Spotlight

Making magic with modern Latin American inspirations, Mano is a vibrant new venue that brings the heat, courtesy of spicy peppers and fiery grills.With a Mexican chef leading a young, spirited Malaysian team, start with Mano's green and red, the Mexican equivalent of ceviche in the colours of...

Bukit Damansara's pink house is all decked out in Chinese New Year cheer, its porch full of bunnies frolicking beneath plum blossoms, beckoning customers for takeouts of bakes such as creamy-buttery truffle lobster rolls and cinnamon buns.Ola Lina76, Jalan Kasah, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur.

Inspired by the Japanese fishing community’s traditional hamayaki cuisine of grilling fresh seafood off the boat, Maguro-ya Honpo offers a promising catch. Tuna is the top treat, spanning barbecued collar to tail skewers. For two ways of tuna belly, raw and cooked, try the tuna rice bowl, with ...

Fukuoka's Goldflog Coffee has launched its first Malaysian outpost in Petaling Jaya, a Japanese contemporary art cafe combined with a hair salon. Snack on house-baked cheesecake and sip coffee in this calm setting lined with cool, colourful illustrations in PJ's Pinnacle Mall, beside Sheraton Pet...

Spiriting us away to a realm of mountains and woods, Shan Mu is one of the Year of the Rabbit’s most captivating new cafes. Run by two brothers and two sisters who’ve crafted their own furniture of kayu chengal and resak, this East Asian-inspired space is an immersive sanctuary with wabi...

Bar Hanareya is a bit off the beaten path, but it's a distinctive destination for fans of Japanese fare. Freshly launched in Setia Alam, this friendly space specialises in otsumami - snack-sized plates - served with signature Japanese liquor-based cocktails.The menu comprises thoughtful tributes ...

 Menya Ugatsu takes its ramen seriously, making it worth the travel to Setia Alam. Its tonkotsu broth is soothing and soulful, simmered for hours with Sakura pork, blended with dried seafood and sea salt for the shio ramen; its noodles are natural-tasting and comforting-textured, crafted with Jap...

Johor-born Tom & Danny has launched its first caffeine bar in KL, perched on Pavilion mall’s sixth floor. Try the Tofu Fa Latte, soft, smooth and soothing, and Lychee Americano, putting a luscious twist on light-bodied coffee.Tom & Danny Coffee, Pavilion KL.

If you love cosy cafes with a friendly, family-run charm, Bandar Botanic's Sundaze Coffee is a bright spot to explore.Spearheaded by two sisters and their mother, this Klang cafe officially launched in mid-2022, but its founding family has nurtured a loyal following in this neighbourhood since 20...

Over the past decade, trend-setting desserts have come and gone in Malaysia, from New York-inspired cronuts to Australian-style Freakshakes to homegrown salted egg lava cakes.While those temptations proved fleeting, Vanilla Crepe has not only endured the test of time but become increasingly popul...

After three years in the Klang Valley, Taiwan-born tea purveyor Dont Yell At Me has become a familiar destination for fans of bubble tea and other playful beverages.But there's more than boba to this brand: From croffles crowned with creamy toppings to ramen sets for spicy, satisfying meals, Dont...

El Kano is el primo: Serving European specialities with a Spanish spotlight, this is a vibrant upscale venue for dining and drinking, strategically located in KL's city centre. Its distinctive projection-screen decor immerses patrons in different dimensions, from outer space to the deep blue sea....

Basic Wine Store might be self-effacing in name, but its charms are far from rudimentary.With a kitchen headed by the team behind Table & Apron and Universal Bakehouse, its shelves lined with boutique bottles stocked by Malaysian-based wine importer Corevino, this is the equivalent of a con...

Stresso is a lovely little cafe, run single-handedly by Sara, back in Malaysia after years of living and working in Australia, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark.  With Harry’s House playing in the morning, Stresso is worth visiting for brunch in Bukit Jelutong - it might sound far off for some o...

The Row’s latest restaurant brings a wave of marvellous Mediterranean flavours to KL, evoking the rustic charm of a Greek taverna. The kitchen’s technique is terrific, doing delicious justice to crispy-fried feta with figs and za’atar; Melitzanosalala, the classic Greek eggplant dip; and o...