Shopping in Malacca City

For a modern shopping experience in the middle of the historical city Malacca, head to Dataran Pahlawan in Banda Hilir. Surrounded by historical sites such as A’Famosa and St. Paul’s Hill, the nine-storey mall is chock-full of name-brand stores, entertainment centres, food and beverages outlets and souvenir shops, catering to visitors of all ages. Shopping malls aren’t top of the list in this city that is full of heritage, but if you’re looking for a one-stop place to check out the latest fashion, catch a movie, and grab a bite, this is the place to be.

Parking spots are aplenty if you’re driving (with parking rates of RM2 for the first two hours) , but the mall is also within a stroll of Malacca’s most famous museums and landmarks, so if you’re planning a day out in Malacca, definitely slot Dataran Pahlawan in your itinerary for a relieving pit stop.

Located just right across the pioneer shopping mall Mahkota Parade, Dataran Pahlawan features international fashion stores such as Esprit, Quiksilver and MNG, alongside well-known local brands like Nichii and Padini, each with generous floor space for a comfortable shopping experience. For more value for your ringgit, check out discount stores such as Brands for Less, Brands Outlet and Factory Outlet Shop – these might need a bit of scouring along the racks and piles to find the bargain you’re looking for, but is worth the time and you’ll get far more for your hard-earned money.

Besides fashion, Dataran Pahlawan also showcases a wide array of specialty shops – Toys R US, Perfume Avenue and Mr D.I.Y are some of the tenants in this massive shopping mall. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir for that special someone, Dataran Pahlawan has dedicated its basement level to a craft-and-souvenir market, so you’re bound to find something to buy for friends and family back home.

Dataran Pahlawan is also home to some of the most exciting entertainment outlets in Malacca – Golden Screen Cinema, a 10-screen cinema offering the latest blockbusters and local films in normal and 3D format; The Super Roller skating rink for a fun skating experience within a disco-esque environment; and Revo Archery, a place for you to discover your hidden archery skills.

The shopping mall also plays host to Coral Wonderland, the country’s first coral park. Located at Level 4 of the property, this one-of-a-kind attraction is Malaysia’s ‘most touchable aquarium’, providing the longest touch pool in Asia for those who would like a closer inspection of sea creatures. Several daily activities are also lined up for visitors who would like to witness the enchanting marine animals – these include shark feeding sessions and fun quizzes.

A variety of food and beverages outlets are available in Dataran Pahlawan and if you’re looking for some inexpensive local and Asian cuisines, you have come to the right place. Station Kopitiam and Kopitiam Express offers local café fare (think nasi lemak and fried mee) and awesome coffee, but for a full-blown dining experience, try out Restoran Asam Pedas Gula Melaka for spicy asam pedas fish; and Johnny’s Restaurant for a hearty steamboat meal. Burgers and fries are also an option here with the popular fast food chains such as McDonalds and Burger King both occupying outlet spaces in the mall.

Mahkota Parade is one of Malacca’s first shopping malls, housing almost 200 stores, including international brands, food-and-beverage outlets and entertainment centres. Opened in 1994, the four-storey shopping mall was recently refurbished to embrace a modern, sleeker look, and with new exciting tenants onboard, it is set to take the shopping scene in Malacca by storm.

With over 1,000 parking spaces, Mahkota Parade is Malacca’s favourite hangout spot, with locals visiting in large numbers, especially at weekends and on public holidays for casual shopping and leisure activities. The iconic shopping mall also sits right in the middle of the city centre, surrounded by Malacca’s most famous landmarks, such as A’Famosa, St. Paul’s Hill and across from its biggest competitor, Dataran Pahlawan shopping mall.

Mahkota Parade’s anchor tenants are Giant Hypermarket and Parkson Grand department stores, offering visitors a wide array of fresh groceries, inexpensive clothing and home appliances. Sales are especially frequent at Parkson, with periodical offers on items such as office attire, sport shoes and ladies’ handbags. For more bargains, the mall also has discount stores such as Al-Ikhsan (for quality sporting goods), All IT Hypermarket (for computer accessories) and Reject Shop (for casual international brands).

Besides quality goods, Mahkota Parade also showcases several beauty shops, with international and Korean skincare stores all lined up to cater for the fairer sex. The natural skincare brands, L’Occitane and The Body Shop, together with East-Asian favourites such as The Face Shop, Nature Republic and Etude House are all available in the mall, with prices slightly cheaper than their overseas outlets. Those looking for some pampering can head over to Fe’ Maritz for body treatments and refreshing facials.

For those wanting to catch the latest blockbusters in town, Mahkota Parade is also home to Lotus Five Star, a four-hall cineplex. Previously a Golden Screen Cinemas outlet, the cineplex was renovated in 2009, and was given a new life for a more comfortable movie-watching experience. Offering the latest blockbusters and local films, Lotus Five Star is one of the most affordable cineplexes around, costing only RM6 per ticket for all shows before 12:00.

Other entertainment outlets in Mahkota Parade include Ampang Superbowl, one of the biggest bowling alleys in Malacca; In Box Karaoke for those who would like to belt out Top 40 hits; and Wonderland, an arcade gaming centre. Music enthusiasts will love Inverno Music Station as it stocks hard-to-find CDs and merchandise at affordable prices. Look out for its specialized rock corner to hunt for your indie bands’ records.

ButWhile food choices are wide in Mahkota Parade, most of the cuisine focuses on local favourites and pan-Asian dishes. For a taste of Japan and Taiwan’s finest dishes, Sibaraku on the first floor gives you enough reason to come back for more, with its fresh sashimi platter and delicious udon – all reasonably priced. The Seleria Food Court, situated in second floor right across the Lotus Five star cineplex, centres around local cheap eats such as claypot chicken rice, char kuey teow and tau foo fah and has free Wi-Fi. Those hankering for fast food will be glad to know that food giants KFC, McDonalds and Pizza Hut are also available in the mall.