The area around Petaling Street or Chinatown in downtown Kuala Lumpur is a place that’s busy and packed. Most of the crowd here are tourists looking for a bargain. However, the streets around this part of downtown are full of lovely heritage buildings that many are trying to restore and preserve. One group of people doing this are the new wave of café and restaurant owners.
These picturesque cafes have been housed in pre-war shophouses, many of which have been designed with elements of history built in. These are some of the cafes around Petaling Street where you can enjoy good food while taking the best Insta shots:
1. Mingle Café
Mingle Café is one of the latest places to open on Jalan Sultan as it started operations in August 2018. Its entrance is decorated with a lot of green potted plants and its interior is filled with faux aged furniture and walls. You’ll want to order their slow iced drip coffee served in a traditional ceramic Chinese teacup, complete with a saucer and cover.
Address: 55, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: Always open
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minglekl/
2. Merchant’s Lane
There’s an interesting story about this café. Apparently, back in the good old days, this place used to be a brothel. Now, you can visit this period location which has preserved some of the original discoloured walls. The central courtyard has been fitted with a see through roof that lets natural light in, and is filled with plenty of beautiful creepers.
Address: No, 150 Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiia
Opening hours: Tuesdays – Fridays, 11.30am-10pm; Saturdays & Sundays, 9.30am – 10pm: Closed on Wednesdays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merchantslane/
3. Aku Café & Gallery
Aku is the location of many artistic events like showcases, screenings, performances and book launches. The café itself has a very minimalist theme, with white walls decorated with traditional wooden Chinese lattices. Even the tables and chairs look like something out of a quintessential Chinese inn. There are also plenty of antique display cabinets and other pieces reminiscent of Petaling Street in its early days.
Address: No.8, 1st Floor, Jalan Panggong, 50000 Kuala Lumpur.Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tuesdays- Sundays, 11am-8pm; Closed on Mondays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akucafegallery/
4. Lucy in the Sky
Named after the iconic Beatles’ song, this café attracts both tourists and locals alike. The interior is covered in bare red brick, and is perfect for those seeking a laidback place to dine, chat and enjoy a bottle of beer. Many people stop by for their local set lunches like the lemongrass orasted chicken with rice and sweet &sour Dory fish. There are plenty of modern artwork covering the walls so you’ll have rather interesting backgrounds to pose with all the time.
Address: 167 Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays,8am-6pm; Sundays 9am-6pm; closed on Mondays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucyintheskykl/
5. Chocha Foodstore
From the original small tiled floors to the tiled walls, this café has done everything it can to preserve the original feel of the building. Modern décor weaves its way in the form of minimalist wooden tables and seating, but you’ll still be enveloped in a lot of nostalgia. Enjoy both white and red wine here, as well as original beverages like crafted juice fermented sodas and Arak x Tonic by BotakLiquor.
Address: No 156, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tuesdays- Sundays, 11am-11pm: closed on Mondays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chocha.foodstore/
