Cafés can be simple and unadorned. On the other end of the spectrum they can be gilded and glittering beauty. The following spots in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur merge sumptuous design and opulent settings with tasty pastries and coffee.
1. Wu Di Café
Wu Di Cafe in Bukit Bintang is a favourite for those who prefer cafes with white exteriors and minimalist interiors. This renovated heritage building welcomes you with custom-designed rattan furniture, brick walls, bare beams and zen-like corners. There's even an outdoor dining space on the cafe's roof where you can take in the cityscape of Kuala Lumpur.
2. Shhhbuuuleee
Do you know that at the top of REXKL, the art hub at the heart of Kuala Lumpur, there’s a new BookXcess bookstore? Through the book maze, you'll find Shhhbuuuleee, a restaurant bar tucked away on the building's rooftop. This rustic, quaint spot with an odd name provides al fresco eating with views of the KL Tower. Relax with a bottle of sake or wine while you nibble on expertly crafted small plates. Also unmissable are their grilled octopus and tofu.
3. Merchant Lane
In the heart of Petaling Street, Merchant Lane is a hidden gem with plenty of natural light and rustic charm. Housed in a heritage shop-house with its rustic decor and abundance of greenery, its interior has captured the attention of many. Unfinished concrete walls and bespoke rattan furniture make this cafe a photoshoot favourite.
4. Chocha Foodstore
Chocha Foodstore is a charming Chinatown Cafe serving lunch and afternoon tea in a rustic vintage setting. Every nook and cranny evokes a sense of the past thanks to the exposed brick walls, antique light fixtures and retro floor tiles.
5. Vernakular Store
One of the most distinctive spaces in Bangsar, Vernakular is more than a cafe. It’s an immersive retail space and concept store, with an area dedicated to a wide collection of well-crafted watches! The interior is rustic and inviting, with wooden furnishings, rattan chairs and a stone floor.
6. Vintage 1988
Besides serving as a cafe, Vintage 1988 is full of vintage charm collections. The cafe's shopfront is photo-worthy even from the outside. The inside is decorated with classic touches such as wooden stools, antique furniture and neon lighting that transport you to another era. Not only that, everything on the menu is also a work of art.
7. Jao Tim
Jao Tim, which translates to "hotel" in Cantonese, sits on the top floor of a pre-war colonial shop. This building was formerly a hotel in the early 19th century, hence its name. Exposed brick walls, colonial-style arched windows and high ceilings decorate the cafe, which remained virtually unchanged since it opened.
8. Mary Jane KL
At Mary Jane KL, you'll find yourself in a pink utopia. Indulge your love of all things pink and flowery in this gorgeous space, which features a wall decked in exquisite blush pink roses as well as furnishings splashed with gold, white and – of course – pink.
9. Ruma Puteh
Ruma Puteh is the epitome of modern minimalism in design. A refurbished house-turned-cafe, it exudes a contemporary art gallery ambiance with its sculptural walkways, arching arches and striking architecture. Customers have the option of dining in the restaurant's air-conditioned indoor dining space, which features vivid and quirky décor; or in the outdoor garden, where they can sit among the trees.
