THE BABOON HOUSE, MALACCA, MALAYSIA
89 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 China Town, Malacca, Malaysia
OVERALL RATING: 43/50
$ – $$

Unfortunately photos aren’t allowed of the premises so my descriptions will have to do. However, I did manage to sneak some photos of the food.

Atmosphere 9/10
The Baboon House can be found along a small street in an old colonial house. The front of the cafe acts as an art gallery, but just through the foyer is a lovely indoor open courtyard. The walls are covered in a combination of paintings, greenery, wooden artefacts, knicks and knacks, and bookshelves. It’s comfortably airy, with fans all over the cafe to combat Malaysia’s humid heat. The decor of wooden chairs and tables, lounging seats, and vines cascading from the upper floor create a relaxed feeling the moment you enter. There is a noticeable traditional influence combined with a bohemian feel, not only by being in an old colonial house, but also with traditional chinese tiles on the floor, and in the decor, which uses earthy tones and textures like wood, ceramic, brown, green, and red.

Cleanliness 8/10
It was surprisingly clean considering how the entire cafe is filled with greenery and is mostly left to grow in a natural state.

Service 9/10
The service was great! The waiters were friendly, helpful, and relaxed. I am a pescetarian/vegetarian, and couldn’t find a burger without meat on the menu, but when I asked the waitress (who is also the owner), she made one especially.

Food 8.5/10
Burgers, burgers, burgers. There are so many combinations of burgers there’s bound to be something that piques your interest. The burgers also come with a side of wedges and potato salad, both of which were delicious (which I was not expecting at all).  As I said above, there weren’t any vegetarian/pescetarian options on the menu but if you ask for it they can make one especially. I got a hash brown burger, which at first sounds weird, but it was perfection. During my visit they were also serving homemade ginger beer, made by someone from Slovakia who worked at the cafe – it was pretty good and surprising strong! They also served desserts and cakes  for those wanting just a light snack, or a bit for tea whilst exploring Malacca.

Value 8.5/10
Due to its location in a popular tourist area, you can expect it to be a bit pricier than where the locals eat, but if compared with Australian burgers, it’s still a lot cheaper. To me, the quality of the burger, and atmosphere of the place really makes it good value. Being located near the main tourist hub of Jonker Street and Malacca Square also makes it super easy to get to. It’s a good place to go if you’re getting a bit homesick and just want a good burger.