While we’re in Melaka, we stayed in Hotel Puri. It is a boutique hotel right in the middle of the old city Melaka near Jonker Street. When Ann first told me we’re staying in Hotel Puri, pinaulit ko talaga yung name. Ano Puri? Medyo natawa ako. If you’re Filipino you know what I’m thinking about kaya natawa ako sa name ng hotel. I immediately asked her if that’s like a legit hotel or some hotel where nawawala ang puri ng tao. hahaha. I’m so sorry. I have a dirty mind. Pardon me.
But upon checking pictures online, my mind changed. Hotel Puri has more to offer than its lovely name. The hotel looks beautiful in pictures. I love the old and dark look to it. Parang ang dami nang pinagdaanan ng hotel pero well maintained pa rin. My laughter and jokes turn into excitement. Although basing on the pictures, the hotel look rather small. Just look at the photo of me in front of the hotel above, it looks really tiny — yet very cozy and homey. I actually like hotels like this better than the luxury, modern hotels you see in the city. Accommodations like Hotel Puri make me feel more closer to home and have this feel to it like you’re just visiting your hometown in your grandparent’s house. This is just perfect for a guy like me.
A Hotel Rich in History
Hotel Puri is beautiful inside
The original building now housing Hotel Puri stretched from the street to where the hotel kitchen is today, a full 100 metres long. It had three airwells to let in air and light, and a water well which supplies water in the days when pipe water was unknown. The original water well still exists and is now standing near the former cafe entrance. Where the hotel garden and the L-shaped new wing stand today was an open area. The compound was used as a stable for the Tan family horses and parking area for horse carriages. In addition, it also housed a mini zoo said to have included a tiger and several deer. Except for the western influenced architecture of the Chee ancestral home opposite Hotel Puri, other buildings along this street including Hotel Puri is typical of Peranankan culture, a mix of Chinese, Western and local flavours. – from the hotel’s website
My Hotel Puri Experience
The 2nd floor doesn’t have any rooms you can lease, but is a perfect place for events/functions.
We arrived in Hotel Puri from Kuala Lumpur in the morning. Since it’s still early to check in, we left our luggage and went to Geographer Cafe to eat first. When we came back, the staff assisted us without any problems. My impression of the hotel is that pictures don’t lie. Ang dami kasing hotels ang gaganda sa pictures pero pagdating nyo parang 10 years pa pala yung mga pictures na nakalagay online. But not this hotel. It really is beautiful, even more when you see it in person. If you’re looking for a hotel with lots of character, you know you booked the right hotel the moment you set foot in front of the main door. This hotel gives me period type of ambiance. I love the reception area with the antiques and paintings that adorn the wall. There’s so much for your eyes to look at, and they’re all beautiful. Once we got properly checked in and we have our room access cards with us, we then were led to another door. And BOOM, the biggest surprise for me. Hotel Puri is actually a huge, spacious hotel. By just looking at the pictures of the front facade, you won’t even think it’s this big. I’m telling you, it’s a huge compound. It even has a courtyard where you can have breakfast or coffee under the frangipani trees, which is lovely, by the way. Looks can really be deceiving, and this is such a pleasant surprise. Very nice, Hotel Puri.
Hotel Puri is full of character. Just look at this!
Very Relaxing Ambiance
Since we’re 5 people and a room can only have a maximum of 3 people, we were separated in 2 rooms. I’m with Kay and Prissy, while Ann and Jobetha is in another room in another building. See, it’s that big. We’re not even under one roof. You need to cross the courtyard to get to their side of Hotel Puri. Aside from the comfort rooms in your room, there’s a lot of clean ones outside as well. That’s a plus for me. There’s also like a prayer room and areas you can lounge and read a book. And a history room, too! We then went to our room. And wow, it’s spacious and the interior matches the overall look and atmosphere of the hotel. I must say the price is very reasonable for all these surprises.
Inside Our Room
This is my side of the room
Hello, guys! With Kay and Prissy. Chillin’ like a villain?
I went to Ann and Jobetha’s room to check if they have the same interior. And yes, it’s just the same. Theirs just have 2 single beds. The design is the same. I also like how you can’t hear the people walking in the hallway or the guests talking in the adjacent room. No ‘street sounds,’ too. Good sound proofing. Though there seems to be a construction I can hear somewhere outside. I believe the hotel is undergoing some renovations. This only happens in the morning, so you don’t have to worry about your good night sleep. The staff are very easy to reach, too, via the telephone. Pero hindi sila naghahatid sa room ng kailangan mo, dapat ikaw pumunta dun para i-pick up. I needed an extension outlet kasi and I asked them for one, ayun punta raw ako dun to pick it up. Okay lang naman, bawal ang primadonna. Ang sarap ng stay ko sa Hotel Puri, para kasing nasa retreat house lang ako, nakaka relax and napaka chill ng atmosphere.
Selfie in the other room with Ann. kamusta naman yung suklay na hawak ko. This is after I prank called her. haha.
Hotel Puri also comes with free breakfast. The best thing about it is you get to eat in the courtyard! How lovely is that? But I wasn’t able to do that because I went out the night before and got drunk. I was still sleeping while everyone’s having breakfast! I have to thank my friends for not waking me up. Respect the drunk and only guy. LMAO.
Haunted Hotel?
Just want to share something. Before we went on our Malaysia trip and we’re still in the Philippines, researching and planning our itinerary, I remember when we were Googling Hotel Puri and the keyword “haunted hotel” popped up. Prissy got scared! We were even discussing how Melaka is an old city and there might be some paranormal events that are likely to happen. Parang Baguio lang at Teacher’s Camp, mas marami pang multo kesa sa buhay na tao. hahaha. So meron kaming ganyang mga haka haka. Pampadagdag ng excitement.
So the night I went out with Ann to party in Jonker Street, naisipan ko na humingi na lang ng extra access card sa front desk para hindi ko na gigisingin kasama ko sa room pag-uwi ko. Eto lang ha, ang dali nila magbigay ng extra access card sa room. They didn’t even confirm my name or asked for identification or called the room to verify if I’m really staying in that room. I just went to the front desk and asked for an extra access and said the room number and voila, they give you the access card na. Naisip ko tuloy yung security. What if I said a different room? Nabigay din kaya nila yung access sa akin? Oh well, benefit of the doubt. Maybe they have some secret process of knowing or verifying. Pero ayun nga, so may access na ako at hindi alam ng mga kasama ko sa room na may access ako sa door. Alam nila kakatok na lang ako. Since wala pa naman si Ann, naisipan kong bumalik sa room para ipaalam na may access na ako at di ko na sila kailangan gisingin mamaya. Pagdating sa door ng room naisipan ko takutin si Prissy at Kay. Naririnig ko sila naguusap sa loob. So ang ginawa ko dahan dahan kong binuksan yung door tapos sasarado ulit. Paulit ulit. Tapos narinig ko si Prissy and Kay sa loob natatakot na, nagtuturuan kung sino magchecheck ng door. Nung medyo parang freak out mode na sila pumasok na ako. LMAO. Pangalawang beses ko na sila natakot sa Hotel Puri. Earlier that night kasi tinakot ko sila sa hallway. Nagtago ako sa may fire exit tapos nung naglalakad sila umungol ako na parang ghost. Hindi ko kinaya si Prissy tumakbo talaga ng paurong habang tumitili sa takot. hahaha. Kung may video nga lang nun for sure trending na sya online now, mga 50 milion views na siguro. hahaha.
Anyway, going back to Hotel Puri being haunted, like the real haunting, we never experienced anything weird or paranormal during our stay. The atmosphere and mood can feel really old and dark, but other than that, the hotel is such a pleasure. So no ghosts for us in Hotel Puri or in Melaka in general. Huwag kayo maniwala sa Google.
Sabi nga sa Poltergeist, “This hotel is clean.”
There’s also souvenir and food you can buy
Going up?
Me and Ann in front of Hotel Puri
Overall, for the beauty and the price you pay, for the accommodation and the free breakfast, there’s no way I will complain about my stay in Hotel Puri. I am the type of guy who chooses the atmospheric accommodation over the 5-star ones, and I am more than happy with what Hotel Puri offers: location, mood and service. The staff is very friendly and accommodating from the moment we entered the hotel until the day we checked out. I really love the courtyard, too bad I missed having breakfast there. There’s also a spa, but we didn’t try their service.
You might consider this as your go-to hotel in Melaka. Hotel Puri will not disappoint for those looking for a boutique hotel with character.
Hotel Puri
118, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca Johor and South, Melaka, Malaysia
+60 6-282 5588
