Cover The Best-in-Class category celebrates the crème de la crème of each respective category within restaurants, showcasing the finest Malaysia has to offer. (Image: Merdeka Grill)

From inventive fine dining to timeless favourites, these Best-in-Class restaurants embody the richness and diversity of Malaysia’s dynamic culinary excellence in 2026.

Malaysia’s dining scene is more exciting than ever, and this year’s Best-in-Class winners exemplify its constant evolution. From time-honoured favourites to bold newcomers and game-changing concepts, these restaurants set the bar with outstanding cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and dining moments that leave a lasting impression.

Voted by Tatler’s panel of industry leaders and tastemakers, these winners are recognised for excellence in their respective categories, collectively elevating the local dining scene and helping to put Malaysia on the map.

1. Molina

Kampung Baru
Tatler Asia
Above Chef Guillaume Depoortere of Molina (Image: Molina)

Awards

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2026 Tatler Best 20

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2026 Rising Star

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2025 Tatler Best 20

Must Try

  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Sepia
  • Sturgeon

Rising Star: Guillaume Depoortere, Molina

Guillaume Depoortere paves his own path in a sea of culinary trends, leading the team at Molina which has risen the ranks to gain its place among Kuala Lumpur’s most celebrated restaurants in just the short period of time it has been open.


Molina

Address:  51/F, The Face Style, 1020, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kampung Baru, 50250 Kuala Lumpur

2. K 圭

Kuala Lumpur City Centre
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Photo 1 of 5 The highly anticipated opening of K 圭 has brought them the award of Best New Restaurant (Image: K 圭)
Photo 2 of 5 The highly anticipated opening of K 圭 has brought them the award of Best New Restaurant (Image: K 圭)
Photo 3 of 5 The highly anticipated opening of K 圭 has brought them the award of Best New Restaurant (Image: K 圭)
Photo 4 of 5 The highly anticipated opening of K 圭 has brought them the award of Best New Restaurant (Image: K 圭)
Photo 5 of 5 The highly anticipated opening of K 圭 has brought them the award of Best New Restaurant (Image: K 圭)

Awards

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2026 Tatler Best New Restaurant

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2026 Tatler Best 20

Best New Restaurant: K 圭

K 圭 is one of the most exciting openings in KL this year, adding to ILHAM Tower’s collection of eateries and bars. Hidemichi Seki’s cuisine shows restraint and nuance, rooted in the traditions of kaiseki, using locally foraged ingredients. Guests discover a wealth of produce grown in our tropical terroir, each showcasing their character to its full potential with Seki’s gentle touch.


K 圭

Address:  Level 37, ILHAM Tower, 8, Jln Binjai, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

3. Merdeka Grill

Kuala Lumpur City Centre
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Photo 1 of 5 Best design goes to Merdeka Grill in Menara 118 (Image: Park Hyatt)
Photo 2 of 5 Best design goes to Merdeka Grill in Menara 118 (Image: Park Hyatt)
Photo 3 of 5 Best design goes to Merdeka Grill in Menara 118 (Image: Park Hyatt)
Photo 4 of 5 Best design goes to Merdeka Grill in Menara 118 (Image: Park Hyatt)
Photo 5 of 5 Best design goes to Merdeka Grill in Menara 118 (Image: Park Hyatt)

Awards

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2026 Tatler Best-in-Class Design

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2026 Tatler Best 20

Best Design: Merdeka Grill 

Merdeka Grill offers a striking counterpoint within Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur's design narrative. Set on the upper floors of Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia, the restaurant anchors GA Group's architectural approach with dark ribbed walls and slabs of silver travertine. Where the hotel's residential floors lean into traditional kampung house warmth, the grill introduces theatricality through its open kitchen and bold material palette, imbuing the space with a modern edge while maintaining a connection to Malaysia's cultural context.


Merdeka Grill

Address:  Warisan Merdeka Tower, Level 75, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Presint Merdeka 118, 50118 Kuala Lumpur

4. Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur
Tatler Asia
Above Chef Holger Deh, Tatler's Best-in-Class, Best Pastry Chef (Image: Park Hyatt)

Awards

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2026 Best Pastry Chef

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2026 Tatler Best Hotels

Best Pastry Chef: Holger Deh, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Holger Deh, executive pastry chef of Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, stuns with his technical skills as well as innovation in the world of pastry through textures, tastes, and forms. He brings with him decades of experiences across the globe, and at the hotel has gained recognition for his signature mille feuille, served tableside.


Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Address:  Warisan Merdeka Tower, Presint Merdeka 118, Wilayah Persekutuan, 50118 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

5. Akar

$ $ $ $   |   Taman Tun Dr. Ismail
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Photo 1 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)
Photo 2 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)
Photo 3 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)
Photo 4 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)
Photo 5 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)
Photo 6 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)
Photo 7 of 7 Akar constantly finds itself at the edge of innovation, teetering between exceptional local produce and culinary techniques, bringing the best to the table each time (Image: Akar)

Awards

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2025 Tatler Best 100 Restaurants Asia-Pacific

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2025 Tatler Best 20 Restaurants Malaysia

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2024 Tatler Best 100 Restaurants Asia

Must Try

  • Crab Claypot Rice
  • Spiced Crab Broth

Best Innovation: Akar 

Akar represents a return to home, a journey chef-owner Aidan Low personally chose despite opportunities to work abroad, pulled by a profound feeling that Malaysia had untold stories he could uncover and convey through his food. This can be seen through Akar’s seasonal menu, which weaves childhood memories with culinary traditions, showcasing our local biodiversity with innovative culinary techniques that challenge the convention of fine dining.


Akar

Address:  109, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

6. Table & Apron

$ $ $ $   |   Petaling Jaya
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Photo 1 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 2 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 3 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 4 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 5 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 6 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 7 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 8 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 9 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)
Photo 10 of 10 Hospitality has always been in the veins of Table & Apron, the winners of Tatler's Best-in-Class award for Best Service (Image: Table & Apron)

Awards

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2026 Tatler Best Malaysia: Best Service

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2025 Tatler Best Malaysia: Best Service

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2025 Tatler Best 20

Must Try

  • Ulam herb rice with smoked mackerel
  • Buckwheat Fried Chicken
  • Tiramisu

Best Service: Table & Apron 

Table & Apron has boasted top-notch hospitality since 2014, and paired with its honest cooking, the neighbourhood restaurant is always a hit. Having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, the eatery has stood the test of time due to its comforting fare and impeccable service—staff often have friendly competitions to remember customer names or when they last visited to build a lasting relationship.


Table & Apron

Address:  23, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya

7. Restaurant au Jardin

$ $ $ $   |   Penang
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Photo 1 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 2 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 3 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 4 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 5 of 10 Chef Kim Hock Su (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 6 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 7 of 10 Chef Kim Hock Su (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 8 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 9 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)
Photo 10 of 10 Kim Hock Su and his team's magnificent creations has awarded them Tatler Best-in-Class' Restaurant of the Year (Image: Restaurant au Jardin)

Awards

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2026 Tatler Best 20

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2026 Tatler Best Restaurant of the Year

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2025 Tatler Best 100 Restaurants Asia-Pacific

Must Try

  • Grand Caviar au Jardin
  • Cognac & Hay Aged Duck
  • Aged Local AA Graded Dairy Cow

Restaurant of the Year: Restaurant au Jardin

This award recognises the highest ranking restaurant, as voted on by our panel of industry leaders and tastemakers. While Restaurant au Jardin has been the recipient of this Tatler award for countless years, it is only fair that Su Kim Hock and his team are recognised for their commitment and heart. The cuisine produced at the hands of the establishment’s talented team is revered across the globe, and Su is magnanimous when it comes to supporting industry peers and homegrown talent.


Restaurant au Jardin

Address:  Hin Bus Depot, The Warehouse, 125, Jalan Timah, 10150 George Town, Penang

Special thanks to our experience partners, Mastercard and Priceless.