Shopping

Shopping for souvenirs, handicrafts and traditional food is a popular activity for tourists and visitors to Malacca, especially those from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. There are several modern shopping malls around Melaka city and a heritage street that is famous for its antiques and handicrafts as well as cultural fashion. The best time for shopping is during the annual national shopping carnivals which throws fantastic discounts in most places.

Several shopping malls and complexes can be found within the inner city area of Malacca. The most popular malls are Mahkota Parade and Dataran Pahlawan. Mahkota Parade, which has over 200 outlets retailing all sorts of items including fashion, accessories, electronics, furniture, jewelry, watches, leather, bags and shoes, is a long established mall located in Bandar Hilir, opposite Dataran Pahlawan.

Dataran Pahlawan, which is just opposite Mahkota Parade, used to be an open field for events before it was converted into a massive shopping complex. Dataran Pahlawan Mega Mall, as it is known, is reputed to be the largest shopping center in southern Peninsular Malaysia. Another popular shopping destination for visitors, especially Singaporeans, is Jaya Jusco in Ayer Keroh, which is a department store but with additional tenants occupying the rest of the floors. Other smaller shopping centers and complexes such as Plaza Hang Tuah, Kota Mas and Soon Heng Plaza can be found around town. Another great place to check out for local snacks and spices that make great gifts to bring home is Tan Kim Hock Product Center in Jalan Bendahara.

Jonker Street is an iconic shopping destination in Malacca. Located along Jalan Hang Jebat, which is just across the bridge from Jalan Laksamana where the Stadthuys and other heritage buildings can be found, Jonker Street is probably the most popular place to shop for visitors and tourists to Melaka. While it first became famous for its antiques, today the entire street has become a tourist haunt with a diverse range of items and goods.

Along this street, visitors and tourists will find pleasant art galleries, fashion boutiques, traditional restaurants, trendy cafes and souvenir shops along the original antique outlets. Baba Nyonya fashion, which comes from the Peranakan Chinese community of Malacca, is especially popular among shoppers for its colourful Kebaya clothing and 'Manik-manik' shoes. Antiques ranging from porcelain to ceramics and pottery to brassware are sold in many of the shops, so if you're a relic hunter, you'll find Jonker Street to be an exciting catalogue of products. Art galleries here also stock contemporary paintings and crafts if you're into art.

Souvenirs and handicrafts including wooden carvings, toys, jewelry and T-shirts are found in abundance. On weekends, a Pasar Malam, or traditional night market, takes place along Jonker Street where visitors can find a larger range of the same products sold during the day. Traders set up stalls along the road, which becomes closed to vehicles, from 6 pm all the way to midnight. Bargaining is encouraged and prices can be high if you don't do so, as Jonker Street is a tourist haunt. The night market is also a great place to find local snacks and beverages along with novelty products from overseas.