Puteh Rooftop Bar Malacca
Monica Tindall
The team behind Puteh Beach Bar in Kuantan and The Crane in Chinatown KL have spread their good vibes, food and cocktails to Malacca with the opening of Puteh Rooftop Bar. Perched on top of Eco Tree Hotel, the bar provides a 360 view of the historical town’s roofscape and waters of the Straits of Malacca.
Puteh Rooftop Bar, Malacca
Think Greek islands when you imagine the décor with clean white and crisp blues dominating the space. Flowing fabrics pick up the gentle breeze creating movement in the chilled semi-alfresco setting. Three levels provide lounges by the pool, a glass-enclosed air-conditioned restaurant, private rooms, a mid-deck bar and an upper deck with 360-degree panoramas. Depending on the time of day, beats change from a relaxed, carefree mood to foot-tapping tunes as the crowd’s energy increases. Guests can look forward to regular live performances and events, so follow their social media pages to stay in the loop.
Puteh Rooftop Bar Food Menu
Puteh Rooftop Bar serves a range of western and local recipes. Our tastebuds seek international flavours with our wine and cocktails, and the Tapas Platter (RM 40) is a solid place to begin. Assorted cheeses, cured meats, pickled peppers, dried fruits, roasted almonds and anchovies on toast provide plentiful pickings.
More finger food, ideal for sharing, are Puteh’s Pizzas. You can order a whole pizza in one flavour or request half and half. We enjoy Spinach & Cream Cheese (RM 30) and Creamy Butter Shrimp (RM 27) on a thin, crunchy base. The former is easy eating with a cream base, mozzarella, cheddar, spinach and small cubes of cream cheese. The latter is a Malaysian-inspired number with shrimp, curry leaves and chillies.
A Classic Greek Salad (RM 20) fits right in with the Mediterranean vibes with its fresh appeal. Assorted lettuce leaves, olives, bell peppers, onions, cucumber, tomatoes and feta cheese are lightly (thank you very much) dressed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
The Chicken Burritos (RM 30) take things up a notch in terms of heartiness and provide excellent lining for the stomach before tasting all of those craft cocktails the bar promises. Toasted tortillas wrap chicken, bell peppers and onions. The sides of guacamole and pico de gallo allow diners to add seasoning to taste, and the fries do well in the sauces, too.
English Style Fish & Chips (RM 32) is another good option and pleasant rooftop-sea-view dining. The fillet is coated in Chef Rayvaldo Theseira’s house batter with flickers of dill and mixed herbs. The lime mayo stands up to any tartare sauce I’ve encountered, and chips and cabbage slaw are standard sides.
Ensuring there’s something for all stomach sizes, the Pan-seared Lamb Rack (RM 47) is another excellent value dish from the main menu. Three lamb chops seasoned in salt, pepper, paprika, fresh rosemary and a splash of vinegar are accompanied by pan-seared red and green peppers and zucchini. Puteh’s mint sauce is a winner, and the mound of garlic mashed potatoes guarantees no tummy leaves empty.
Dessert
We’re convinced to try dessert, and the chef recommends his Tiramisu (RM 20). It features the classic savoiardi biscuits soaked in coffee and layered with eggs, mascarpone and powdered chocolate. Instead of just the white, the whole egg is used, making the cream even richer in taste. The presentation is far more elegant than tradition. Plated in a martini glass, it’s topped with chocolate drops and mint leaves, with the ends of three biscuits poking out the top and a dusting of chocolate powder.
Drinks Menu
Happy Hours running Monday to Friday from 4 -7 pm must be some of the best deals in the city! Wine starts at RM 12 by the glass and RM 50 for the bottle, while beer prices begin at RM 15 per glass. A glass of Barwang, The Wall Chardonnay (RM 25) fits the classic character of an old-school Aussie chardonnay – buttery, a little oaky and well-priced for the label.
I do recommend trying some cocktails as they have a flair bartender creating the recipes. You could begin with a classic, such as a Mojito (RM 30), hubby’s style, or go with a craft cocktail, such as the Turmeric & Ginger Sour (RM 45). This drink features bourbon infused with turmeric and ginger, fresh turmeric, fresh ginger, fresh lemon juice, egg white and turbinado syrup. It has a nice bite to it and tastes deceptively healthy.
It’s great to see some local and regional influence in the Liheng Cocktails (RM 145 – 500ml bottle) and Suju cocktails. We can’t resist a Pink Guava Liheng Cocktail (RM 145) – always support local, right? Guests usually purchase the bottle and drink it as shots. It’s a lovely bright mix that tastes like fresh guava juice. We also enjoy K-Pop Summer (RM 25), a low-ABV beverage with red grapefruit, pomelo, soda and Jinro grapefruit. It’s fruity-sweet and refreshing.
Puteh Rooftop Bar, Malacca Review
Puteh Rooftop Bar brings new life to Malacca’s rooftops with panoramic views, hearty meals, value-for-money happy hours and upbeat vibes. Be sure to book a seat on your next getaway to the heritage town – good times are guaranteed.
Hot tip: book a romantic dinner in the restaurant by the window, and you’ll have the best seat in the house for the sunset. Just be sure to arrive around 6:30 pm to see the change from day to night!
Reasons to visit Puteh Rooftop Bar, Malacca: unique concept in Malacca; cool Mediterranean vibes; excellent sound system and DJs; check out the top deck at sunset; try a Liheng cocktail.
Puteh Rooftop Bar
Level 9, Ecotree Hotel
1Jalan Melaka Raya 9, Taman Melaka Raya
75000 Melaka, Malaysia
+60129667057
www. putehbeachbar.com
No pork, Halal-certified suppliers
Puteh Rooftop Bar Malacca Opening Hours
Daily 10 am – 1 am
Find more spots to explore in Malacca here and stay up to date with the happenings around Malaysia here and here.
Chicken Burrito does look good.
Coffee is on and stay safe
The fish fillet in the fish & chips look kinda sad. Love the look of the burritos.