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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
