Dig into the savoury Breakfast Champion, or opt for the sweet French vanilla custard pastry or the flat croissant topped with mango and passionfruit (All photos: The Edge)
Amid the tourist-packed streets of Melaka hide little spots rich with historical charm and delicious bites. Nip into these picks for respite, and tuck into savoury baked goods or sweet chiffon cakes with a drink or two.
Tucked along one of the city’s many packed alleyways, just a skip and hop away from the state’s oldest bar Sin Hiap Hin, is Sin See Tai. The quaint establishment — its dark wooden façade framed by plants and a small bench by the front door for those who prefer to savour their coffee in the warm outdoors — belongs to the same people behind popular Melakan haunts like The Daily Fix, Sharing Plates and, most recently, Kopi Harian.
Upon entering the café, one catches a whiff of roasted coffee beans and is greeted by the sight of a glass display case laden with cakes and pastries by the wooden front counter and cashier station. By the way, consider this your warning about the steep, narrow flight of stairs to the second floor seating area. Once you do brave your way up, though, you will be rewarded with a cosy space full of little nooks conducive to juicy conversation over a cuppa. Do snag the high bar stools by the large window lined with plants if you are on a mission to get that perfect Insta-worthy shot. It looks out to the brick wall of the building across the street though, so do not expect to be doing a lot of people-watching.
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Now, onto the main event — the baked goods, made by local bakery The Curious Bakers. The Breakfast Champion, a savoury option that combines top brunch delights into one buttery croissant sandwich hybrid, comes highly recommended by the friendly staff. The jammy egg with its gooey orange yolk baked into the centre and salty ham and garlicky pesto filling are a mouth-watering combo and great solution for any morning hangriness.
Even if you do not have a sweet tooth, the dessert options here are not to be missed. The French vanilla custard pastry is a cute flower-like confection topped with a dollop of pastry cream piped onto the centre like a daisy’s yellow disc. The top is coated in glossy brûléed sugar, which delivers a satisfying crackle when cut into. For a slightly less saccharine pick, the flat croissant, one of the joint’s bestsellers, is especially good with its mango and passionfruit flavour. The tangy fruit, spooned over a smothering of thick, lightly sweetened cream cheese, makes each bite seem like digging into a decadent slice of mango cheesecake.
Delicious nibbles aside, the best way to rate a café is the quality of its beverage offerings, and fortunately, Sin See Tai does not disappoint. The standard latté is served at just the right temperature — hot but not scalding — and the medium roast does wonders in milk-based drinks. For the caffeine sensitive who would still like something that warms the soul, the hojicha latté is deliciously nutty, with a hint of caramelised smokiness not unlike that of toasted black sesame.
18, Jalan Jawa. Open Wednesday to Monday, 10am to midnight. Closed on Tuesday.
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In recent years, Korean café culture has taken the internet by storm. Luckily for us who do not live or travel there, the aesthetic, characterised by its minimalist interior style and dreamy desserts that look like they could definitely tempt and trick wandering children into a fairytale witch’s abode or decorate a mad hatter’s tea table, can be replicated anywhere. In Melaka, Humble Ground is a great example of how that can be done right.
Housed in one of Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock’s many old shophouses, part of this spot’s charm comes from its well-maintained structure with wrought iron windows, which gives visitors a glimpse into Melakan history. The interior, however, boasts moody lighting and simple wooden furnishings. Floor seating in an alcove by the foyer gives the place a homey ambience, and a miniature oasis of plants and a water well past the cashier livens up the space. If the weather permits, sit outside at the sole al fresco table and you might be treated to the gentle tinkling of the wind chime hanging by the porch. Talk about setting the mood!
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Here, Earl Grey is popular across food and drink. A tall slice of the chiffon cake with strawberries is just the thing for an afternoon pick-me-up, thanks to the delicate sheets of airy sponge, though the tea flavour could stand to be more potent. The layers of fresh cream and succulent strawberries in between are, as the Asian palette demands, not too sweet. Fruity and aromatic, yet light, this is best savoured with coffee or, to really stay on theme, a pot of lavender Earl Grey that is sure to soothe the senses with its rich floral and bergamot notes.
Something else worth trying at Humble Ground are the signature scones, of which there are two versions — classic (aka plain) and cranberry. Served on adorable china plates, each comes with a soft square pat of butter and a puddle of strawberry jam.
The traditional one is everything one would imagine a scone to be — crumbly, indulgently buttery and ever so slightly sweet, making it the perfect vessel for the accompanying condiments. Meanwhile, its cranberry counterpart is a bit on the denser side, speckled through with tiny pieces of fruit that provide a chewy factor but does not do the aggravating thing of getting stuck between one’s teeth.
Overall, while the list of offerings is on the slimmer side, this quiet café is a calm sanctuary amid the touristy hustle and bustle at some of the other options in town. If taking a moment to slow down alongside an afternoon tea spread sounds more your speed, this spot is well worth swinging by.
24, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Open Friday to Wednesday, noon to 7pm. Closed on Thursday.
This article first appeared on May 5, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
