Instagrammable Cafes in Petaling Street are seriously trending nowadays. Petaling Street also known as Chinatown as we know is a paradise for bargain hunters and food explorers. Just when we thought that there is nothing to wander around Petaling Street, many pre-war buildings have been transformed into hipster cafes. Trendy cafes have been sprouting in the heart of Chinatown, one after another.
I’ve always wanted to cover them all but each time I do, another lovely Café begins to open. Looks like Petaling Street Cafes are unstoppable! If you’re planning a trip down memory lane of historical Chinatown, Do check out these best cafes in Petaling Street!
Kafe Kleptokrat – Café By the Pool!
Cuppa by the pool sounds cool! If this sounds like a spot you want to include in your KL Coffee Hopping list, then look no further than the Kafe Kleptokrat. It’s a vintage café serving Australian Century-Old Cottle Coffee, Vietnamese coffee drips, Australian Brunch and local favorites such as Nasi Lemak and Chicken Rendang! Highly recommend you visit early, as this is becoming a crowd’s favorite.
Kafe Kleptokrat
Address: 18, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Merchant’s Lane – Funky Café!
One of the Pioneers of Hipster Cafés in KL, Merchants Lane a former brothel revived as a chic cafe serving fusion-style dishes, delightful desserts, all day meals, handcrafted teas and coffees. Must try South China Sea, which is their signature dish and evergreen Honey Rose Milk served in Chinese porcelain teacup. Hidden in prewar houses that seem like a speakeasy kind of café. No doubt it’s the Jewel Café of Chinatown. Old charm meets modern brunch spot. Could this be your favorite Café in Petaling Street?
Merchant’s Lane
Address: 150, Jalan Petaling, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2022 1736
Malaya Garden – Local is the New Luxury
Tropical Theme Café with beautiful horn bill designs that make you feel in an ultimate Malaysian setting yet modern and leveled up. This café serves your favorite local Malaysian food with a twist! They have beautiful rooftop, too! Salted Egg Tempura Pasta and local Kopi from the tab is our best pick here. But any other local food with a twist that will surely surprise your tastebuds! Try it and you’ll surely be coming back for more!
Malaya Garden
Address: Address: 1A, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 016-912 1268
Light Capture by H.O.N
If New York Style Industrial Café is your thing, you better head off to Light Capture by H.O.N. From an abandoned shophouse they turned the area into a Retro, minimalist, and chic loft to add to hipster’s café scene in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee. Perfect to stop over for desserts and good quality coffee. They’re one of the first to have an elevator to utilize food service. It’s a timeless café in KL!
Light Capture Cafe by H.O.N
Address: 81 & 83, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 010-232 8183
Luckin Kopi
Traditional Malaysian food is the pride of Luckin Kopi. Food is served hot and fresh. Highly recommended all local food especially, Luckin Toast, Mee Siam, Salted Egg Chicken, Cham, Coffee and of course the all-time fave Nasi Lemak.
One of the best contemporary kopitiam in Chinatown. Luckin Kopi is the perfect breakfast and brunch. Come hungry and craving for local food. Local Food is how they roll! So, you’re in good hands!
Luckin Kopi
Address: 14, Jalan Panggong, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Phone: 03-2856 2811
Hungry Tapir
Vegan and Vegetarian? No Problem! Hungry Tapir in the only vegan and Vegetarian Coffee and bar in Chinatown. Exquisite warm atmosphere surrounded with indoor plants and wooden tables and rattan chairs. They also have an outdoor setting in pink that sets the mood for an alfresco dining experience. Match that out with their famous pink burger, Mac n Cheese and plant-based satay! If you love attentive staff who aren’t scared to recommend what they’re best craft, then go for Hungry Tapir!
The Hungry Tapir
Address: 135, Jalan Petaling, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2022 2137
Mingle Café
If there’s one thing that Petaling Street won’t be shortage of, it would be Vintage Cafes! Mingle Café is one of the Vintage cafes in Chinatown. Brick walls, warm lights, and retro decors all over will make you feel like you are in a classic setting. Whether you prefer breakfast or brunch, pastries or cakes, Tea or coffee. They all have it in store for you. Quaint café you will fall in love the moment you even saw the old charm façade covered with bougainvillea flowers, vine plants and foliage!
Mingle Cafe
Address: 55, Jalan Sultan, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 010-915 2432
Lim Kee Café
Lim Kee Café is your neighborhood Café. If you’re up for some Toast, Egg, Roti Bakar and dirty latte, – the café’s signature coffee, for a quick coffee fix. Lim Kee Café is for you. They also served good quality cakes – especially the Chocolate Cake and Cheesecake! It’s a little café with an ample space but utterly cute! If you want to be reminded by the Chinese Nostalgia Coffee Scene – go for this café!
Lim Kee Cafe
Address: 66-68, 66-68, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 011-2323 9810
Kaffe 16
Kaffe 16 is an expansion of Beryls, but apart from the Chocolatier, this time would be a café serving beverage, pastries, pastas, burgers, desserts. In terms of the Ambiance, it’s spacious due to its more venues and in between are like created for the Instagram era – lovely stairs, plants, and brick oval doors that are extremely attractive. The Menu however isn’t extensive, but you are more than welcome to speculate. Each to its own.
Kaffe 16
Address: Lot 16, Jalan Panggong, City Centre,
50000 Wilayah Persekutuan, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2022 2552
Jao Tim
Jao Tim used to be a hotel in the 1910 Pre-War Era which transformed into an elegant café. Relics of luxurious deco, concierge reception, brick walls and warm lights remains. Wooden floor, chairs, tables, brass fixtures set the tone for opulence. Coffee and cakes would be best pick here and if you prefer to stay longer, don’t forget to enjoy the life bands playing oldie musics that would bring you lots of nostalgic memories from the past.
Jao Tim
Address: 61, Jalan Sultan, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2022 3897
Vintage 1988
Welcome to the good old days is what will welcome you the moment you stepped in the Vintage 1988 Café in Chinatown. The Interior and exterior aura screams old-fashioned melting spot. Famous for their light snacks, burgers and brunch – the café is worth a side trip after strolling the hectic Petaling Street. You may find yourself not just having a cup of coffee but browsing through their vintage fashion goods. You’ll be happy to take some memorabilia with you.
Vintage 1988 Cafe & Accessories Store
Address: 34, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 011-5982 7882
Chocha Foodstore
Where good food comes together when best shared. Chocha Foodstore is snuggled in an old Shophouse in Petaling Street. Lovely atmosphere with greeneries, designed in classic stones and old tiles. Great selection of Coffee, Wine, fun twist on the plates – mostly contemporary Asian and specialty teas. Food presentation is at par. Staff a little bit overbearing so make sure you book in advance to get the seat you preferred! Best reserve in the calm garden venue.
Chocha Foodstore
Address: 156, Jalan Petaling, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2022 1100
Leaf and Co Café
Antique and classy vibe that would describe Leaf and Co Café. You will know you’re in when you see the unconventional cement brick wall – it’s appealing in its own. Historic chairs and tables that gives nostalgic feel accompanied by a strong coffee and croissant. Don’t get us started with the rice meals and pasta, too. One of the best to Café to be in Chinatown which often disregard by many.
Leaf & Co. Cafe
Address: 53, Jalan Sultan, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2020 2220
Da Bao 打包 Restobar
If Bao and Cocktails impresses you, look no further than Da Bao. We’re not talking about regular baos here, The Baos at Da Bao are level up Baos , meaning – extra huge packed with flavors of the meat of your choice (vegetarian also available) and awesomeness! Rice meals are incredible, too! Funky neon ambiance with a little bit of playfulness to the vibe is just exhilarating. Staff needs to add a little bit of professionalism that would match their delicious Baos! Nevertheless, for the Bao Lovers – Go for it!
Da Bao 打包 Restobar
Address: 145, Jalan Petaling, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Timothy Café
Another Vintage Café in Jalan Tun H.S Lee is Timothy Café. It’s easy to spot this Café which is just beside the lane of colorful array umbrellas with imprint “Breakfast at Timothy” on the brick wall. People are more drawn to the Instagrammable umbrellas than the Café itself. The Café is so underrated and overshadowed by their sister Café Kleptokrat. They serve modern Malaysian and Western food with an amazing selection of cakes – especially the home-made bread and cheesecake is the bomb! Food portion is by the way – huge! Give this café a try, it’s worth it!
Timothy Café
Address: 24, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre,
50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 011-1158 0619
Kafei Dian
You probably came across an old post office built in 1911 in a combination of Malay and Tudor style architecture in Jalan Panggung. Today, the building turned into a lovely Kopitiam – Kafei Dian. They serve mostly your favorite Malaysian breakfast from Kaya Butter Toast, Nasi Lemak, Penang Assam Laksa, even all-day dim sum and more. The choices here are endless but the queue can be grueling, too. Patience is needed here. Highly Recommended the Rendang with Steam bread, Chicken Curry Toast, Chee Cheong Fun, Taro Cake, and Kaya Butter toast!
KafeiDian – Jalan Panggong
Address: 16, Jalan Panggong, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 011-1019 3159
Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam 何九海南茶店
Traditional Hainanese Coffee Shop in Chinatown that’s been operating for more than 60 years. Retro, nostalgic, old charm feel. There is one catch here, the queue never stops. Come early and bring lots of perseverance with you. Food is incredible and one of the best Kopitiams ever. Nasi Lemak, Butter Kaya Toast, Cham – everything is just delicious! There is one thing though that we can give credit to this café aside from its phenomenal food is they serve the food hot and fast and pretty organize line system.
People queue for a reason. Jom Queue!
Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam 何九海南茶店
Address: 1, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Bunn Choon Restaurant 品泉茶室
Another breakfast haven in Chinatown is Bunn Choon Restaurant established in 1893 famous for Egg Tart, Moon cakes and Dim Sum. Set in a historical shop with a sentimental vibe. Don’t miss this out in Petaling Street, this is just right beside the famous Attraction – Kwai Chai Hong. Get yourself some Salted Egg York Custard, Bak Kut Teh Siu Mai, Char Siew Bun, Bacon mai, Steamed Pork ribs and Da Hong Pao tea! Solves the day!
Bunn Choon Restaurant 品泉茶室
Address: no.8, Lorong Panggung, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 016-228 7625
Katrin the Kombi Van
Cute Kombi Van stationed in Chinatown, near Mingle Cafe, off Jalan Sultan. Katrin the Kombi Van is ready to serve you! You’ll love the alfresco setting behind a rustic building. Parasols and huge trees served as shades. Best to get your coffee fix early in the morning when the sun is not too hot. It’s a collaboration of Mingle Café, Timothy Café and Kafe Kleptokrat. What an awesome concept! Bread, Pies, Home- made cakes are available! You can also order straight from the Mingle Café and get it served at Katrin. Cempedak Muffin is the best pick here!
Apparently Katrin the Kombi Van only opens during weekend.
Katrin the Kombi Van
Stationed in Chinatown, near Mingle Cafe, off Jalan Sultan.
Opens: Saturdays and Sundays:
⏰ 8am to 11am
⏰ 4pm to 8pm
Crane KL
Crane KL sets in a three-storey Selangor Grocer’s guild, formerly known as The Toast Co exhibits a neoclassical façade complete with a curved baroque pediment in Chinatown. Preserve in a historical venue, the lower ground serves breakfast and brunch in Asian fusion. Food and desserts look delectable! Get yourself a coffee and pasta in mix European Chinese vibe. If you’re feeling like you could use a drink, you’re in luck. Take the stairs and you’ll find a hidden treasure of lavish 20s Western orient inspired boudoir. Enjoy a cocktail or two!
Crane KL
Address: 78, Jalan Sultan, City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 012-209 7057
Have you been to all the lists? Which one is your favorite? Truly Chinatown is just haven for coffee lovers out there.
To looking forward to new café in Petaling Street. One cup at a time 😊
Looking for more Cafes in KL? Click on the Image to check the Instagrammable Cafes in Bukit Bintang.
