Tatler Best 20 restaurants in Malaysia for 2025

Akar Dining is a celebration of the lushness of Malaysia’s ecosystem through local ingredients. Chef-proprietor Aidan Low uses his expertise and creativity to present memorable dishes that bring out the best of seasonal produce. Having undergone a recent renovation, the new space reflects the cuisine served with hand-cut terracotta tiled floors and crosshatch fabric.

Nestled in Taman Desa, modern barbecue restaurant Atelier Binchotan is often considered the best grill house in town. Founded by chef-owner KaHong Lau and his wife Celine Choong in 2020, the intimate 16-seater restaurant brings a signature smokiness and char to dishes prepared over a binchotan grill.

Diners are taken on a culinary tour around Malaysia with iconic dishes inspired by different regions with Beta KL’s tasting menu, which has an engaging narrative. Chef Raymond Tham showcases his personal style and creative ingenuity with eclectic use of local flavours, presenting a contemporary spin on Malaysian cuisine.

Chipta 11a prides itself on Malaysia-influenced offbeat Japanese cuisine, with an unconventional, adventurous menu. Unexpected combinations of unique ingredients result in a culinary adventure upon every visit, and since the menu is based around seasonal ingredients, dishes change regularly giving regular reasons to revisit.

Dewakan is the crown jewel of Malaysian fine dining, introducing guests to indigenous ingredients with its beautiful plates while pushing boundaries and advancing our culinary scene. Dewakan’s dishes have an educational aspect to them, using lesser-known local produce in a daring, experimental manner.

Inspired by seasonal ingredients, DC Restaurant expresses the diversity of different food cultures, blending both local and global flavours. The restaurant impresses year after year, and its phenomenal attention to detail and consistency deserves applause.

Eat and Cook presents an innovative, experimental Malaysian tasting menu, inspired by the country’s rich cultural tapestry. What stands out is the passion and sincere hospitality from the team who look to place Malaysian produce on the map, working closely with farmers and producers.

Known for French fare that uses quality seasonal produce, Entier effortlessly impresses with its creative dishes that are executed to perfection. The dining space is tasteful and comfortable, and service is top notch. The restaurant celebrates the joy of dining and drinking communally, paying homage to food growers, suppliers, and wine producers.

Known for its handmade egg noodles, Fifty Tales boasts delicious, no-frills comfort food that is good for all occasions. Starting off as a Chinese noodle bar in Bandar Sri Damansara, the concept has grown into a Malaysian Chinese restaurant that hones in on the craft of noodle making and accompanying dishes.

Gen 根’s take on showcasing Malaysian food makes for a memorable dining experience utilising regional ingredients found across Malaysia. Paired with impeccable service, the restaurant pushes the envelope for Penang’s fine dining scene, allowing guests to rediscover Malaysian Chinese flavours like never before. 

With meticulous attention to detail, Hide KL is known for its sophisticated and inventive contemporary dishes. Raising the fine dining scene to greater heights, Hide KL has remained one of the city’s most elegant restaurants with its minimalist interior dominated by a single, marble counter that seats just 10.

Known for its innovative approach to European cuisine, Molina serves a five to seven-course tasting menu that shines a light on fresh vegetables and seafood. Located in the heart of the city, Molina is helmed by renowned chef-owner Sidney Schutte. 

With its innovative stance towards Indian fine dining, Nadodi is an important restaurant within Malaysia’s culinary scene, offering a modern interpretation of South Indian and Sri Lankan flavours. The many minds and hands that go into the menu is impressive, and every course is rich in narrative, balanced, and leaves a lasting impression.

Potager is truly a one-of-a-kind restaurant, conceptualised to represent a celebration of craft and provenance. French techniques are applied to ingredients from the very best purveyors, creating a multi-course tasting menu that combines sensory experience and French finesse, inviting customers to bask in the present and savour the things that make the meal come to life.

Restaurant au Jardin boasts terroir-driven cuisine with a fantastic fusion of local ingredients. The team is warm, personable, and knowledgeable, and attention to detail is apparent in every aspect of the dining experience, which aims to celebrate the rich tapestry of flavours Malaysia has to offer.

With timeless and mature cooking, there is no restaurant like Studio Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. The contemporary tasting menu draws inspiration from travel, with Malaysian and Scottish ingredients treated with a European sensibility, showing that local gourmands need not travel to find delectable global cuisine.

Sushi Taka gives guests an authentic edomae-style sushi omakase experience that is one of the best in Kuala Lumpur. Every dish is meticulously thought out and executed, and service is always top-notch, as expected of such an establishment.

Table & Apron has boasted top-notch hospitality since 2014, and paired with its honest cooking inspired by the joys of comfort food, the neighbourhood restaurant is always a hit. No matter how many times you have visited, the friendly team and consistent food that highlights local produce will keep you coming back for more.

With a terroir-driven focus, Terra Dining celebrates Malaysian food culture through a well-executed degustation menu that showcases both traditional recipes and modern techniques.