3 Best Hotels in Malacca, Malaysia

Within walking distance to Jonker Street and next to the Malacca River, Casa del Rio is the top choice for a central Melacca location. You'll get a taste (literally) of the excellent service in store when you're greeted at reception with a cooling towel and refreshing ginger-lime sorbet. Stylish, spacious rooms include balconies with wonderful river views, and the rooftop infinity pool with phenomenal city and river vistas is a delight. The hotel restaurant's food, particularly the Peranakan lunch and the Sunday riverside jazz brunch, comes highly recommended.

If you want to stay right in the middle of the action at a reasonable price, you can't do much better than this three-story hotel with an art deco facade right in the middle of Malacca's main shopping street. Rooms are large and simple, with modern interiors and free Wi-Fi, and the efficient, helpful staff are happy to recommend local restaurants and other things to do. Rooms facing the street are rather noisy at night (especially on weekends), so choose a back-facing room for a quieter stay.

On the banks of the Malacca River, this grand 1920s-era hotel, decorated in Peranakan Chinese style with teakwood detailing exudes luxury, from the floor-to-ceiling windows to the oversize bathrooms with claw-foot tubs. Ask for a room on a higher floor for the best views. The service here is first-rate; you're greeted with fresh tea in your room and delicious local sweets at turndown. Guests also shouldn't miss the Majestic's worthwhile complimentary two-hour walking tour to the city's many historic sites.