There’s much more to this city than the Petronas Towers. For the last of our three-part feature revisiting coffee destinations in Malaysia, we explore Kuala Lumpur.
A four-hour flight from Manila arrives at the slick, stunning KLIA/KLIA2 which has direct transportation into Kuala Lumpur via KLIA Ekspres train. The trains are usually on time, taking you to KL Sentral (city’s main station) in under 30 minutes.
Iana (@coffeecupseries) and Franz (@coffeecrawlerph) have visited Kuala Lumpur on separate occasions since 2015, and share 12 coffee shops you need to visit when in Kuala Lumpur:
Iana
Bean Brothers
Bean Brothers has two locations, one in Damansara and the other in Kuala Lumpur.
These two locations have very distinct interiors.
BB PJ has an industrial ambiance with a high ceiling and dangling lights, while BB KL has a greenery-inspired space with plants placed everywhere in the shop.
Address: 360 Jalan Tun Razak, Taman U Thant, KL
IG: @beanbrothers.my
Jao Tim
Jao Tim is an event space, cafe, art gallery and deco and jazz space, all in one!
It has that vintage vibe with wooden floors, brick walls and high ceilings.
Address: 61 Jalan Sultan, City Centre, KL
IG: @jaotimkl
103 Coffee Workshop
A must for latte art fans, this shop is home to Irvine Quek, the 2018 and 2019 World Latte Art Champion. If you’re lucky, you can request for latte art done by the master.
Address: S19, 2nd Floor, Aeon Maluri, Jalan Jelaka, Maluri, KL
IG: @103coffeeworkshop_KL
One Half x Ilaika
Located in Petaling Jaya which is part of the Greater Kuala Lumpur area, One Half x Ilaika is both a coffee shop and a pop-up of Ilaika Select Store.
Grab a cup of coffee and take home some items in the shop!
They serve single origin beans.
Address: 17, Jalan 20/13, Petaling Jaya, 46300
IG: @onehalf_ilaika
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Franz
Transparent Coffee
A conscious business that ensures their producers are well-represented on their daily affairs, Transparent is the perfect example of the farm-to-cup model. When you choose from their coffee offerings, you get to read about the background of, not just the roast and taste profile, but also the farm it was sourced from.
Coffee is served on limited time only (10am-5pm) as multi-awarded bar Coley takes over at night. Transparent serves coffee with complex flavors, brewed in an open bar by the entrance. Simple and elegant!
Address: 6-G, Jalan Abdullah, KL 59000
IG: @transparent_bangsar
Wizards at Tribeca
Home of Malaysia’s coffee champions, Wizards at Tribeca is one of the most sophisticated coffee destinations in the city.
Expect great service, delicious contemporary food and excellent coffee brewed to perfection!
Address: Ground Floor, Residensi Tribeca, Jalan Imbi 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
IG: @wizardsattribeca
Baba Low’s 486 (Bangsar)
Traditional kopi is a must-try when you’re in Malaysia. Dine with locals and order kopi O (black coffee) or kopi C (with milk)!
I paired my kopi with pai tee, a traditional Peranakan snack with vegetables and prawns. It may be an unusual combo but it was good!
Address: 11 Lorong Kurau Off Jalan Maa’Rof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur 59100 Malaysia
Piu! Piu! Piu!
Finding this coffee shop is one of the most memorable coffee crawls I’ve had. It’s located on the second floor of a building found in an intimate creative complex.
I ordered a latte with coconut which was so delicious! This is the shop I would definitely visit again when I come back to KL. I’ve missed their non-coffee offerings like lemon sours and burnt cheesecake.
Address: 80B, 2nd floor, The Zhongshan Building, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap
50460 Kuala Lumpur
IG: @piupiupiu.kl
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Iana & Franz
VCR
Iana: When I started searching for must-visit coffee shops in KL, VCR is one of the recommended shops. It’s a black building at the corner of Laluan Sehala in Jalan Galloway. I tried their VCR blend which is a combination of Colombia and Brazil.
Franz: VCR has been my gateway to the Malaysian coffee scene.
It is the first coffee shop I visited in 2015 and has definitely set the standards high.
I love the dark design which compliments the light profile of their coffees.
Address: 2, Jalan Galloway, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcr.my
IG: @vcrlovesyou
Pulp by PPP
Iana: I normally stay in Petaling Jaya, and visiting Pulp is almost far. But it’s worth the trip. Try to go on weekdays, as they are full on weekends. Pulp offers a cupping room and C-platform.
Franz: A good place to hang out with friends, this is where I tried the American Press.
I love the round profile of the medium-bodied coffee I tasted paired with a lemon tart.
Address: 29-01 Jalan Riong, Bangsar 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/PULPbyPPPCoffee/
IG: @pulpbyppp
Feeka Coffee Roasters
Iana: Located in Jalan Mesui, Feeka can be mistaken for a residential house. Their outdoor space is perfect for coffee or Sunday brunch with family.
Franz: A perfect go-to for brunch! I love the contemporary New York-inspired interior and the small al fresco space where you can have a date with your coffee and a book.
Address: 19, Jalan Mesui 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/feekacoffeeroasters/
IG: @feekacoffeeroasters
Merchant’s Lane
Iana: This is one of the shops I visited in Kuala Lumpur when I started my coffee crawl. I love the old rustic look of this shop. Every corner is IG-worthy! They have a wide variety of food and pastries to choose from to go with their coffee.
Franz: Hidden in plain sight, Merchant’s Lane is a little diamond in the rough which is perfect as it is!
Two thin teal doors lead you to the ruins of an old brothel which has been repurposed as a modern cafe serving Asian fusions and tasty coffee.
I especially loved the different sections where you can hang out with friends or enjoy the serenity of the organic space.
Address: No, 150 Jalan Petaling 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/merchantslane/
IG: @merchantslane
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Here are some of the places we wish to visit in the future: The Other Half, The Glass House, LOKL Coffee and Acme Bar & Cafe.
Tell us about your experiences because we definitely enjoyed ours!