Guest house | Community | Coffee

Our Mersing

For more information on where to visit over your stay at KakakTua, please see the KakakTua Mersing Factsheet and please contact us if you have other suggestions for us to include.

Mersing is a coastal town in southeast Malaysia, well known as the departure point for ferries to offshore islands such as Pulau Tioman and Pulau Rawa. The town center is home to the ornate, Hindu Sri Subramaniam Temple. Nearby, the hilltop Masjid Jamek Bandar offers panoramic views. To the north, the village of Air Papan has a beach. To the west, the Gunung Arong Recreational Forest houses hiking trails and a waterfall.

Despite its estimated population of 71,000, Mersing should not be viewed as a mere stopover, a transient path to an offshore isle. The town possesses a quiet charm that in many ways represents a fast disappearing small-town culture that once pervaded all of Malaysia. It has yet to see any typical signs of major economic and urban development.

Three main roads run through the town. There are only two junctions with traffic lights and only two traffic roundabouts. The two main roads are lined with traditional and modern shophouses that provide a range of modern services. There are traditional fruit sellers, grocers and modern supermarkets, plus a range of local restaurants and fast food outlets, several open 24-hours.

Mersing is a throwback to the small town look and temperament that existed in Malaysia some 20 or 30 years ago. The town's appeal lies in its out-of-doors, its slow-paced life and natural surroundings such as jungle reserves and unspoiled beaches and rocky coasts. Air Papan and Penyabong beaches are about 15 and 30 minutes drive north of the town respectively. There you can glimpse the remaining vestiges of traditional seaside Malay village life. A must do is to circumambulate the centrally orientated hill that shoots up right behind the Hindu temple, very near to the roundabout, a short walk from the bridge.

Mersing is easy to walk through and you can get a good idea of everything in the town within 30 min of walking around.

For more information on where to visit over your stay at KakakTua, please see the KakakTua Mersing Factsheet or our FAQs page.

KakakTua’s Guide to Mersing

What to do in Mersing
Mersing Town Walking Tour
Mersing Town Walking Tour

WALKING TOUR

Take a walk along the riverside and see the colourful fishing boats moored (one road up from Jalan Sulaiman) up past the main passenger jetty and keep heading north where you’ll reach the beach and seaside park. Lovely to take a stroll here in the evening which is a favourite spot for walking and jogging and families playing at the end of the day. Also a great spot if you’re an early riser and want to watch the sun rise over the islands to the east.

If you still have the energy when you get up to Mersing Hospital, cut inland and walk up to the main Mersing Mosque on Jalan Mesjid for great elevated sea views. The walk is uphill but you are just under 1km away from KakakTua when you arrive.

Another nice stroll is towards KFC (turn left out of KakakTua), cross the river on the main bridge and turn right alongside the river. You’ll find fruit stalls, goreng pisang (fried bananas) and kerupuk lekor sellers lining the riverfront. Keropok lekor or fish sausage is a traditional Malay fish cracker snack originating from the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. It is made from fish and sago flour and seasoned with salt and sugar. Walk past these and down to the seafront where there are stalls selling barbecued fish and other Malay foods (see Satay Nitar above).

Talk to our staff to find out more or get some recommendation.

Sri Mersing Cafe
Sri Mersing Cafe

COFFEE SHOP

Our neighbourhood café locates just two doors down from KakakTua. It is the oldest originally preserved coffee shop in town and so charming. They serve soft boiled eggs (traditional coffee shop style) with toast and tea or coffee. You can also order kaya toast (white toast, big slathers of butter and caramelised coconut jam). They also make excellent peanut cookies, and home-baked buns and tarts and at the back of the shop. At breakfast time, there are packets of nasi lemak (coconut rice with chilli sambal) or fried bee hoon (vermicelli) wrapped in banana leaf on display which you can help yourself to. Auntie speaks enough English to help you out with orders. She’ll come and tot up your bill at the end of your meal. Cash only.

Location on Google Map

Masjid Jamek Bandar Mersing
Masjid Jamek Bandar Mersing

MOSQUE

Masjid Jamek Bandar Mersing sits on a hilltop with stunning blue and white architecture. You can enjoy the views of the South China Sea, the rivers and the town of Mersing. The masjid broadcasts the night-time prayers for the community.

Location on Google Map

Hock Soon Temple
Hock Soon Temple

CHINESE TEMPLE

If you are looking for something historical in Mersing, go to Hock Soon Temple. It is one of the most beautiful Chinese temples around the town.

Hock Soon Temple was constructed in Taoist style. And, it is already a century old. This temple is dedicated to the god of prosperity known as Tua Pek Kong. You can find this temple along Jalan Jemaluang.

Location on Google Map

Sri Subramaniam Temple
Sri Subramaniam Temple

HINDU TEMPLE

Sri Subramaniam Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Subramaniar or Murugan, a Hindu deity. The template is a short walk from Hock Soon Temple.

Location on Google Map

Muzium Mersing
Muzium Mersing

LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Built around 1920s, the Mersing Museum building is one of the oldest structure in town. It used to be the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army operations during WWII.

Today the museum exhibits artefacts that paint a vivid image of Mersing’s history. The entrance is free and the museum closes on Wednesdays.

Location on Google Map

Air Papan Beach
Air Papan Beach

BEACH

Mersing has several popular beaches you can visit. One of them is Air Papan Beach. This place is not far from the jetty. The beach has some beautiful scenery with a line of coconut trees and rice paddies along the coast of the beach. The beach also hosts a local festival — Pesta Air Papan — on May 1st each year with choices of local food, entertainment and games.

Location on Google Map

Loke Tien Yuen (樂天園酒家)
Loke Tien Yuen (樂天園酒家)

CANTONESE FOOD

Our favourite Chinese restaurant in town which has been there for generations and is one of the oldest Chinese restaurant in Mersing. They serve classic Cantonese dishes as well as excellent dishes like fresh steamed fish, asian veggies (sambal kangkong, garlic kai lan), sweet and sour pork, steamed chicken, char siew (roast pork), sweet and sour pork and rice washed down with hot Chinese tea. The price is very friendly too. The restaurant has no air condition and we strongly recommend to make early reservations due to its popularity.

Location on Google Map

Restaurant Syed Ali
Restaurant Syed Ali

INDIAN FOOD

Syed Ali is one of the cheapest and best little (Mamak) restaurants you’ll find in Malaysia. There is nothing fancy about the restaurant but the food is delicious. Roti Kosong, Lamb Curry (Kambing Kurri) and Tandoori Chicken are the crowd’s favourite and comes at a friendly price of about MYR 15. No Alcohol is served here.

Location on Google Map

Calypso Cafe
Calypso Cafe

INTERNATIONAL FOOD & PUB

Calypso serves a mixed menu of western and local Malay foods and often has funky music playing too. The owner and the services are friendly. No alcohol is served here as it is a hall restaurant. The café has no air conditioning. We recommend mee goreng mamak (dry fried yellow noodles), nasi Arab (rice Arab-style) and char kway teow (dried stir-fried rice noodles). If you also crave a creamy spaghetti carbonara, this is your spot!

Location on Google Map

Mersing Seafood
Mersing Seafood

CHINESE SEAFOOD

Located on the Main Rd. near Guardian, Mersing Seafood has the reputation of being one of the best Chinese restaurants in town. The price is slightly more expensive other restaurants in Mersing but is still a good value for money. The restaurant also serves beer and has air-conditioning but no view. We recommend the BBQ or salted egg squid, veggies and seafood dishes. Ask the owner or the staff what are fresh that day.

Location on Google Map

Fong Kopitiam
Fong Kopitiam

CHINESE | MALAY | SEAFOOD

The restaurant is a popular place with locals with lower price dishes than Mersing Seafood. the restaurant serves a mixture of Malay and Hokkien cuisine.

Location on Google Map

Chicken Delight Mersing
Chicken Delight Mersing

CHICKEN RESTAURANT

Like a better version of KFC done Mersing-style — this institution has been in town more than 30 years. Don’t be put off by the dark glass outside and the fact you cannot see in. They do excellent fried chicken and kari mee (curry soup and yellow noodles that goes very well with “sambal” - chilli paste) that is so good, vouched by our very own KakakTua team. The restaurant is closed and air conditioned so don’t expect views — people just come here to eat!

Location on Google Map

Rasa Sayang
Rasa Sayang

INDIAN RESTAURANT

Locates just around the corner from KakakTua. The restaurant opens early (around 7am) and serves excellent roti prata. Try the roti kosong (plan Indian bread) with curry sauce and dhal or roti telur (Indian bread with an egg mixed in). Drink this with teh tarikh (sweet milky tea) or a kopi (sweet milky coffee). If you don’t want the sweet or milky order a teh’o or kopi’o. If you don’t want sugar say kosong. So a kopi’o kosong is a black plain coffee. If you want it cold just put “ice” on the end of your order. The owners speak English here so can help you out. Cash only.

Location on Google Map

Restaurant Chin
Restaurant Chin

COFFEE SHOP

A typical Chinese style coffee shop where locals go to slurp on wanton mee (wanton noodle) for breakfast and catching up on the latest news before the start of the day. The restaurant also serves hawker food and local coffee.

Location on Google Map

Ee Lo 一而海鲜餐厅
Ee Lo 一而海鲜餐厅

CHINESE STYLE COFFEE SHOP

A simple Chinese coffee shop with no air conditioning that opens for lunch and dinner. We recommend the thick curry fish head, roast pork, duck, chicken rice, lemon chicken and deep fried fermented beancurd with pork (nanru rou), go well with steamed rice.

Location on Google Map

History 1948 Cafe and Bar
History 1948 Cafe and Bar

Mersing’s first and only bar / café. Cosy space upstairs in the town centre, serves beers and decent cheap pizzas and some other “Malaysian western meals”. Open space, no air conditioning.

Location on Google Map

Satay Nitar
Satay Nitar

SATAY RESTAURANT

Satay with ocean views on the seafront over the river from KakakTua. This is a 1.2km walk from the guesthouse so walk or drive, it’s worth the trip! They also sell typical local Malay fare alongside the satay such as mee goreng (fried noodles) and nasi goreng (Malay style fried rice). If you need the spice turned down you can always say “tak nak pedas”.

Location on Google Map

Satay Teluk Iskandar
Satay Teluk Iskandar

SATAY RESTAURANT

Some say this is the best satay in town, but there aren’t any sea views from the restaurant. Rumour has it that the royal family come here to buy their satay (the Sultan of Johor’s Mersing palace is down the road). This is a 5km drive south of town along the sea front from KakakTua.

Location on Google Map

Dee Beach Tomyam Seafood Mersing
Dee Beach Tomyam Seafood Mersing

SEAFOOD BEACH RESTAURANT

One of the two different seafood beach restaurants on the beach front just north of Satay Nitar. Dishes recommended are ikan bakar (banana leaf barbecued spicy fish), tom yam seafood and other Malay style seafood dishes just north of town along the seafront. We haven’t eaten here ourselves but they were suggested when we were looking for beachside seafood. It’s about 3km from KakakTua, so you may need a ride to the restaurant.

Location on Google Map

Brother Joe Ikan Bakar & Seafood
Brother Joe Ikan Bakar & Seafood

SEAFOOD BEACH RESTAURANT

Brother Joe is the other beach restaurant we recommend. Their signature ‘Ikan Bakar’ (pictured) and tom yum seafood soup are recommended dish. It’s about 3km from KakakTua, so you may need a ride to the restaurant.

Location on Google Map

Have questions? Check our FAQs page.