10 Cafes in Ipoh That Will Satisfy Your Caffeine Fix and More!
Have you ever seen those scenes in cartoons where the character smells something good and they start hovering in the air as they follow where it’s coming from? That’s an accurate representation of how I feel about freshly brewed coffee.
Okay, I don’t ACTUALLY float in the air, but you can think of it as a sixth sense. Call me a coffee junkie, but this feeling has come in handy several times, as it led me to discover some of Ipoh’s best cafes—which are also the best places to visit in the city!
Below is a carefully curated list of what I consider THE best cafes in Ipoh. From hipster coffee houses to cafes that double as fantastic brunch spots, here are the top candidates!
Kommons
— Media credit: kommons.official
Address: G-1, Ground Floor, Travelodge Ipoh Hotel
Contact details: +60 11-1318 0696
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Weekends: 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
Kommons is one of the coolest-looking cafes in Ipoh, featuring a monochromatic colour scheme that immediately invites passing coffee lovers. Once inside, you can sit on one of their fancy and super comfy lounge chairs.
But enough about its interior, the real highlights here are the coffee drinks, and quite frankly, there are tons to cover here! For starters, they offer your usual lattes and americanos, which you can’t go wrong with.
Meanwhile, if you’re more on the adventurous side, you can try one of their uncommon coffee drinks such as their white espresso and gula melaka latte. Our favourite one, however, is the ondeh latte, which uses ondeh ondeh, one of Malaysia’s most famous traditional sweets.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with kids or you yourself are looking for something refreshing, we highly recommend ordering their strawberry milkshake or strawberry late. Both drinks use real strawberries and they’re the perfect summer drinks!
Cold Blue Specialty Coffee
— Media credit: coldbluecoffee
Address: Level 2, No23, Jalan Tun Sambanthan
Contact details: +60 11-5971 6583
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Weekends: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $
For my coffee aficionados out there, Cold Blue Specialty Coffee should be on your radar the next time you visit Ipoh! It’s one of the most diverse cafes in the city, offering customers to customise their drinks, from the beans down to the milk.
Don’t be intimidated though, as you can still get your go-to coffee drinks like latte, cappuccino, americano and everything in between. On the other hand, you can try their out-of-the-box flavours like the coffee mandarin drink, which I heard tastes surprisingly good!
If you’re here to get breakfast, you won’t be disappointed as well! They offer great bagel sandwiches as well as cakes and other pastries.
Pro tip:
If you want to become a barista yourself, you can enrol in their classes through their website! While you’re there, you can also order your coffee beans so you can be your home’s personal barista.
Jln Theatre Coffee
— Media credit: jalantheatrecoffee
Address: 76, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee
Contact details: +60 16-755 0235
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for artisan coffee, then Jln Theatre Coffee should be right up your alley! It features a small roastery so you can expect that every single bean they use for their coffee drinks is fresh and homemade.
Our favourite thing about this cafe is its selection of seasonal drinks that all put a unique spin on your typical coffee drink. For instance, they offered this iced black coffee topped with cinnamon and dates during 2024’s Chinese New Year season.
They also serve a solid selection of breakfast/brunch dishes, ranging from sandwiches to rice meals and pasta. Speaking of pasta, you have to try their aglio olio with roasted chicken while you’re here!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on commuting on the way here, the best way to do it is by riding the bus and dropping off at the Hotel Metrotel bus stop. From there, the cafe is only a couple of minutes away on foot!
Shake and Bake Cafe
— Media credit: shakenbake.cafe
Address: 14, Jln Sultan Nazrin Shah
Contact details: +60 17-408 3833
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
Shake and Bake Cafe is a vibrant spot that welcomes not just coffee lovers but foodies as well, with its wide selection of desserts and brunch items. We want to start with their coffee selection, however, as it’s quite impressive!
This is the only cafe where we find the saying quality over quantity acceptable, as it only features nine coffee drinks but each one is of premium quality. Our favourite among these beverages is the Sea Latte, which is a bittersweet coffee with a dazzle of sea salt.
You can’t go wrong with any of their food but if you want our advice, order their salmon rice. It’s a hearty dish featuring fat juicy salmon on rice and eggs—yum!
Pro tip:
Consider checking their menu when you’re looking for last-minute birthday ideas, as they offer customised cakes and cupcakes. Furthermore, you can also check their ongoing promotions and raffles while you’re on their page.
10 Studio Cafe
— Media credit: 10.studio.cafe_ipoh
Address: 10, Hala Tambun Jaya 1
Contact details: +60 16-557 3862
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$
10 Studio Cafe is perfect for those who are just looking for a simple cafe where they can just wind down with their cup of joe. It’s a quaint little coffee shop that features a vintage theme, which is perfect for taking Instaworthy photos.
Aside from serving as the background for your portraits, however, this cafe offers a solid selection of coffee drinks, some of which you may have never even heard of before! A perfect example of this is their popcorn caramel coffee latte, which is a sweet and salty drink.
They also offer a wide array of dishes that cater to both hungry patrons and those who are just looking for something light to eat. Among these offerings is chicken chop, which is a comfort food that isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to cafes.
Pro tip:
You can also check out their wide selection of whole cakes while you’re here! They’re perfect for celebrations or for those times when you simply want to indulge in something sweet.
de Cafe & Restaurant
— Media credit: decafeandresthouse
Address: 35, Jalan Sultan Iskandar
Contact details: +60 16-737 1207
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $$
Coffee lovers who also enjoy a sweet treat alongside their beverage will love de Cafe & Restaurant! This quaint cafe offers a wide array of home-baked cakes that vary in types, flavours and looks.
Some of the best ones they offer include their strawberry shortcake, roasted coconut crepe and almond salted cream. They also offer unique flavours like the durian tiramisu, which puts a unique spin on the classic Italian dessert.
Of course, you can’t leave without trying out one of their freshly brewed coffee drinks, which feature the same variety as their cakes! They feature your favourite variations, from mocha to caramel latte, flat white and everything in between.
Pro tip:
You can also consider this place if you’re looking for a cheap but cosy accommodation in Ipoh! They offer high-quality rooms that are complete with all the amenities you need for a comfy stay.
Chang Jiang White Coffee
— Media credit: chiangjangwhitecoffee
Address: 7, Jalan Windsor
Contact details: +60 5-253 8896
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $
Of course, you can’t leave Ipoh without trying its world-famous white coffee, and for this need, we highly recommend checking out Chang Jiang White Coffee. What makes their white coffee stand out is that they use margarine, which further adds to the creaminess of the beloved drink.
Technically, it’s a fully-fledged Chinese restaurant, but we decided to give it a pass since it’s one of the best places in town that offers white coffee. With that being said, don’t be scared to experiment with Chinese delicacies while you’re here!
For instance, you can try their wanton mee if you’re looking for something hearty. Meanwhile, if you want something that pairs well with your white coffee, you can opt for their toast with butter and kaya (coconut jam).
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on commuting to get here, the easiest and cheapest way is by riding the bus and dropping off at the Times Square Ipoh Bus Stop. From there, all you have to do is cross Jalan Windsor and voila, you’re at Chang Jiang White Coffee!
Just Say Cafe
— Media credit: justsaycafe
Address: 20, Jalan Lau Ek Ching
Contact details: +60 16-254 1262
Cost: $
Operating hours:
- Thursday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Just Say Cafe goes all out with its decorations, as it ditches the minimalist approach in exchange for in-your-face decor that we absolutely love. It’s anything from their glasses taking the form of skulls to the vibrant and lush plants that decorate the patio.
Aside from being a looker, however, this cafe is a great spot to get some premium quality cup of joe. Whether you’re looking for a latte, americano, cappuccino or any other coffee drink, you can expect their expert baristas to whip up something crazy delicious behind the espresso machine.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to splurge on some delicious Western food, you can also order one of their juicy burgers! Side note: their burgers have also been treated to the Just Say Cafe overhaul, as they feature colourful buns.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting during weekends, we advise you to take a Grab instead of driving, as the cafe’s parking spot is limited and it can get filled up quickly.
Plan B Restaurant
— Media credit: planb_bybig
Address: 75, Jalan Panglima
Contact details: +60 5-249 8288
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Plan B Restaurant is one of those places where you can get a nice cup of coffee as well as some good grub. Starting with their beverages, they serve a wide variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks, catering to those who aren’t fond of caffeine as well!
If you are a true coffee lover, however, you’ll feel right at home here, as they offer everything from flat whites to long blacks, macchiatos and more. They also offer unique variations like the gula melaka latte, which uses palm syrup as its main sweetener.
As for the food, you can either go the sweet tooth route and indulge in their decadent cakes or treat yourself to a savoury feast with their burgers and sandwiches. Regardless of which one you choose, you can expect huge serving portions!
Pro tip:
If you aren’t too hungry but still want to chow down on some great food while chilling with your cup of coffee, we recommend ordering their small carrot cakes! They aren’t too sweet but they’ll surely hit the spot.
Marketplace Waffle Bar & Cafe
— Media credit: marketplacecafeipoh
Address: 13, Jalan Market
Contact details: +60 16-732 8320
Operating hours: Daily from 12:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Marketplace Waffle Bar & Cafe is one of the go-to spots for coffee lovers in Penang (guilty as charged). It’s not hard to see why though, as this place not only features amazing coffee but great crepes and waffles as well!
They also serve these super fluffy souffle pancakes, which are to die for! Aside from their cute looks, these pancakes come in a plethora of sides such as ice cream scoops, fresh strawberries and of course, maple syrup!
As for their coffee, they have everything you can expect from a modern-day cafe. From cold lattes to hot americanos, this quaint cafe offers everything you need to satisfy your caffeine craving.
Pro tip:
While you’re here, be sure to visit the nearby Birch Memorial Tower! It’s one of the most iconic spots in Ipoh and it will provide you with a photo opportunity that will complete your trip to the city.