10 new restaurants, cafés, and bars in Malaysia to visit in October 2024

Contemporary Asian dishes and bespoke cocktails infused with the genius of the team behind Beta KL and Skillet KL take up residence in Upper House KL. Located in Chinatown’s B Hotel, the rooftop restaurant and bar offers sentimental staples with entirely unique twists.

Find Wagyu ox tongue on Bengali roti, octopus paired with laksam sauce and ulam raja, fish fillet served with Portuguese sambal, and a take on claypot rice that gives diners the choice of topping the savoury rice bowl with foie gras. At the bar, expect signature cocktails made with cucumber cordial, dragonfruit yoghurt, pomelo curacao, or Rosso infused monk fruit. 

See also: Inside the highly anticipated Skillet KL 2.0
 

From the minds behind Ome by Spacebar Coffee comes George Town’s newest natural wine bar. Nestled in Penang’s Lorong Toh Aka, expect to be welcomed by an intimate, inviting space still in its soft-launch phase that offers and impressive portfolio of natural pours and select filter coffee.

Bringing the atmosphere of quaint European delis to the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Culina has opened its first Malaysian outlet in Shoppes at Four Seasons Place. The space plays host to three distinct experiences, offering diners seasonal produce driven sharing plates at its bistro, flaky pastries at its bakery, and the opportunity to bring home farm-fresh ingredients from its marketplace.

Highlights of its menu prove to be a roast pumpkin salad with a medley of tomatoes, jumbo lump crab cakes with celeriac remoulade, and freshly shucked French oysters. 

A self-described “pasta paradise,” Base Pasta Bar & Bistro stands as the brainchild of Jay, formerly of Back Alley Pasta. Decadent savoury plates can be found here, from deep fried catfish paired with crispy smashed potatoes to quinoa arancini served on a bed of house made pomodoro. The dishes that steal the spotlight, though, prove to be the noodle nook’s hand-rolled pastas.

Expect pork ragout with sourdough garganelli, Kurobuta pork chops dressed with yuzu kosho tare and peppercorn pappardelle, Spanish squid ink tagliolini topped with grilled shoyu patin, and bucatini with fermented lemon butter and pesto diavola. 

Recently opened in Seibu at The Exchange TRX, Sushi Kita is the space’s answer to authentic Edomae-style sushi. Guided by tradition instead of innovation, the Japanese dining venue chooses to celebrate the culinary heritage of Japan while honouring the cuisine’s defining precise techniques and understated flavours.

Multiple omakase menus are available here, spotlighting a variety of sushi from blue mackerel to yellowtail, pickled tuna rolls, chawanmushi, and more. For those who’d rather handpick their items, order off its a la carte section. 

Tucked right next to Sushi Kita, Yakiniku Botan + is the place to go when in search of a charcoal-grilled feast. The yakiniku specialist is home to a comprehensive selection of Japanese A5 Wagyu beef cuts including oyster blade, brisket, chuck roll, and more. You’ll also find a variety of fresh seafood, house made sauces and salts, and a la carte plates like seafood pancakes, beef gyoza, and Wagyu curry. 

Don’t miss: 8 must-visit yakiniku spots in the Klang Valley
 

Hoifan Company breathes new life into familiar favourites. Putting its own spin on Asian-influenced cuisine, its menu is comprised of dishes like Wagyu char kway teow, chicken siew baos encased in a flaky Wellington-inspired crust, Portuguese egg tarts brightened with citrus zest, Wagyu hamburg steak doused in Japanese curry, and pan-seared barramundi with umami sambal. 

The local bagel craze continues with the newly opened Autumn Bagels & Coffee in Subang Jaya. Bagels baked daily are this spot’s signatures, with each bake being transformed into savoury ham and cheese or salami and pesto sandwiches or vessels for flavoured cream cheese. 

A mainstay of Johor Bahru café culture has made its way to Kuala Lumpur with the opening of Doña Bakehouse. Since its 2022 debut, the bakery and brunch haven has made waves with its expansive selection of handcrafted pastries and savoury brunch plates that Kuala Lumpur diners can finally get their hands on.

You’ll find poached eggs on avocado toast, big breakfast platters, perfectly laminated croissants, and decadent pain au chocolates here.