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The tree is lit, the wreaths are up, the lamb is stewing and the log cakes are baking in the oven: Levain Boulangerie & Patisserie is ready and raring to celebrate Christmas this year, serving a five-course dinner exclusively available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as special ca...

Bovine bliss at Bo: If bigger and beefier is how you savour your steaks, with sultry succulence sealed within a smoky char, Bo All Day Dining's Wagyu Tomahawk is the full-fleshed feast for you, showcasing Australian beef grilled in a British-built oven by an American chef for the best of the carn...

Hawker Chan's saga began when an Ipoh-born teenager left his home village and his family's livestock farm in 1980, settling in Singapore where he apprenticed under a Hong Kong chef before setting up his own stall. Founder Chan Hon Meng's life changed three years ago when his soy sauce chicken ric...

Strike up the bossa nova, sway to the carimbo: BIFE Charcoal Steakhouse in The LINC KL brings Brazilian churrasco-style grilled meat to the city centre, true to the traditions of the churrascarias that span Sao Paulo to Salvador. Expect an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of sultry succulence, a carni...

What happens when the owners of orchards that cultivate durians, ginger and various fruits in Raub and Bentong decide to open a cafe? Delicious intrigue ensues - start with DSR Dessert Parlour's trio of tarts, one topped with pleasurably pungent pastry cream, made with pure D24 durian pulp; the n...

Serving up a taste of Pakistan since 1976, Tabaq specialises in 'chicken steam roast,' rich in the flavours of yogurt, garam masala and lemon, but it's also worth exploring the menu for comfort fare like mutton brains and lentils cooked in creamy preparations. 

Bookmark Coffee's new chapter in PJ Midtown could be a cafe that customers will enjoy returning to over time, like their favourite poem or novel. This is the second outpost of Bookmark Coffee, which first opened in Cheras five years ago; co-founder Kai and his team serve fusion fare with distinct...

This terrarium-themed cafe brings greenery galore to Damansara Uptown, offering a calm, leafy refuge from the urban bustle, for a fuss-free coffee or tea break. Terrariums are available for sale; the venue also often stages workshops on making them.Mossarium Lifestyle Cafe39A, Jalan SS21/37, Dama...

For a satisfactory seafood meal at TTDI's new Muslim-friendly Chinese restaurant, try the skewered prawns, inspired by lok lok, lusciously large crustaceans smothered in tangy sauce (RM36), senangin fish otak-otak, fresh-tasting and well-textured (RM8.50), and the butter floss baby crabs, a crunc...

Bukit Damansara's latest caffeine bar is a lovely space for lattes (fragrant, rich and silky), surrounded by coffee paraphernalia and supplies.Atelier Cafe by O'Coffee Club12M, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

With an Italian-born, British-raised chef-founder at its helm, Frediani's is Bangsar's new eatery for everything from London-loving Scotch eggs, tender and textured (RM24; perked up with mustard dip), to Sicilian-seduced arancini, crisp rice balls loaded with creamy cheese (RM21; enlivened with t...

For a caffeine crawl in Laos' capital, check out these three cafes within convenient walking distance of each other: Start with The Cabana, one of Vientiane's most on-trend venues, for open sandwiches topped with olives to couple with cappuccinos ...... then try Cafe Sinouk, whose coffee relies o...

The merriest mall in Subang this Christmas might be Main Place Mall, which is celebrating the season with its theme Jolly Christmas In The Air, featuring live carolling, Santa walkabouts and magic shows, orchestra and dances, gift with purchase, bath bomb snowman workshops, and much more!With so ...

BBQ that puts fire in our belly and smoulders in our memory: Twenty months after our first visit to Burnin' Pit, the recurring call of the briskets and ribs proved wildly impossible to resist much longer. This time, we skipped breakfast and sought to feast on a week's worth of beef for lunch - th...

The perfect lunch in Hainan might be a mix of hot and cold - soulful rice noodles, assembled to order with roasted peanuts, fresh coriander, pork strips and pickled vegetables in savoury broth, followed by qing bu liang, sweetly brimming with fruits, seeds and beans.

Classic comfort fare, steamy and soulful: Uncle Lee's curry wild boar, served in an old-school bread bowl, comes with plenty of meat and potatoes (RM13.90), while its Eight Treasures porridge enjoyably brings Teochew traditions to a modern cafe (RM12.90).Uncle Lee Cafe29, Jalan SS20/11, Damansara...

Vinoble makes a valiant effort to offer a personal touch to the wine bar exploration - this is an intimate space where co-founder and certified wine specialist Danny Tai harnesses nearly a decade of experience to ensure that enjoyment and education go hand-in-hand, especially for those of us who ...

Cerise Alpha turns Belgian chocolate into beautifully handcrafted confectioneries (four for RM22, laced with possibilities like peanut butter, Manuka honey, saffron honey, ginger lemon, rosemary, or Brazil nuts, unmistakably clear in their flavours), creamy chocolate cakes and rich hot chocolate....

Glutinous gluttony, sweet and savory, in Hainan: Snack on yi bua, rice cakes stuffed with coconut and brown sugar, then feast on bak chang, filled with pork belly and salted duck egg. 

Open the old fridge door for a cool glimpse into Bangsar's new covert bar, a calm and friendly hideout whose cocktails showcase several playful Malaysian flourishes - Daddy's Cendol is a rum-based concoction that's rich with pandan and santan, while Milo No. 7 brings together the childhood pleasu...

As far as coffee bars go, Johny Bikin Kopi is not your average joe - run by a collective of Malaysian movie-makers, this is also a space for everything from short film screenings to script readings and talks. Come in on a calm weekday afternoon and pick up a copy of American Cinematographer to th...

Heartache medication abounds at the Olhuveli island resort's Lagoon Bar, with cocktails and wine for company from morning through long past the Maldivian sunset.

From mutant pizzas and nasi lemak to marvellous beverages inspired by the Infinity Stones, Mancave's latest menu is a super-heroic effort to excite enthusiasts of comic books and collectibles.When we first visited this cafe in early 2018, we admired its assortment of 100-strong action figures and...

Sopoong's newest restaurant in CITTA Mall welcomes customers to have a picnic in Petaling Jaya, promising the Korean family-run brand's first-ever branch filled with lush greenery. Freshly launched in October, this reinvigorated nature-lover's look, crafted by a Korean interior designer, brings t...

Promising a "360-degree cinematic dining experience," Grand Ion Delemen Hotel's Dinetopia takes customers behind closed doors for a kaleidoscopic swirl to pair with a memorable meal - it's one of Genting Highlands' most captivating F&B offerings, a vivid voyage to excite the senses beyond tas...

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all-you-can-eat affairs at the Maldives' Olhuveli island resort, with the buffet spreads shining a light on South Asian salads, bread and curries; tuna turns up a lot, so fans of this fish are in luck.

PJ's new pasta paradise seeks to stir a ravioli revolution in Damansara Uptown, crafting hand-rolled classic varieties served in modern, witty fashion.Popeye's Mistress is a masterful medley of toothsome taglierini - beautifully firm to the bite, buoyantly flavoursome - with baby spinach, garlic,...

Once upon a time, on a highland not far away, lovers of princely, charming teatime temptations live happily ever after with roses on the wall, greenery beneath their feet, and a clear ceiling with a view of the pristine skies. Fairy Tales do come true after all at Grand Ion Delemen Hotel's fantas...

Roasted turkey with baked chestnuts and sweet potatoes, beef Wellington with Yorkshire pudding, freshly shucked live oysters, poached lobsters, chocolate Sacher fudge cake, mince pies and pumpkin tarts: Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur is going all out, not only to celebrate the final Christmas of the ...

Exploring Bottega Mediterranea is an eye-opening, mouth-watering experience, spanning the culinary bounty of Marsala to Marseille to Murcia. The shelves of this Italian family-run cafe-deli heave with olives to orzo, cheese to charcuterie, Sicilian garlic to Lombard peppers, Prosecco to Pinot Gri...

Penang-style char kway teow is pretty much perfect, so slapping a basic slice of melted cheddar cheese on it does the dish no favours, especially when the cockles on the plate veer toward rubbery and bland (RM18.50). Kaki Lima can be commended for experimenting with twists in its fare, though its...

Fans of tuak can try the Badass artisanal brand of Sarawak's rice wine at Jiu, in fun flavours like apple or pineapple, their sugary fruitiness turning the tuak into an easy-drinking beverage (RM30 for six shots).Jiu KLD1-G3-06, Solaris Dutamas (outside Publika), Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 4pm-2am.

An hour's drive from Kathmandu, Nepal's elevated village of Nagarkot is worth travelling to before sunrise for a panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks. Breakfast can be enjoyed at one of several hotels here, including The Fort Resort.

A visit to Congkak is like taking a step back in time: P. Ramlee and Saloma's 1965 ballad Saat Yang Bahagia plays soothingly on the speakers, while portraits of placid kampung landscapes line the walls. Congkak playing boards take centre stage across the restaurant, inspiring a nostalgic sense of...

La Colmena prides itself on being one of Barcelona's oldest cake shops, with a generations-old history dating back to 1849. Nearly two centuries later, it still attracts swarms of patrons, seeking to placate their sweet tooth with cream-stuffed chocolate cones, pine nut pastries, and a parade of ...

Serving the Chinese culinary equivalent of a tale as old as time, Beauty In The Pot promises the traditional pleasures of hotpot cooking in a cool, contemporary setting. True to its name, this is soul-warming fare that's wholesomely crafted to benefit inner beauty, but Beauty In The Pot's newest ...

With a name that's Japanese for 'guest,' Gesuto guarantees Nihon-inspired sparks galore in its modern-minded menu: Salmon sashimi embraces elements of Peruvian ceviche with lime and leche de tigre, the citrus-based 'tiger's milk' marinade, buttressed by the briny umami of nori tempura and house-s...

Tucked on a discreet clubhouse corridor, The Yellow Whisk bustles with cheerful baking, a sweet escape for cake enthusiasts - freshly crafted everyday, the cafe's teatime temptations span slices of richly tangy lemon pound cake (RM8) to creamy, trendy Basque-inspired cheesecake (RM15), honey-nect...

La Boqueria is a feast for the senses, a microcosm of Catalan cooking, concentrated in Barcelona's foremost public market. Snack on local produce like freshly shucked oysters and sea urchin, then check out the warm street-food treats like sausage pinchos and cheese-stuffed croquettes.

As the sun sets, a Blue Moon rises at EQ Kuala Lumpur hotel's rooftop bar - sip on the signature gin-based cocktail, tinted with butterfly pea flower, elderflower liqueur, and violet and lavender bitters (RM52) with an untrammelled 51st-floor outdoor view of the city's twin towers.BlueEQ Kuala Lu...

Cata brings a Mediterranean mood to Bukit Damansara, revelling in inspirations from the osterias of Italy, France's bistros and Spanish tabernas.This could soon deservedly be a neighbourhood favourite - the pizzas crackle with pizzazz, thanks to the synergy of a crust that lacks neither flavour n...

DuJour may sound like a French restaurant, but its repertoire ranges from nasi kerabu with ayam percik and ulam, doing tasty justice to Kelantan traditions (RM23 as a lunch set with iced lemon tea), to terrifically tender-textured salmon quiche (RM9) and decadent chocolate muffins (RM7.50), all b...

TTDI's new pizza parlour whips up wood-fired temptations with a crisp bite and flavoursome chew - head chef Shaufi knows his way around an oven, having worked for three years at Marina Bay Sands' Pizzeria Mozza earlier this decade; his thin-crusted pies here maintain the focus on the toppings, ke...

Set amid the rolling hills of Janda Baik, The Cafe at Embun Luxury Villas could be the lushest, loveliest setting for a meal within less than a hour's drive from KLCC, a rainforest retreat from the concrete jungle.Embun Luxury Villas recently celebrated its first-year anniversary, so it's still a...

Inspired by its founders' travels in Kyoto, Damansara Uptown's new Tomo tackles ramen in miso soymilk broth, its mild-mannered creaminess spiked with a subtle spiciness. This broth is made without meat, but the top-recommended bowl still packs plenty of protein, thanks to the ramen essentials of ...

If you love fried chicken, transnational couples and no-drama llamas, Jeda might just be your next favourite restaurant, serving Asian rice bowls with crispy chicken by day and Nashville-inspired hot chicken by night.Helmed by a wife-and-husband team - Jakarta-born Jessica and Subang Jaya's own D...

For dessert devotees, Aftermeal Desserts shouldn't be an afterthought: Launched this year, this Damansara Uptown cafe has consistently earned widespread praise, respect and consideration for refreshingly icy and soothingly hot temptations that take inspiration mainly from Japan and Taiwan.On Face...

If breakfast influences your choice of accommodation, consider Vientiane's Salana Boutique Hotel, where the morning buffet showcases Laotian specialities galore, from noodle soup to sticky rice with local sausages.

RokuNana is a convivial new destination for Japanese dining and drinking: Its focus might be on the spirits, but its food is no less noteworthy - head chef Vincent Lai harnesses two decades of experience in the craft of Japanese cuisine to lead a team that includes young Malaysian alumni of Le Co...

Sashimi-grade Norwegian fjord trout, delivered to your doorstep in KL and Selangor, with twists like a Thai larb-inspired version that pairs the raw fish with seasonings that supply sweet, sour, savoury and spicy notes (RM19.90, not including delivery fee, for a serving of six slices, perfect for...