If I had to choose one word to describe Malacca City, it would be “diverse.” It all began hundreds of years ago when this maritime city became an important trading port linking the East and West. Its river, good harbor and the large volumes of cargo and travelers passing through its port account for the melting pot of cultures and people that make up the city today.

Malacca City offers all the conveniences visitors expect of a modern Malaysian city, including plenty of shopping malls and upscale high-rise hotels, but one of the most intriguing neighborhoods is in the area known as the Old City. Centering around Jonker Street, the area is filled with shops and restaurants that reflect the city’s ethnic diversity. You can buy trendy clothes, eat traditional Malay food, sip a German beer, visit a café serving coffee from Malaysian-grown beans and visit a Chinese temple.

Flower-festooned trishaws on Jalan Kasturi © Ellen Clark

Hop on a trishaw for the most entertaining way to get an overview of the Old City. Also known as a tricycle rickshaw or pedicab, drivers of the Malacca version go to extremes when it comes to decoration. You can pick from dozens of trishaws lavishly adorned with fake flowers, flags, balloons and toys. Cheerful drivers will pedal you around the Old City streets with pop music blaring while you snap photos and soak up the atmosphere.

From unique transportation to unique cuisine, Old City offers a number of restaurants specializing in a Malaysian dish called chicken rice balls — rice compressed into the size of a Ping-Pong ball and served with poached or roasted chicken, topped with a dash of homemade chili sauce. Hoe Kee Chicken Rice restaurant on Jonker Street, in business for more than 50 years, is an ideal place to try this tasty treat.

You won’t want to miss Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, one of the area’s main attractions. Built more than 300 years ago with materials brought from China, it is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. The photogenic building boasts intricate woodcarvings, panels and lacquer works.

If you need a pick-me-up, head to Calanthe Art Café, where locals and tourists alike come for coffee made from beans grown in 13 Malaysian states. The décor is total kitsch, including mismatched chairs and tables, offbeat art and eclectic items hanging on the walls and from the rafters.