9 Petaling Street Cafes Perfect for Brunch and Afternoon Tea Time
Petaling Street is home to some of the best hidden gems in KL, whether it be local delicacies to international delights. However, my favourite thing about this culture-filled street is its wide selection of cafes that serve the most amazing coffee in the metro.
These cafes aren’t just to give you that quick boost of energy in the morning, but they’re also fantastic brunch spots where you can catch up with your friends. They’re also great places to wind down in the afternoon when you don’t have anything to do (guilty as charged).
Well, call me the “Petaling Street Cafe Aficionado” (It’s my unofficial title, BTW), as I’ve been to most of these spots to know which ones are worth checking out. So join me as I spill the tea about these amazing cafes!
Bubble Bee Cafe
— Media credit: bubblebeemy
Address: 139, Jalan Petaling, City Centre
Contact details: +60 16-228 9881
Operating hours: Daily from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $$
Bubble Bee Cafe should be on your radar if you love to spend time in modern coffee houses and enjoy trendy food. Firstly, this place features hipster interior decor, boasting raw concrete on its walls and huge glass panels that allow a lot of sunlight to enter the room.
As for its aforementioned trendy food, you can expect everything from panini sandwiches, granola bars, cookies, salads and more. Come to think of it, these are some of the most famous brunch items, so might as well check out this place if you have the early morning munchies!
If you’re looking for something sweet though, we highly recommend getting their egg waffles, which come with a heaping scoop of ice cream. As sweet as it may be, I always justify it by thinking that its fresh strawberries and blueberries balance everything out.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something with high protein but still tastes amazing, we highly recommend ordering their chicken wrap!
The Hungry Tapir
Address: 135, Jalan Petaling, City Centre
Contact details: +60 3-2022 2137
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday and Thursday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
The Hungry Tapir is for all our vegetarian peeps out there who don’t want to sacrifice flavour just for their diet. This unique plant-based restaurant features dishes that you would never suspect to be made out of veggies—even carnivores will love them!
Among these offerings is their meatballs, which look, taste and feel like actual meat, but don’t be fooled! Furthermore, they also offer an amazing savoury burger that uses beetroot as its main patty, which is bamboozling considering how meaty it tastes.
We also think that it’s one of the most Instagrammable cafes in Kuala Lumpur, with its vibrant pink walls, hip designs and neon lights. It’s a complete 360 from its simplistic white facade, which by the way, is also perfect for picture-taking.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something that will immerse you in Malaysia’s rich cuisine, we recommend ordering their nasi lemak and laksa!
Merchant’s Lane
— Media credit: merchantslane
Address: 150, Jalan Petaling
Contact details: +60 3-2022 1736
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Merchant’s Lane almost doubles as a famous attraction just because of its local following and international fame. With that being said, make sure to get here as soon as the doors open because it’s almost always packed with visitors.
The first thing we wanted to highlight about this place is its old-timey look, which can be attributed to it being an old shophouse turned cafe. This is why you’ll find a perfect combination of rustic and modern designs that add a certain charm to the overall dining experience.
The main highlight here, however, is undoubtedly the food, which we could best describe as brunch items infused with Asian influences. Whether you’re ordering the salmon, poached egg, burger or one of their colourful salads, you’ll notice some inspirations from Asian cookbooks.
Pro tip:
If you’re trying to follow a strict vegetarian diet, don’t worry! They also serve meatless dishes like their creamy pesto spaghetti.
Yew Yew Coffee
— Media credit: yewyewcoffee_kl
Address: 63-D, Ground Floor, Bangunan Ka Yin
Contact details: +60 11-6563 1233
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you have a notorious sweet tooth, then Yew Yew Coffee should be right up your alley! Here, you can treat yourself to an assortment of freshly baked pastries and cakes that pair perfectly with one of their fresh and masterfully brewed coffee.
You can’t go wrong with anything from their menu but if you want our advice, we recommend getting their large cookies. They’re perfectly crumbly and the bakers didn’t shy away from packing it with fillings and flavours.
Aside from coffee, they also serve an assortment of matcha drinks, which also pair amazingly well with their cakes, especially the matcha slice. However, if you’re looking for something more refreshing, you can opt for one of their fresh juices and tea!
Pro tip:
The cafe is quite small, so we recommend ordering your coffee to go instead. Better yet, grab your cup and explore the rest of Petaling Street, including Chinatown to see more cheap eats and amazing local crafts.
Light Capture Cafe
— Media credit: lightcapturecafe
Address: 81 & 83, Jalan Tun H S Lee
Contact details: +60 10-232 8183
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Light Capture Cafe is definitely in the conversation for the best-looking cafes in Kuala Lumpur, with its unique blend of old and new. It takes the form of an old run-down building akin to those you’ll find in New York City, and its huge windows allow sunlight to enter the room elegantly.
Enough about its looks though, as the main highlight here is the selection of coffee and food they offer. Whether you’re looking for light meals like pasta and salads or something sweet like cakes and other pastries, you can expect to fund them here!
If you’re not a coffee person, you can also help yourself to one of their mocktails—it’s never too early to party, right? We do, however, recommend ordering at least one of their coffee drinks, more particularly, their latte because of its perfect blend of creaminess and bitterness.
Pro tip:
One of the cheapest and most convenient ways to get here is by riding the bus and dropping off at the KL103 Bangunan Maybank, Jalan Yap Ah Loy. From there, you only have to cross the street to reach the cafe.
Lim Kee Cafe
— Media credit: limkeecafe
Address: 66-68, Jalan Sultan
Contact details: +60 11-2323 9810
Operating hours: Daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Cost: $
Lim Kee Cafe can be found in one of Kuala Lumpur’s best hotels, and coincidentally, it’s the establishment’s best offering! This charming cafe combines new design elements with ones you’ll often find in traditional kopitiams in Malaysia, creating a unique look.
It’s not just the look that’s inspired by traditional kopitiams too, as you’ll find some classics that you may be familiar with like roti kahrin, boiled eggs and simple iced coffee. What’s more impressive is that they can take simple dishes like these and make them taste gourmet!
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to end your meal on a sweet note or you simply want to get your kid something while you’re sipping on some coffee, we recommend their ice cream! The flavours you’ll find here range from classic chocolate to local delights like teh tarik and coconut.
Pro tip:
If you can’t decide whether to eat something sweet or to drink coffee, then you should try their famous coffee rum cheesecake!
Mingle Cafe
— Media credit: minglecafekl
Address: 55, Jalan Sultan
Contact details: +60 11-6214 5167
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
If Mingle Cafe looks familiar to you, that’s because it was already a famous spot back then when it was still called Cafe 55. None of that matters though, as what you only need to know is that this is one of the best brunch places/coffee houses in Jalan Sultan.
Starting with its overall ambience, we love how cosy and warm it is, which makes it feel like we’re dining at a family member’s house. The rustic charm of the cafe is also worth mentioning, as we think that it’s begging to be added to your Instagram feed.
As for its food, you can expect tons of Western and local classics like pasta, salads, full breakfast meals, noodles and kombucha, nasi ulam and more. Of course, you can’t leave without trying one of their coffee drinks, more particularly their special coconut coffee.
Pro tip:
You can also order one of their smoothie bowls if you want something refreshing that will give you a boost of energy in the morning.
leaf & co. cafe
— Media credit: leafandco_cafe
Address: 53, Jalan Sultan
Contact details: +60 3-2020 2220
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Tons of war-time shophouses have been converted to modern establishments, but nothing quite does it better than leaf & co. cafe. This beautiful rustic coffee house manages to retain the character of its old building, even down to its 70s-style tiles—pretty cool!
Looks aside, this place is still a solid spot to get some grub and top-tier coffee. Starting with the food, you can expect the best that Western cuisine has to offer, with our favourites being the crab spaghetti and lemongrass chicken.
Lastly, whether you like americanos, cappuccinos, flat whites, lattes or anything in between, you’ll find them in this cafe! You can also pair these coffee drinks with one of their sweet cakes and pastries.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on spending a memorable nightlife in KL, you can do your pregame here by ordering their mojito! They’re delicious, flavourful and best of all, they’ll leave you with a slight buzz that will set you right for the rest of the night.
Jao TIm
— Media credit: jaotimkl
Address: 61, Jalan Sultan
Contact details: +60 3-2022 3897
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you know a bit of Cantonese, you’ll notice that “jao tim” translates to hotel, and once you see this cafe in person, you’ll immediately get why it was named this way. Taking inspiration from world-class hotels, this cafe features huge sofas, exposed brick walls and even a concierge!
The overall retro vibe of the place is also quite noticeable here, most notably, the old-timey jukebox that plays classic music 24/7. This unique ambience makes for an interesting catch-up session with your loved ones, especially when it’s paired with their delicious coffee drinks.
Aside from being a cafe, however, this place is also a lively jazz club, so if you’re into live music, make sure to put this place on your bucket list!
Pro tip:
Check out their official Instagram page to see the latest performances and events happening in this cafe!