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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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
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
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
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
Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide
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
Tours by Reka
Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide
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
Tours by Shazriza
Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide
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
Tours by Kovin
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
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
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
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
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
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
Brush up on your food photography
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!
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