Settling In at The Settlement Hotel

Malacca’s hidden gem features colonial style rooms and Malay villas made of wood.

Truth be told, hotels in Malacca are a dime a dozen – scattered everywhere from the riverfront to the fringes of the old town, they offer various levels of comfort and experience determined solely by your budget. So, where do you stay when you want that sweet spot that features an immersive heritage experience within a flashpacking budget while being situated not too far from the city? The answer’s in the title isn’t it?

The Settlement Hotel Malacca — (Image: UPPRE)

There are two things The Settlement Hotel is most proud of – its hospitality and the rich history of Malacca. We’ll get to the hotel’s immaculate service in a bit but the pride it takes in ensuring a wholesome Malaccan experience for guests deserves the preceding mention. Having taken shape in a 1960’s 4-storey government building, the hotel has set out to ensure the architecture of the original edifice is kept intact as much as possible in its new incarnation. Even its location screams of history – its right by the entrance to the illustrious yet endangered Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, and a stone’s throw away from other historical destinations such as St. John’s Fort and the Fishing Village.

Playing off of Malacca’s historical juxtaposition of traditional Malay homes and colonial structures built by the Dutch, Portuguese, and British, the hotel grounds feature rooms of various designs to tickle your fancy. After a well-thought-out 2 year renovation process, The Settlement Hotel now features 45 rooms called Residences that are built into the original structure while 4 villas constructed out of word to resemble old-style Malay houses are “spread elegantly” in the hotel garden.

Facility-wise The Settlement Hotel checks off basic boutique hotel requirements – it has a small swimming pool, a spa facility that offers massages and other therapies, as well as a café. The décor adds to the boutique experience too as a “350-year-old prized Sultan Bed” greets guests as you check in. The rooms are simple yet elegant, with wood finishing to keep it grounded to the concept of the entire premise.

And of course, the immaculate service provided by the staff is another – if not the main – reason why you should get settled in at The Settlement Hotel the next time you visit Malacca.

Thinking of a staycation in Kuala Lumpur instead? Check out our review of the newly-opened Alila Bangsar here and the boutique skyscraper Hotel Stripes here.