeatable prices. The menu consists of lamb chops, Assam Pedas Ikan Pari, Pisang Bakar and Crème Brulee. Not to worry, there’s something for everyone!

Credit: @sitisarahgan on Instagram

It is also strategically located at Jonker Street, an Insta-worthy street that occasionally has night markets too. After taking a picture of your meal at Le Que, you can head over to Jonker Street to shop for antique collectibles!

Credit: @sitisarahgan on Instagram

Address: No.14, Jalan Lagenda 3 | Taman 1 Lagenda, Melaka 75400, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun; 11am to 12am
Facebook | Instagram

[ P.S. Still feeling hungry? Check out our ultimate guide to halal food in Melaka! ]

5. Sayyid Antique & Café (Muslim-Owned)

Not all cafes are following the trend of serving artisanal coffee and poached eggs on toasts. For example, the Sayyid Antique & Café offers simple and authentic Malaysian cuisine in a homely environment. With dishes like good old Nasi Ambeng and Nasi Lemak, this is one café experience you definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on.

Credit: @nongjianu on Instagram

Other crowd favourites include the Melaka Nyonya Laksa and good old Teh Tarik. Prices at this café ranges from 1.50RM to 15RM. Unlike other hipster cafes, this eatery replicates the design of old school coffee shops; swapping metallic chairs and polished wooden tables with plastic stools and marble tables. A perfect set up for your Instagram-worthy shot!

Credit: @mariatashah on Instagram

Address: 74, Lorong Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Thurs; 8.30am to 5.30pm (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Facebook | Instagram

6. De Reve Saloon Café (Strictly uses halal ingredients)

A café with a nail parlour and a hair salon? Count me in! De Reve Café and Salon is the go to place for youngsters (especially women) who enjoy a pampering session with a cuppa by their side. You’ll probably see lots of your fellow millennials order cup after cup of the café’s signature latte (RM7), topped with sleek swan latte art but the real winner here would be the fluffy waffles!

Credit: @yeem_tew on Instagram

We are honestly in love with their waffle daisy – a plate of homemade crispy waffles topped with fresh berries and creamy vanilla ice cream 

Credit: @jzunlim.zbaby on Instagram

Address: Jalan Kenanga 3/29, Taman Kenanga, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun – 11am to 8pm (Closed on Thursdays)
Facebook | Instagram

7. Truly Two Café (Muslim owned)

Truly Two Café is a boutique café located at Bukit Baru. The milkshakes are the best-sellers in this café. The variation of sauces and toppings makes these over the top milkshakes truly one of its kind in Melaka. Whether you’re a fan of chocolate or caramel drizzle, these monster milkshakes will definitely leave you feeling super satisfied.

Credit: @charissachong on Instagram

In addition to that, they also have unique lip smacking desserts such as the San Marco Nutella Pizza and the French Miniature – crème brulee served with vanilla ice cream, choc mousse and panna cotta. Recently, they have launched the Stickek – a cheesecake on a stick topped with melted chocolate or any of topping of your choice (Yes, I am not kidding!).

Credit: @trulytwocafe on Instagram

Other toppings include Lemon Meringue and Chocolate Madness – a combination of Nutella, Kit Kat, Maltesers and Cadbury. There are also savoury options such as the seafood salad and cheesy chicken nachos. You will definitely be leaving the café, completely stuffed and over the moon!

Credit: @edrynaaa on Instagram

Address:  No. 9, Jalan PNBB 2, Pusat Niaga Seksyen IV, Mukim Bukit Baru, Melaka, 75150 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun – 1pm to 9.30pm, Fri – 2.30pm to 9.30pm (Closed on Mondays)
Facebook | Instagram

8. NoahArt Café (Muslim-Owned)

Brought to you by the guys behind the Dutch Harbour Café, NoahArt Café is a quaint and cosy café located at Jonker Street. Their extensive menu includes Grilled Chicken Mandy rice, gourmet sandwiches like the London Salt Beef Sandwich and Soft Shell Crab Panini sandwich as well as good old Chicken Noodle.  (P.S. We heard that the London Salt Beef Sandwich is a bestseller!)

Credit: @cana_0000 on Instagram

For those of you intending to start the day right, their Western breakfast spread , served with a cup of coffee is also available there. You can also opt for the Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang for a change!

Credit: @noahartcafe on Instagram

Address: 9, Jalan Hang Lekiu, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs – 9am to 5pm, Fri, Sat, Sun – 9am to 11pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Facebook

[ P.S. Here’s 10 super affordable destinations in Malaysia for the ultimate weekend trip! ]

So there you go, 8 cafes to include in your Melaka café hunt. A common similarity among the cafes is the vast variety of cuisine served in each café, catering to the different taste buds that we all have. So let go of your worries when you’re travelling with friends of different ethnicities or the elderly who’s more inclined to the traditional dishes. Happy eating everyone!