Le Lapin Cafe @ Taman Desa

Fellow cottontails born in the Year of the Rabbit, heres one cafe that cottons to us completely.

 Le Lapin (The Rabbit) is a homey hideout, not a hipster hangout; its the kind of unassuming locale thatll likely never be considered cool, but its supporters will nonetheless cherish it for the everyones-welcome, come-as-you-are burrow that it is.

 Coffee here comes in multiple forms & temperatures: Try the Arabica heart-shaped ice cubes with cold milk (RM12), the caffeine addicts antidote to a sweltering afternoon.

 Suck & savor slowly. Le Lapin has a no-hurry vibe; its radio transmits Lite FM. Did you ever know that youre my hero? What can I do to make you love me? Where do broken hearts go? Inquisitive divas badger us persistently throughout our hour here.

 Hot Irish coffee (RM12), mixed with a knockout infusion of whiskey & topped with deliriously thick cream. This puts numerous bars in KL that serve feebler-but-pricier Irish coffee to shame.

 Americano crowned with ice cream (RM10), an alternative to affogatos. Le Lapin uses an Italian Musetti blend, so phrases like single-origin coffee & Sumatran Mandheling wont be heard here.

 Need food? Le Lapins scones (RM5), beautifully baked by cafe owner Eliza, should satisfy.

 Substantial in size, served warm & boasting a buttery fluffiness, this proved even more enjoyable for us than scones sampled at a Cameron Highlands resorts high tea.

 Fresh cupcakes are also a treat here, lighter than they look & fairly far from sugary.

 Also an unexpected pleasure: Le Lapin exhibits the swagger-free humility of its animal namesake. The owner wont gracelessly brag about her cafe & seems genuinely encouraged by thoughtful compliments. And when someone makes a positive remark about Le Lapins logo, she acknowledges freely that it was something they simply stumbled upon online.

 The selection of savory meals is compact: breakfasts of croissants, muesli & egg sandwiches that start from RM5 to pasta & pie lunches that stay south of RM15.

 Chinese-language books line Le Lapins shelf, including a translated Who Moved My Cheese?

 Le Lapins on one of the least-busy streets of Taman Desas Plaza Danau 2 commercial center; even on a weekday, there were enough parking spaces within a ten-second stroll of the cafe. But its near-impossible to spot casually, since theres no signboard; instead, look out for the above.

 Cafe hopping? Thats what rabbits are built for, thats one of the things they do best.

Le Lapin Cafe,

31-1, First Floor, Plaza Danau 2, Jalan 109F, Taman Danau Desa, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-7497-0407

Open 8am-5pm weekdays, closed Tuesdays. Weekends 9am-5pm.