The very popular street at the center of Melaka has many names. You can have your own preference to call it as Jalan Hang Jebat, Jonker Walk, or Jonker Street. Tourists prefer to call it Jonker Street where rich colonial families resided.
Today, this narrow pathway has evolved into a haven of bargain hunters and antique collectors. You can find here 17th century old antique pieces, lamps, cast iron beds, decorative brass ware, handmade Chinese porcelain, and authentic paper money and old coins that were used by the early traders of Melaka. Valuable Buddha statues and some rare pieces created by locals from various Melakan eras can be found here.
You can get great deals and offers while shopping here. In fact, Jonker Street is an ideal spot to catch for rare center pieces and finds. Some of the popular antique dealers in Jonker Street are Abdul Company offering lamps, cast iron beds, brass ware, Chinese porcelain, and antique furniture; the equally famous second hand shops T.K. Kutty and Hj Abu Bakar can be found at Nos. 25, 26, and 55. Interestingly, you can find in these shops some antiques from 16th century and some Victorian collections.
Jonker Street actually belongs to the old Chinatown of Melaka. This is aside from the fact that the Chinese are the usual occupants of Jonker Street apparently making this street closely associated to Chinatown. Nevertheless, Jinker Street covers Jonker Walk and this is the right spot of the Jonker Walk night market, something that you should not miss when touring Melaka.
Jonker Street is widely known for its one of a kind and valuable finds but during weekends at around 6 pm, the street is changed into an amusing carnival like event where many expectant tourists are looking forward to. The Jonker Walk night market is the usual activity that happens weekly for locals where they install shops and display their items to sell.
You can take home from the night market some one-of-a-kind wares that reflect their cultural heritage like ethnic and local Melakan fare, ornamental jewelry and wooden clogs, souvenirs, and handicrafts. Prices ranges and might go higher for visitors however some stalls might accept bargaining. This fascinating bazaar kind of shopping extravaganza at Jonker Walk night market is a must-not-miss while visiting Melaka.
Wide range of food choices are also famous in Jonker Street in Melaka making this street a very popular district in Melaka, Malaysia in terms of food and entertainment. You can find here variety of food choices from various cultures. The Baba Nyonya delicacies are best to try to complete your trip in Melaka. The street is studded with cafes and shops during daytime and turns into food stalls at night. Jonker Street is full of activities anytime of the day. Wide choices of food and drinks are catered in Jonker Street. Among the best choices are the ice cold desserts which hungry visitors should try.
There are signature foods that you must try when visiting Melaka. These include herbal eggs, Vadai, fried carrot cake, barbeque squid, Popiah, fried radish cake, pineapple tarts, Hongkong style curry fish ball, Put Chai Ko, candied fruits, seaweeds, Dim Sum, and Chicken Rice Balls. This is only part of the entire list of foods that you ca taste while strolling Jonker Street.
If you enjoy nightlife, you can find karaoke nights where you can sing to your heart’s content. Choices for song dialects are Hakka, Hokkien, Mandarin, and English.
Even though Jonker Street made adapted some modern ways and made some improvements in their lifestyle, it has always preserved its cultural tradition and charm. This is very apparent with their shops, houses, and buildings that were made with specific pillars and carvings to show the heritage and culture of Melaka, Malaysia.