The Majestic Malacca is the latest venture by the same Malaysian hotel group that gave us the multiple award winning Pangkor Laut Resort and beautiful Tanjong Jara. I think this warrants enough credentials to stay here.

It's heartening to find that this lovely old mansion has been saved from demolition and refurbished as a boutique hotel. You only have to look at its ugly hospital neighbour looming up from the side to see how precarious was the fate of this heritage building!

The restored mansion is now the lobby, bar, library and a restaurant upstairs. The lourved windows and tiles are preserved so you get a feeling of really being in an old Malaccan house.

The original back portion of the building which used to house the servant/living quarters had to be sacrificed to make way for a new block of rooms. The building is thankfully not overwhelmingly tall or ugly or tasteless. Some people may be disappointed not to get to stay in the heritage house. But common sense will tell that it's simply too small to have enough rooms in it to justify the costs of running a hotel.

Rooms are very comfortable with beddings of cotton sheets and fluffy duvet. A nice lazy chair offers river views and the Malay village just opposite the hotel. Bathroom has modern marbled floors, rainshower and Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries. The sliding partitions allow you an open view of the bathroom! Wifi is also available in the rooms.

Only thing is the walls are a tad too thin. I had to call my neighbour at 3am to ask him to please tone down his war action movie. The layout of the hotel is such that our headrest of the bed is directly against the wall where the neighbouring room has its tv against... it would be nice if the management could put a polite note on the tv of every room asking everybody to RESPECT privacy of other guests. After all, why bother coming to Malacca and spend your time watching tv??

It would also be great if the hotel can offer brewed specialty coffee instead of some tasteless brand served at breakfast. And the lunch menu is boring and limited. But there are great local food available at cheap prices just outside the hotel and it's a waste to only dine on hotel food in Malacca!

Plus points of the hotel is its nice and welcoming atmosphere. Its location requires 15mins walk to the old quarters of the famous shophouses and other sights. It's nice to be away from that touristy area, yet the walk can be a bit tiring after a day of shopping and sightseeing. But there are many taxis or rickshaws. The hotel offers informative guided tours as well.