Cafe hopping is an especially exciting activity in Johor Bahru; you’ll be immersed in exciting new environments as Cafes here are known to adopt unique themes to compete in Malaysia’s booming cafe industry. Tired of sipping their morning coffees in a mundane big-chain coffee store cough cough Starbucks cough cough, locals opt to frequent trendier themed cafes that serve aromatic artisan coffees and delicious treats in quirky environments. How quirky, you might wonder? How about a having your brunch in a fashion-boutique-cum-cafe or even enjoying your coffee in a reclaimed shipping container along Jalan Serampang. Excited yet?
Here are 10 uniquely themed Cafes in Johor Bahru.
1. Get innovative with trash at Roost, Repurposed & Recycle
Editor’s note: Establishment is Permanently closed.
Serving up coffee with a side of innovation, Roosts, Repurpose and Recycle will inspire you to innovate everyday discarded materials, worn out woods and even drum barrels, into unique and elegant contemporary furniture. With so much to admire, you’ll want to spend some time at this cafe while enjoying their selection of Coffees, Cakes & Frozen Yoghurt desserts!
Address: 14, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 1.00pm – 12.00am
Website: Roost, Repurposed & Recycle Facebook
2. Chill in a boutique garden at Flowers in the Window
Taking cues from Mother Nature, chill in your own boutique jungle at Flowers in the Window Cafe. In Johor, this is as close as you’re going to get to some of the chic-trendy cafes you would see in KL, with an abundance of vibrant green foliage, complementing their stylish wooden furniture. Have a taste of their great breakfast & brunch platters as well as scrumptious cakes and desserts. Offering weekly specials on their menu, themed around in-season ingredients, Flowers in the Window has something new to offer on your every visit!
Flowers in the Window
Address: 9, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 10.00pm
Contact: +60 7-222 7489
Website: Flowers in the Window Facebook
3. Collide food with fashion at Bev C
Inspired by fashion, Bev C is a fashion boutique cum cafe. Arguably the most Instagrammed cafe in Johor Bahru, they’re known for their wall of white shirts, washed-out cement walls accented with flowers and cacti, and even a stylishly made up bed that is a popular ‘photo-shoot’ spot among patrons. Experimental, quaint yet chic & stylish, just what you would expect from fashion.
Popular for charcoal coloured pies, cakes and croissant sandwiches, try the local favourite, Smoked Salmon Charcoal Croissant Sandwich and their Chocolate Mint Pie, and finish it off with a trendy cup of Espresso Ice Cubes with Hot Milk and Chocolate.
Bev C
Address: 54, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: (Closed in Mondays) Tuesday - Thursday 12.00pm - 8.00pm. Friday - Saturday 12.00pm - 10.00pm. Sunday 12.00pm - 8.00pm
Contact: +60 7 221 3530
Website: Bev C Facebook
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4. Get industrial at Faculty of Caffeine
Editor’s note: Establishment is Permanently closed.
Going for a more minimalist industrial aesthetic, Faculty of Caffeine is one of Johor Bahru’s pioneers, known for their onyx black walls and broken marble tiling mosaics, with exposed wires running up along their walls and ceilings.
You can get your great coffee fix, richly brewed with 100% Arabica beans, along with a taste of their famous savoury and sweet pancakes (try their bestseller Korean Fried Chicken Pancake), but if that doesn’t tickle your fancy they also have a variety of noodle dishes on their menu.
Faculty of Caffeine
Address: 106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9.00am – 6.00pm
Contact: +60 16-713 2714
Website: Faculty of Caffeine Facebook
5. Tiffany-blue everything at Pace Cafe
Editor’s note: Establishment is Permanently closed.
Recognized for their ‘Tiffany’ blue colour theme and geometric elemental designs, Pace Cafe is a popular tryst among locals, serving great coffee brewed from three types of beans; Colombia Inza, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Kochere and Kenya Kirimara. Rest your tired feet in this cozy cafe among a calming pastel mint colour theme and pine wood accented walls, while enjoying popular dishes; Open Face Sandwiches, Breakfast Cupcakes & their decadent Mint Chocolate Cheesecake.
Pace Cafe
Address: 62, Jalan Pendekar 13, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Website: Pace Cafe Facebook
6. Sip your joe in a shipping container at Coffee Signature
A great trendy place to have brunch, Signature Coffee serves up their cups of Joe in 2 stacked black shipping containers. Admire their much raved Sweet Rain Coffee (4 USD); an Instagram-worthy decent cup of coffee presented with air-suspended cotton candy, representing rain clouds. Besides that, they also serve savoury dishes like Mexican-style baked eggs (5 USD), Fungi Pollo E Olio (6 USD) made with wild mushroom and grilled chicken; while also having a variety of sweet waffles and cooling drinks to cool off from Malaysia’s hot weather.
Coffee Signature
Address: 52, Jalan Serampang, Taman Tebrau Jaya, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12.00pm – 11.00pm
Contact: +60 7-330 5731
Website: Coffee Signature Facebook
7. Admire quaint art exhibitions at EHHE Art Cafe
Editor’s note: Establishment is Permanently closed.
Situated along Johor’s Tan Hiok Nee cultural street, you’ll find plenty to admire in Ehhe Art Cafe. Filled with quaint art pieces, paintings and murals and decorated with earthy wooden furniture, this place offers many cosy nooks where you can take a respite from your tiring day of exploring Johor Bahru. With the upstairs space of the Cafe mostly used for small exhibitions, you could enjoy looking at local artworks along with your homegrown coffee, while also tasting some of the authentic local food they serve here.
Eh He Cafe
Address: 145, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 7.00am – 5.00pm
8. The perfect insta-worthy cafe at The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen
Located along Jalan Dhoby, The Replacement Lodge & Cafe is your go to hipster cafe where you’ll have a comfortable respite from all your wanderlust. One of the hottest Cafe’s in Johor, they keep their decor to a minimal with all-white interiors, potted plants and rustic wooden furnishings, to maximize its Instagram-ability on every angle. Providing you Kinfolk magazines, you’d definitely get the perfect Instagram classic #flatlay shot of your Latte.
Besides Instagram chic aesthetics, you can enjoy an all-day brunch menu here, where their Croque Madame (5 USD) is highly recommended as well as their crunchy Churros with a side of fresh fruits (4 USD).
The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen
Address: Malaysia, 33, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 7.00pm | Saturdays 9.00am – 10.00pm
Contact: +60 10-400 5407
9. Get a scoop of liquid nitrogen Ice-Cream at T.I.P
The coolest cafe on this list, literally, will serve you fresh, creamy, liquid-nitrogen-frozen ice-cream in 2-minutes upon order! Limited in selection, but exquisite in taste, you can choose to savour between 4 tasty flavours; Original Milk, Bittersweet Chocolate, Fudgy Brownies & Cookies, and Salty Sweet Butterscotch, which can be enjoyed with their light refreshments of teas. Be on the lookout for seasonal offers like Berry Christmas & Pineapple Tart on Chinese New Years, keeping their menu exciting!
The Ice–Cream Project
Address: 31, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 3.00pm – 12.00am
Contact: +60 7-300 7286
Website: The Ice-Cream Project Facebook
10. Delicious waffles and crepe cakes at MACO Cafe & Bakery
Editor’s note: Establishment is Permanently closed.
You will have to travel a bit further away from the city but the trip will be worth it. Maco Cafe & Bakery will give you a dessert experience like no other. With 10 years worth of experience as a pastry chef in some of Singapore’s established hotels, Chef Maco will serve you the best Mille Crepe in Johor, layered to perfection. Treat your tastebuds to some of Maco’s innovative flavours, like his popularly sought out Sugar & Flour Mille Crepe, Trio Chocolate Mille Crepe and the colourful Rainbow Mille Crepe, all priced at a reasonable 2 USD per slice.
Go local and try out his Musang Mille Crepe (made with real mao shan wang durian) a great start for budding durian eaters with its mild durian taste, balanced out with the sweetness of the cream!
MACO Vintage
Address: 18, Jalan Ibrahim, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 12:00pm-10:45pm, Saturday 11:00am-11:15pm, Sunday 11:00am-10:45pm
Contact: +60 7-221 1475
Website: MACO Cafe & Bakery
Not your average tryst
Who says coffee has to be boring? You will have a great time enjoying decadent food and artisan coffee in quirky environments, and get a few Instagram-worthy shots along the way! Having only 10 on this list, there are countless more in Johor Bahru, and new ones rapidly popping up just around the corner. So you better start checking these ones off your list first!