Latibule Coffee, Ara Damansara

Latibule Coffee is Ara Damansara’s cosy new neighbourhood hideout for soothing caffeine and sweet carbs.

Comfortingly inspired by Japanese kissatens and Taiwanese coffee bars, Latibule’s chilled-out corners charm with classic touches like teacups and a turntable, ruffled pendant lights, plus banker’s and stained-glass lamps.

Friendly co-founder Sam acquired an appreciation for lever espresso machines while exploring Taipei, so Latibule specialises in dark roast coffee pulled manually and meticulously for a smooth fullness of body and balanced intensity of flavour.

Sip the Sibeh Dirty Latte, a satisfying Brazil Fazenda espresso of slippery acidity poured over luscious freeze-distilled milk, splashed with fruity coffee oil.

Latibule’s latitude of delightful drinks includes Taiwanese-inflected wintermelon milk, silkily layered with house-set black tea jelly; Japanese-style melon soda for summery, fizzy fun with ice cream and strawberry; and enlivening einspanner brewed with bold black tea instead of coffee, finished with frothed cream.

Fans of flan, try Sam’s own-baked egg pudding, naturally custardy with a rich caramel kick. Cheesecake and chocolate temptations are also available.

Latibule is a lovely space to spend time browsing a book on Tokyo storefronts while nineties Cantopop divas sing on the speakers.