9 Best Cafes in Kuala Lumpur

Antipodean Cafe, situated along Jalan Telawi in Bangsar, resembles a charming Spanish bistro with its large rust-orange tiles, glossy black wood furniture, and Tuscan red walls. The extensive Western and Asian-styled menu is scribbled with colourful chalk on a massive blackboard-style wall. 

Its all-day breakfast offerings allow diners to enjoy savoury treats such as smoked salmon omelette, while its fluffy banana pancake with butterscotch is an excellent choice for those with a sweet tooth. A selection of butter-free chocolate cake, carrot cake, and lemon meringue pie is also available. For drinks, Antipodean Cafe serves various coffee and tea, milkshakes, and healthy fruit juices; we particularly enjoy the milky and robust café latte.

The Good Batch is a cosy brunch retreat in Damansara Utama. It serves sumptuous all-day breakfasts, crunchy salads and light snacks, as well as a good range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The Good Batch is situated in Petaling Jaya, approximately a 30-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur city centre via Sprint Highway.

On the menu, you'll find a harmonious blend of Malaysian flavours in classic Western fare. We highly recommend The Good Stuff (grilled mango-stuffed French toast drizzled with crushed nuts, gula Melaka, and caramel sauce served with a side of creamy vanilla ice cream) and Malaysian-Lah (chunky lamb marinated in Malaysian spices, tossed with potato cubes and fresh greens, all wrapped in roti canai).

The Red Beanbag, situated within Menara Mudajaya in Petaling Jaya, is a modern Australian-inspired cafe that serves up hearty all-day breakfasts and western delicacies. During weekend mornings, it is often fully packed with youths and families, so be sure to head there by 10 am to avoid a long queue. 

French toast, eggs Benedict, and pancakes are served for breakfast, while mains such as risottos, pastas and burgers are served from noon. Perfect for a brunch or dessert option, we highly recommend the Skyscraper, which consists of a stack of piping hot pancakes heavily drizzled with Canadian maple syrup and dark chocolate sauce, served with a side of caramelised fruits.

Yeast Bistronomy, situated along Jalan Telawi in Bangsar, is a stylish French-themed bistro, boulangerie and wine bar that's well-patronized for its flavoursome artisan French breads, ranging from its bestseller almond croissant to the rare smoked duck cheese puff. 

Its dine-in menu consists mainly of French cuisine, as well as more unique dishes such as grilled bamboo king prawn with saffron risotto and seared Hokkaido scallop, while the breakfast menu is a colourful array of croissants, Danish and pastries. Hailed as a favourite hangout spot amongst expats and local brunch lovers, the quality of food and beverages here certainly justifies its rather steep prices.

VCR Cafe, located within a 15-minute drive from the bustling Kuala Lumpur city centre, is a great place for coffee and brunch. Remodelled from a corner-lot building, this attractive cafe retains much of its original charm and old-world feel, while an airy, breezy, rattan-chair setup dominates the first floor. 

Serving a nice range of coffee from single-origin beans and unique blends, VCR Cafe also offers hot chocolate that’s made with quality Valrhona cocoa. Complement your choice of caffeine with its delicious homemade cakes. We recommend The King Cake, an indulgent banana cake layered with peanut butter frosting, banana slices, and chocolate.

Pulp is a speciality coffee bar located in a former printing factory in Bangsar. Originally from Singapore, the cafe's interior is an eclectic mix of industrial and rustic chic, with high exposed ceilings, dark wooden panels, and steel fixtures, as well as massive glass windows that provide plenty of natural lighting. 

With a winning combination of quality brewed coffee, home-baked cakes, savoury pastries, a very welcoming vibe, and a team of friendly staff, Pulp draws a steady weekend crowd of coffee enthusiasts and trendy youths, both local and foreign alike.

Feeka Coffee Roasters, situated beside the No Black Tie jazz club, is a cool cafe that serves hearty breakfasts, homemade desserts, not to mention quality and aromatic coffee in Jalan Mesui, Changkat Bukit Bintang. This spacious cafe is beautifully decorated with mismatched furnishings, small potted plants, hanging light bulbs, and wooden elements. 

Marvellously rich with a pleasantly lingering aftertaste, pair Feeka's award-winning El Salvador AeroPressed speciality coffee with the Feeka omelette (sautéed mushroom with herbs, sautéed cauliflower, tomato jam, and wild cheddar) for a satisfying Sunday brunch. If you're not in the mood for coffee, Feeka Coffee Roasters also serves a selection of teas and bottled juices.

Plan B Cafe is a coffee bar that looks very much like a modern, industrial-looking New York deli. Perfect for a mid-morning brunch, a quick business lunch, or even a hearty dinner with family, the cafe has a great combination of rustic furnishings, a good location, tantalising food, and unique style. 

While Plan B Cafe specialises in Western food such as pastas, burgers, and sandwiches, Asian dishes like nasi lemak and Nyonya laksa are also available. Dessert-wise, our top picks include the sticky and sweet almond toffee bar as well as the apple crumble tart – the pastry simply crumbles in your mouth, and the apple filling is sweet but sharp-tasting.

Jam & Kaya Cafe is a charming venue in Petaling Jaya that offers simple yet tantalising all-day breakfasts and delicious chocolate drinks. Its speciality, however, lies within its fluffy pancakes, namely the Jam & Kaya's Pancake – a sinfully sweet dish consisting of stacked pancakes with jam and kaya spread, fresh strawberries and blueberries, topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

While Jam & Kaya Cafe has a selection of espresso-based drinks that keep most coffee drinkers satisfied, we are more partial to its signature hot chocolate with choco balls. Richly flavoured with a crunchy taste from the chocolate balls, it makes for a delightful complement to a slice of homemade cake during laid-back weekends.