Compact classic and comfortable
Gingerflower is among the many former residences of well-heeled Peranakans along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock or Heeren Street converted to boutique hotels.
The building itself is protected by UNESCO and is characteristically long and narrow (tax was paid on street frontage) with three interior light wells, which allow air to circulate. This means rooms are rather small, and the majority have windows opening to the courtyards.
However the interiors are light-filled, comfortable and welcoming, with polished golden timber floors, white-limed walls and wooden shutters that will block light for sleeping. Simple classic styling is understated but luxurious, with plush pillow-top beds and down pillows, with batik runners and throw cushions adding local colour. Furniture is minimal due to the room size.
Amenities include air-con, large flatscreen TVs, in-room safe, minibar and tea-making facilities. Opulent pale-coloured marble ensuite bathrooms are partitioned from the rooms with opaque glass walls adding an impression of more space. They are equipped with hot-water rain-showers, but no tubs. Although comfortable, most rooms are a little too compact for our taste to spend much time in, however super deluxe and premium deluxe rooms are more spacious and premium deluxe adds a furnished balcony to enjoy the passing river traffic.
Your included breakfast can be enjoyed in the lobby-cafe, one of the leafy furnished courtyards or in bed. Gingerflower Boutique Hotel makes a worthy midrange base in the thick of the action. Hereren Straights Hotel and Heeren Palms Suites up the road are so similar to Gingerflower we suspect that if they don’t have the same owners, then they hired the same architects for the reno. They are also great choices, with both a tad roomier and pricier. Also along the same style and worth considering is Courtyard @ Heeren.
Address: 13 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Melaka
T: (06) 288 1331; F: (06) 281 1331
Email: info@GingerflowerBoutiqueHotel.com
Web: http://gingerflowerboutiquehotel.com
Coordinates (for GPS): 102º14'52.06" E, 2º11'40.32" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: 250 to 500 ringgit
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
Superior double room Weekdays. Weekends 276 ringgit. | 233 ringgit | 233 ringgit |
Deluxe double room Weekdays. Weekends 318 ringgit. Premier: Weekdays 318 ringgit, weekends 403 ringgit. | 276 ringgit | 276 ringgit |
Reviewed by
Sally Arnold
Sally spent twelve years leading tourists around Indonesia and Malaysia where she collected a lot of stuff. She once carried a 40kg rug overland across Java. Her house has been described as a cross between a museum and a library. Fuelled by coffee, she can often be found riding her bike or petting stray cats. Sally believes travel is the key to world peace.
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