Courtyard by Marriott is a sub-brand under the Marriott umbrella and denotes the more affordable range of hotels in the Marriott range of hotels.
Hotels under the brand are built to strict standards and you can reasonably expect a certain level of luxury when you choose to stay at one of their many establishments.
There are currently 3 Courtyard by Marriotts in Malaysia: Setia Alam, Georgetown, and the newly opened one in Melaka by developers Yong Tai Berhad who also opened The Pines hotel previously in Melaka.
Courtyard by Marriott Melaka opened its doors officially in early 2023 and we were invited for a weekend of food and exploring the city of Melaka. Here’s our thoughts on the new hotel and who we feel will benefit from the stay the most.
Courtyard by Marriott Melaka Looks Luxurious
Courtyard shares the land with The Apple, a serviced residence developed by Yong Tai Berhad as well but there are separate parkings and entrances.
From the outside, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve accidentally driven into someone’s condo, but things start looking up on the inside.
Like all good hotels, the reception area is suitably grandiose with marble, custom-built rattan furniture, and lots of warm light mixed together with natural sunlight.
The ground floor also houses the restaurant Courtyard Cafe and the bar and lounge, 1939 Lounge.
We stayed at the Straits room with a view of the Malacca Strait in the distance and we’d recommend a room with this view too. The room had 2 double beds and room for 1 crib. The crib was one with metal bars so parents take note.
The bathroom had one of the most powerful rain showers we’ve ever experienced and it was comparable to sitting under a waterfall—yes, no hyperbole, it was that good.
However, all that power came with some down sides as whenever your upstairs neighours (or downstairs we can’t be sure) turned on their showers, you can hear the pipes rattling quite loudly. Speaking of noise, you can hear full conversations from people speaking outside of your room.
It’s a little strange that sound travels so well from outside your room, but that’s what we faced. Door slamming in the middle of the night was also an issue. That said, there’s no footstep noises nor road noise. Besides the noise from the pipes and through the door, the hotel room is silent and blocks noise from other directions.
Also, a tiny nitpick about the TV. We’re not sure why, but many hotels have TV listings that don’t match with their guides. In our room, HBO was missing altogether. We didn’t use the TV much anyway, but it’s a gripe we hope more hotels pay attention to.
Exceptional food at Courtyard Café Weekend Buffet
The Weekend Buffet every Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 10pm is priced at RM158nett for adults and RM80nett for children aged 5 – 12, and seniors above 60 years old.
For the price, we were pleasantly surprised by the impressive spread on offer at the buffet. Fresh sashimi, roast lamb rack, and salmon wellington served as the main stars of our night. Tagging alongside the main stars were the foot-long satays, roast chicken, and fresh seafood on ice.
Of all these, the sashimi and the lamb rack were the standouts. The lamb was particularly flavourful and cooked to perfection.
Everyone knows the feeling of going to a hotel buffet, at first you’re excited by all the options and you load one of everything onto your plate only to find maybe one exceptional dish, 5 okay ones, and 4 that you won’t go seconds for.
At the Courtyard Café, we found that actually, most of the food on offer was exceptional or at least good. We went for seconds for many of the main dishes and happily explored the spread.
We'd also like to point out the fondue station and the ice cream bar as standouts. The ice cream in particular weren't the cheap frozen types you find in most buffets, the ice cream was creamy and tasted bespoke.
The breakfast menu was also similarly stocked with goodies. Of note is the amount of fresh cheese to choose from at their cold items bar. They also have a nice selection of nuts paired with muesli that we appreciated.
These items aren’t commonly stocked at local hotel buffets as people prefer to eat traditional (read: unhealthy) options at breakfast buffets like nasi lemak, bacon, pancakes, and various deep fried foods.
The cold items are also typically more expensive on the menu so their inclusion hinted at the generosity of the kitchen as well as their awareness of foods that will attract foreigners.
Great facilities for corporate clients or functions
Given its location, facilities in the hotel, and the general vibe, we think companies will be able to make the most of the hotel.
There’s plenty of conference rooms with parking directly to the conference room floors, plenty of spacious private spaces to conduct team lunches or activities, and there’s also a VIP dining and conference room in the restaurant and the conference hall area.
When we checked in, there was already a big group of people staying there for a company retreat. They booked the halls for their event and the outdoor eating area of the pool for their own luau.
While the executives were upstairs enjoying their catered party, down in the main restaurant, we saw a birthday party being celebrated there, which tells us that Courtyard by Marriott already has a reputation as a good place for functions.
It’s Malacca’s hip new place to hang out and we suspect that given some time, the 1939 Lounge will be a popular place for people to grab a casual drink outside of the busy Jonker.
Though families may opt to stay here, the limited facilities for families and basic children’s pool area limits the amount of time you can stay at the hotel and entertain your kids. For couples looking for a retreat, the hotel is comfortable, but not exactly romantic.
You can walk to Jonker street from your hotel, but Melaka is the opposite of a pedestrian-friendly state so you’ll have to do that at your own risk. We walked to the nearby Bulldog restaurant and there were no walkways, no zebra crossings, and no care for pedestrians by the local drivers.
We recommend walking towards Bulldog which is only 400m away for some nighttime nosh as the nyonya food there was outstanding. You can only get a seat if you book and the proprietor has a bunch of rules for you to follow, but it’s all worth it for the good food.
You can also find the local favourite cafe Sharing Plates there and Donald & Lily at the Bendahari. Sharing Plates is notably by the people who created the Daily Fix, a Melaka cafe staple.
For more affordable bites, there’s also Seri Erra Kopitiam Roti John closer by and a Chinese food court in the opposite direction.
Courtyard by Marriott Melaka Overall Verdict
The 24-hour gym was well-appointed, with a nice view of Melaka, and the infinity pool had a bright tropical vibe to it. If you’re from Malacca and you’re thinking of a staycation, Courtyard is a good option because of how new it is and the offers they have.
If you’re from another state looking for a place to stay that’s out of the hustle of Jonker, you may consider this hotel as well. If you’re the kind of traveller who walks to experience the city, you might want to look at other options closer to Jonker.
Also, if you do decide to stay, don’t miss the weekend buffet. Make sure to go early before the crowd snaps up the lamb and stick around for the fondue and ice cream.
To keep up to date with Courtyard by Marriott Melaka, follow them on Instagram, or head to their website. They’re currently running a Family Escape package for 2 adults and 2 children that includes two rooms and breakfast included.
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