906 Riverside Hotel Malacca

Rooms and decor

If your budget isn't huge but you'd rather not end up down some back alley, 906 Riverside Hotel Malacca is worth a look — a 3-star riverfront place that looks a little different from the usual budget block because it works in a mix of Chinese and Malay styling, and, more to the point, it actually sits on the Melaka River rather than just borrowing the name. Review scores hold steady at 7.9/10. The first thing reviewers praise is the room size — they run well past what the price would lead you to expect. Many are riverside units with a balcony, and some have a separate sitting area and sleep three, which suits a small family that doesn't want to pay for two rooms. Inside you get air-con, cable TV and proper blackout curtains. The thing to know going in: a few rooms have flaky AC or TV, and some bathrooms are awkwardly laid out with no shelf for your things — check the room at check-in and ask to switch if anything's off.

Food and amenities

This is a budget-focused 3-star, so the shared facilities are thin — no pool, just free Wi-Fi, parking and a reception desk. The people scoring it highly are clearly focused on value rather than holding out for anything fancy. The rooms do cover the basics, though, with toothbrush, toothpaste and drinking water provided, and reviews often mention that the beds are more comfortable than the price suggests.

Location and getting there

906 Riverside sits on the water near the Kampung Hulu Mosque, one of the city's old mosques, and it's about a 10-minute riverside walk to the heart of the old town — Jonker and the Dutch Square are both within comfortable walking distance. That walk along the river into the old town is honestly one of the nicest stretches of the trip, past old houses and riverside street art, so even though the hotel isn't right on Jonker itself, getting around on foot is still fun.

Things to know before booking

It's a basic 3-star, so don't expect resort facilities — there's no pool, and the shared spaces are limited. Some reviewers ran into faulty fittings, with the AC or TV not working as it should, so look the room over when you arrive. A handful of bathrooms are poorly laid out too — no shelf, nowhere to hang the showerhead. None of it is a dealbreaker at this price, but it's worth knowing before you book.

Our take

906 Riverside is a comfortable fit for backpackers, budget travelers and small families who want a big room with a river view without paying much for it. If you can live with the odd thing not being perfect, and you care more about room size and price than about polish, this is the best-value riverfront pick on this list.