Plated To Perfection: 10 Best Cafes In Kuala Lumpur

Ihsan
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 5 min read
Plated To Perfection: 10 Best Cafes In Kuala Lumpur

Don’t you just love being presented with an elegantly plated dish? Visual stimulants weigh heavily on our appetite; fresh garnishes, vibrant color palettes and plate compositions make our food tastes better. These 10 Kuala Lumpur cafes aim to transform your casual meal into an elevated dining experience, they highlight Kuala Lumpur’s flourishing cafe culture! Each interior decor, meticulously designed to give you the perfect ambiance, and each dish served, are artfully composed and prepared to perfection.

Enticed? Well, here are the 10 best cafes in Kuala Lumpur that serve up visually stunning foods!

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From transportation tips to medical essentials and everything in between, the Kuala Lumpur local guides share all the must-know information to help you plan your trip.

1. Dotty’s Pastries & Coffee


Family friendly, you’d recognize Dotty’s facade by its signature royal blue sign. A popular local brunch spot, you’ll be overwhelmed by the sweet aromas of daily fresh baked pastries walking through their doors. Experiment with your taste bud with their Salted-Egg Yolk Glazed Cronut, a local favourite. Rest your tired feet after exploring KL in its English inspired cafe setting of wooden furniture; dark brown & royal blue being their theme colours.

Very insta-worthy, their dishes are plated on intricately designed crockery. You will definitely be satisfied with the menu selection here; offering all-day breakfast platters, pastries, sandwiches and a proper lunch menu that includes Grilled Chicken (USD 5.84) and succulent Beef Meatballs (USD 4.94). Avid calorie trackers could opt for an appetizing Roasted Pumpkin Salad (USD 4.94).



Dotty's Pastries & Coffee

Address: 20, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Malaysia.

Price : From 5 USD

Opening Hours: 8.00 AM – 8.00 PM

Contact: +60 3-7733 4233

Website: Dotty’s Pastries & Coffee Facebook

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2. Pans & Tamper


Contemporary in their decor of exposed white-bricked walls with touches of geometric embellishments, Pan’s and Tamper is a staple brunch spot for local millennials. Contrasting with their minimalist interior, they get crafty in their plating, serving trendy ‘Garden in a Jar’ salads (USD 4.94) and the fanciest stack of pancakes you’ll ever come across! Here, you would definitely feel guilty messing their plated works of art.

Pan’s & Tamper has amazing selections in their breakfast & lunch menu as well as great coffees & cakes (try their tantalizing Lychee Watermelon Cheesecake (USD 3.59) ) perfect for your next tryst!



Pans & Tamper

Address: D1-G3-9, 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price: From 5 USD

Opening Hours: 10.30 AM – 9.00 PM

Contact: +60 3-6206 2929

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3. Botanica & Co


Inspired by nature, Botanica + Co is a refreshing respite from the mundane urban jungle. Lively with plenty of natural sunlight, its spacious open setting is filled with thriving green foliage, while big ficus trees are seemingly holding up the ceiling. You’d be dining comfortably in their chic in-city jungle boutique.

Having an authentic brick oven, Botanica +Co have perfected their extravagantly topped thin-crust pizzas (USD 6.74 - USD 9.43). Their menu offers a variety of comfort food from around the globe; recipes elegantly elevated with higher quality ingredients and impeccable plating. Some highlights would be their Halibut Fish & Chips (USD 8.76), Chicken Parmigiana (USD 7.19), or you are also recommended to try their prized & highly rated local dish, Sam’s Crab & Crayfish Laksa (USD 8.76).



Botanica +Co

Address: The Verticals, Ground Floor Podium, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Opening Hours:

Weekdays 11.30 AM – 10.00 PM (Friday til 12.00 AM)

Weekends 9.30 AM – 12.00 AM (Sunday til 10.00 PM)

Contact: +60 16-965 6422

Website: Botanica +Co Facebook

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4. LOKL


LOKL (pronounced “local”) is the best breakfast spot you can find in the heart of KL. The rustic chic cafe is known for their feature wall of local artworks, holding their national pride up flag high.

Localizing western recipes, savour your breakfast favourites here, switched up with exciting Malaysian flavours. Try their amazing Fluffy Pancakes (USD 4) served with gula melaka instead of maple syrup, topped with coconut cream instead of your traditional whipped cream and also their decadent French Toast, drizzled again with gula melaka syrup; instead of honey. You’ll definitely want to bring some gula melaka back home with you after a taste! So, If you want to change up your breakfast palette, you should definitely hit this spot!



LOKL

Address: 30, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 8.00 AM – 6.00 PM

Contact: +60 3-2072 1188

Website: LOKL Coffee

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Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide

Reka Luxshmi

Reka Luxshmi

Hello, I'm Reka, a HR professional with a master's in Business Administration who's passionate about exploring new places and savoring local cuisines. Recently licensed as a tour guide in Malaysia, I'm eager to showcase the beauty of my country, its vibrant culture, and diverse culinary delights. While I remain active in the corporate world, guiding offers me a fulfilling escape. I specialize i... Read more

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Shazriza Rais

Shazriza Rais

Hey there! I'm Shaz, your go-to tour guide for exploring the best of Malaysia. Born and raised in this vibrant country, I've got a deep passion for sharing its wonders with travelers from all walks of life. I've been in the game for 7 awesome years, leading tours across Malaysia's hottest spots like Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Penang, and Langkawi. Whether you're a solo adventurer or a big family cr... Read more

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Kovin Sivanasvaran

Kovin Sivanasvaran

I am a geologist graduate with a passion in eco-adventure tourism. I have 10 years experience in guiding as I started from a young age. I am currently running my own tour company called Mowgli Venture where I bring guest out of their comfort zones to enjoy nature. My passion project would be waterfall exploring and cliff jumping. My long term goal is to write a book of 1000 waterfalls in Malays... Read more

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5. Thursdvys


Definitely one of the trendier cafes on the list with their geometric accented construction and decor, Thursdvys Cafe is designed to give you insta-worthy shots from every angle. Their food here is no different, although rustic in their approach, you will find their food visually appealing, cooked and seasoned to perfection!

They have a great brunch menu; putting their own twist on classic burgers, pasta and sandwiches, while their breakfast menu is only available on the weekends. Thursdvys is also a favourite among locals to sip a mean cuppa joe while catching up with old friends!



Thursdvys

Address: 22, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 10.00 AM – 11.00 PM (Closed on Thursdays)

Contact: +60 3-7733 6722

Website: Thursdvys Facebook

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6. VCR


One of the best places to get great coffee on this list, VCR’s intriguing name roots from the building’s past; a 1940s built establishment where locals rented movies. Keeping its old charms, while having modernized its interior, VCR definitely fits the bill for this Cafe list.

Head Chef Ivan promises you a great meal, using his french culinary training and worldly palette. Indulge in their famous French Toast, topped with Espresso No Churn Ice Cream, garnished with Raspberry Compote, Chocolate Biscuit & Pumpkin Seed Crumble with a generous drizzle of mocha sauce (USD 4.27), while sippin’ on a smooth, rich cup of artisan roast coffee; Long Black (USD 2.02), Macchiato (USD 2.25) and Flat White (USD 2.47).



VCR

Address: 2, Jalan Galloway, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price: From 2 USD

Opening Hours: 8.30 AM – 11.00 PM

Contact: +60 3-2110 2330

Website: VCR Facebook

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7. Leaf & Co


Taking rustic vibes in a more chic direction, Leaf & Co play along with their century-old, colonial-era heritage building, with bare washed walls, a stacked cinder-block feature wall, accented with plenty of green foliage. You would appreciate their seamless integration of two eras, scattering the original vintage furniture around with newer modern ones.

Catch a bite at this Cafe, serving classic homey entrees like Buttermilk Fried Chicken (USD 4.27) and their signature Chicken Chop (USD 4.27), and a good selection of pasta dishes. If you like western-asian fusion food, you would definitely love their Tom-Yam Seafood Spaghetti (USD 5.39) and their Coconut Latte & Rose Latte.



Leaf & Co

Address: 53, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price: From 4 USD

Opening Hours: 11.30 AM – 9.30 PM

Contact: +60 12-358 7051

Website: Leaf & Co

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8. PULP By Papa Palheta

Another great place to get impeccable coffee on this list, PULP is a very popular hangout in Bangsar. Creating buzz since it first came about from its sister Cafe in Singapore, PULP’s cafe theme is an homage to their building’s paper printing days.

Placing great importance on their coffee, you can get your favourites of Lattes, Cappuccinos and Flat White Coffee for a mean price of USD 2.69. They also serve a scrumptious all-day breakfast menu, salads and mains that include Lamb Goulash Pie (USD 6.51) and Chicken Roulade (USD 6.74)



PULP by Papa Palheta

Address: 29, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price: From 2 USD

Opening Hours:

Weekdays 7.30 AM – 10.00 PM

Weekends 9.00 AM – 11.00 PM

Contact: +60 3-2201 3650

Website: PULP Facebook

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9. Chocha Foodstore


One of two hidden gems in Petaling Street, Chocha Foodstore will give you some tranquillity away from the busy streets of KL with their amazingly cozy ambiance. Find comfort in its vintage interior of pastel tile works, raw concrete walls & stylish furniture.

You will find great satisfaction in their fusion of western-Malaysian cuisines, local favourites include their Cincalok Fried Chicken, Chinese Pesto Flat Noodles & their Ulam Raja Crème Brûlée.



Chocha Foodstore

Address: NO 156, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price: From 5 USD

Opening Hours: 11.00 AM – 10.00 PM

Contact: +60 3-2022 1100

Website: Choca Foodstore Facebook

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10. Merchants Lane


The other hidden gem in Petaling Street, Merchant’s Lane takes the cake for this Cafe List. Unassuming in its facade, look out for their mirror sign on top of a pastel door at the end of Petaling Street. Once inside you’ll find your sanctuary. Decorated with vibrant floral murals and plants rooted on their bare walls along with rattan wood furniture, this Cafe finds strength in heritage as well as in art. Being in KL, this Cafe is a rare find, often reminding local patrons of the heritage cafes you’ll find in Malacca!

The food here is generally great all around, but a safe bet would be their signature dishes like Hong Kie Beef Stew (4.64 USD) or their perfectly grilled salmon choice, named South China Sea (5.84 USD)



Merchant's Lane

Address: 150, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price: From 5 USD

Opening Hours:

Weekdays 11.30 AM – 10.00 PM (Closed on Wednesdays)

Weekends 9.30 AM – 10.00 PM (Sundays Closed at 4.00 PM)

Contact: +60 3-2022 1736

Website: Merchants Lane Facebook

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Brush up on your food photography

Flat-lay Food Composition
Source: Pexels

Raising the standard for everyday dining, these 10 Cafes have given their utmost efforts in terms of giving you the best ambiance and presenting you the most decadent looking meals. Living in a social-media age, you might want to brush up on your smartphone photography skills to get some great shots if you visit there. When it comes to food photography, just remember the rules of thirds! It’ll definitely rack up some extra likes (but don’t take too long, you’ll want to savor your meals hot from the kitchen!).

Have a great time Cafe hopping in Kuala Lumpur!

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Ihsan Ihsani is a Malaysian writer who loves to write about anything that sparks his curiosity. He travels to broaden his horizon on the many cultures and beauties of the world. When limited funds...Read more

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