September’s latest openings give you a few good reasons to switch up the usual dining rotation. Coffee gets experimental in Hartamas, breakfast sandwiches find a full-fledged home in Mutiara Damansara, while Puchong adds lakeside dining to the mix. From heritage East Coast flavours to charcoal-grilled Korean barbecue, there's a dish for every palate. And when the sun goes down, new bars in The Arch Galeries and Uptown Damansara offer somewhere to keep the night going. Esquire Malaysia covers what is new and what you should order first.
This new café brings an experimental approach to coffee in Desa Sri Hartamas. The interiors follow suit, mixing raw concrete, glass blocks and metal details with colourful illustrations and a vinyl corner. Its menu plays with unusual combinations. La Reina blends cacao nib tea, strawberry and chilli cheong, while TBD pairs espresso with coconut water and house-whisked kaya. There’s also apple pie, made with apple juice, cinnamon, brown butter and cream cheese. If your usual coffee order is getting a little predictable, this spot should fix that.
Get ready for a post-breakfast sugar rush. 2nd Breakfast and Cozy Cookies have opened their first permanent space in Mutiara Damansara. It brings together toasted muffin sandwiches and desserts under one roof, with six savoury options leading the menu. Cozy Cookies handles the sugar fix, including an indulgent four-inch banoffee pie and brown butter chocolate chip cookies. Drinks are equally playful, like the PBJT milkshake made with toast-infused milk, mixed berry jam and peanut butter.
Located at StarValley Lakeside, this new café opens onto the water with an airy layout, woven wood details and tables positioned to make the most of the view. The menu sticks largely to familiar crowd-pleasers, including the Signature Blue Pea Nasi Lemak and English Breakfast. Come evening, StarValley offers an American-style barbecue buffet by the lake. With glamping accommodation on the same grounds, you can make a night of it, although the café works perfectly well as a destination on its own.
One Brick Drop has a new sibling in Mont Kiara, taking over a leafy corner of Steppes. The menu leans Japanese, from Engawa Clay Pot to Aburi Don. Its katsu prawn ramen pairs a crisp breaded prawn with a rich crustacean broth, while the halibut comes with ikura and tartar sauce. The outlet also offers exclusive pizzas made with locally sourced ingredients, alongside a selection of sides, desserts and signature drinks. Pets are welcome too, making this an easy option for lunch with the whole household.
This is one of the first restaurants to arrive at the newly opened MET Galleria, and the kitchen covers plenty of ground. Western staples include fish and chips and a wagyu smash burger, while the Asian side brings nasi lemak, nasi goreng Iga Bakar and Coconut-rich Soto Betawi. One of the more unusual orders is the Unagi claypot rice, topped with chargrilled eel, an onsen egg and kabayaki glaze. The bar serves draught beers, spirits and whiskies, while satay, truffle fries and pisang goreng cover late-night snacking.
Located in the lower ground level of Bangsar Village I, Rumoh Mekda specialises in heritage flavours from Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The restaurant blends kampung-inspired elements with a modern setting, creating a relaxed, home-like atmosphere. Its menu focuses on traditional East Coast fare like Nasi Kerabu Ayam Percik, Daging Tumbok and Ikan Patin Goreng Sambal Tempoyak. Finish off your meal with the Akok Aiskrim, as the name implies, a homely combination of kuih akok and ice cream.
This Neapolitan-style pizzeria is located at Menara AmpleWest, at the foot of KL Tower and a few minutes from KLCC. Vincenzo’s centrepiece is its hand-built 450°C brick oven, which cooks pizzas in 90 seconds, in accordance with guidelines set by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. The pork-free menu features classics such as the Margherita and Marinara, plus localised twists like the Il Malese—chicken satay pizza with peanut sauce. Beyond pizza, they also serve antipasti, pasta, desserts, coffee, Italian-inspired drinks, wine, and beer.
K-BBQ lovers rejoice as GAMTAN Meat Shop just opened its latest outlet. The Sri Petaling branch has a relaxed retro vibe with dark green seats, old posters and Korean newspapers adorning the space. Founded by a butcher-chef duo, the restaurant serves a variety of pork and wagyu beef cuts. One signature offering is the Butcher's Cut, a selection of premium pork cuts. The staff grills your choice of meat over a charcoal grill at your table and advises on sauce pairings.
If you’re looking for a post-dinner drink experience, this listening bar is for audiophiles, housed inside Volume at The Arch Galeries. The concept is simple and refreshing. One record for the whole night, picked by a rotating guest selector. While Side A plays, everyone listens. No chatter, no ordering, and phones face down. The low-lit atmosphere forces the focus on the music emanating from the 1970s horn speakers driven by a hand-wired tube amp. On tap is a modest selection of wine, whiskeys, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Joining the fray of Uptown Damansara’s neighbourhood-driven bar scene is M.I.A Bar. This cosy, pet-friendly bar is perfect for after-work drinks and unwinding. Beyond the usual beers and stout on tap, they’ve also collaborated with @drunkentea to offer tea-infused cocktails. The bartenders are accommodating and always ready to whip something up for you, no matter your mood.
Esquire Malaysia
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