Hatten Hotel Melaka

Attractive, modern spaces make up the interior of the Hatten Hotel Melaka, including the impressive lobby, which has tall ceilings, marble floors, and velvety gold chairs set throughout. Artsy petal-shaped ceiling fixtures hung with glittering crystal strings give the space a shimmery look and gold-tinged lighting adds a bit of glamor. This is a massive hotel, and though there are plenty of places for guests throughout, there can be crowds everywhere, often queuing up for the elevators. At the Alto Sky Lounge, on the 22nd floor, an open-air bar has panoramic views of the city. Exotic plants, flowering trees, and fountains add charm to the pool area, while funky orange lounge chairs in shallow water offer a spot for relaxing or watching the action in the pool on busy days. With lime green walls and sleek, black tables, the buffet restaurant on-site, Chatterz, has a trendy look. All in all, the hotel is a fine, if not particularly intimate choice -- it's attached to a shopping mall, after all. It draws all manner of tourists, from groups arriving by bus from Singapore, to families, couples, business travelers, and groups of friends.

In the modern area of Melaka, surrounded by other massive hotels and shopping malls, the hotel is convenient for guests looking to explore Melaka's historic sights. It’s connected to a shopping mall via an enclosed walkway over the road, and a two-minute walk leads to Mahkota Parade shopping mall. Melaka is a designated UNESCO World Heritage City and there are plenty of landmarks throughout the city. Destinations like St. Paul's Hill, Christ Church, and the Melaka Sultante Palace are all within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. Jonker Street -- a lively area of town popular with backpackers and travelers that's lined with shops and restaurants -- is just over a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and can be reached in less than 10 minutes by taxi or the hotel's shuttle. The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The Melaka International Airport is about 20 minutes outside of the city.

Rooms at the Hatten Hotel Melaka are bright and modern, if a bit corporate when it comes to style. Color palettes skew toward the neutral, with dark tan carpets, taupe accent walls, charcoal or mauve chairs, and off-white accents in the soft furnishings. The style is livened by wavy accents -- like padded headboards and chairs in some rooms -- but otherwise the look is straightforward and modern, with dark end tables, black table lamps with clean lines, and oval mirrors. A few pops of additional color come in abstract prints hanging on the walls. Some rooms offer city views, and all rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles for coffee or tea, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are sleek, with tan marble tiling, large mirrors, spacious black marble counters with raised sinks, contemporary fixtures, and walk-in showers. Higher-category suites have separate tubs and showers. Hatten Premium Suites additionally offer free minibar drinks, fruit platters, and access to the Premium Club.

The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet with a variety of regional dishes and continental offerings including an omelet station. Guests should keep in mind that breakfast can be extremely busy and sometimes an adjacent space is used to accommodate guests and less options may be available for latecomers. The buffet restaurant is open for lunch and dinner as well, and a la carte options are available. There’s a lounge with city views on the 22nd floor that's a fine place for a cocktail in the evening. The hotel has a coffee shop in the lobby. 

The infinity pool at the hotel is large and has fun features like in-water lounge chairs along with solid views across Melaka. There are a few lounge chairs on the deck plus a children's pool and poolside bar, though like many areas in the hotel, the pool can get crowded as well. The fitness center is particularly pleasant, with wood laminate floors and a good selection of modern cardio and weight equipment. There's also a spa, sauna, and a salon. Seven meeting rooms are available for private events, and free parking is available, though it's shared with the mall and waits for cars can be long. Free bicycle rentals are also available and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The hotel runs a local shuttle to Jonker Walk that is also free.