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

A new restaurant in REXKL’s enclave of food vendors, Kai Nusantara Eatery showcases the diverse culinary practices of the Malay Archipelago. The restaurant’s menu places emphasis on equatorial ingredients. Its farm-to-table approach is at the centre of its operation, platforming sustainability, local agriculture, and homegrown produce.

Regional and heirloom recipes guide its menu, which includes young jackfruit rendang spread atop a bed of hummus, local clams swimming in spiced tamarind broth, quail egg sambal, and skipjack tuna satay with coconut flakes.

Flat 18 aims to bring simplicity back into the world of brunch. The coffeehouse and café, while specialising in uplifted daytime plates, focuses on uncomplicated, comforting dishes executed well. Its menu is compact and houses a big breakfast with red pepper hummus, salt beef sourdough sandwiches, and banana split brioche French toast.

Each meal here should be complemented by one of its unconventional espresso-based beverages like coconut coffee made with coffee cream and coconut water. 

Tucked inside one of the city’s newest cafés is Soberside Bar—a collaborative project between Chinatown’s Monograph and Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami. The bar exclusively serves mocktails crafted without spirits, using the same techniques seen in conventional mixology. For instance, its Hyeball, a play on the classic highball, features a blend of hojicha, soda, and Okinawa black sugar.

Mocktails are elevated into an art form at Soberside with creations like The Big Apple, a rooibos tea infused with spices and bitter orange, and White Veeno made with lychee, peach, citrus, and chrysanthemum on the menu. For those unfamiliar with zero-proof tipples, Soberside offers an array of caffeinated mocktails prepared with earl grey and oolong tea, coffee, and matcha. 

See also: Culinary cures: The Sleepy Girl Mocktail and other wellness trends

Dining at Villains is akin to attending a friend’s dinner party—homely, familiar, and inviting. Vibrant and playful dishes comprise this Georgetown eatery’s menu. Soulful plates balanced with seaside brightness are the neighbourhood joint’s specialities. An a la carte menu is available, but its rotating Feed Me menu is perfect for groups who wish to sit back and let the kitchen work its magic.

Find small plates of prawn crudo with Thai vinaigrette and steak tartare served alongside a curry emulsion to graze on. More substantial offerings currently include duck confit with barley cassoulet and seafood congee thickened with mascarpone. While bread courses may be overlooked, Villains’ should not. Each week, the restaurant concocts new compound butter to slather on slices of sourdough.

Have you ever had a hyper-specific, simultaneous hankering for kolok mee and great coffee? If so, Nuff should be added to the top of your dining bucket list. Beginning its journey with an espresso machine and a roadside stall, the coffee specialist has recently unveiled its first brick and mortar location.

Its interior is intimate, equipped with only a handful of seats that you should occupy given the chance. While an array of coffees (including its signature kopi kampung) can be found here, its Sarawak laksa and kolok mee should not be missed. 

Born out of a collaboration between Belly & the Chef and CC by Mel, Belly and Mel is one of Mont Kiara’s latest offerings. Asian fusion is the focus here, with plates like carbonara infused with fermented bean curd and sashimi tacos being specialities. The laidback café will soon house a full-fledged bakery with familiar pastries and sweets.

Flames are at the forefront of this new restaurant. Asador V is a chophouse that celebrates open-fire cooking. Premium dry-aged steaks are charred on asado fire grills, accentuating the cut of meat instead of its accompaniments. The steakhouse pays tribute to South American asado cooking techniques, imbuing the time-honoured tradition with elegance.

Its menu of meats sourced from Spain and Australia is completed by inclusions of seafood and complex sweet courses—most notably, Mesclun green and charred orange salad topped with a choice of blue cheese or olive oil ice cream. 

Don’t miss: Tatler Dining Guide 2024: The best grills, steakhouses, and seafood restaurants in Malaysia

The backyard of Bangsar’s Timba Studio is now home to Betterdays Slow Coffee Bar. Unlike most cafés in the area (or city, for that matter), Betterdays stays up past midnight. The hidden spot proves a sanctuary for night owls, fuelling all-nighters with a much needed dose of caffeine. Visit the laidback spot with seasoned café-goers to impress them with your niche discovery, or spend an evening with friends over fresh brews. 

Fans of Curbside Cantina, rejoice! The catering truck has opened a taqueria serving robust dishes that pay tribute to Mexican cuisine. Three styles of tacos are available here, dressing your selection of filling in avocado salsa, chipotle mayo or melted jack cheese. Find duck sourced from Perak, Argentinian beef brisket, and extra large prawns encased in white corn or crunchy tortillas.

The eatery recommends diners “come for the tacos, stay for the sides,” serving mole beans, beet hummus, and citrus salsa accompaniments. The entire venue can be booked for a minimum of 20 pax and a maximum of 32 if you plan a festive get-together or food-focused celebration.