Every month, the Going Places team handpicks the best experiences across Malaysia
1 Penang: The female graze
In a leafy suburban neighbourhood in George Town, the delightful Third Culture Dining – helmed by chef Sue Ching Khor and an all-women front staff – offers one of the best fine dining experiences in all of Penang. The setting is an elegant mid-century modern bungalow that was once an architect’s private residence, while the menu is an intriguing and creative showcase of locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
Diners can look forward to flavours that shaped Sue Ching’s childhood in Malaysia, paired with French culinary techniques (she spent a decade training with French mentors, starting at the acclaimed Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon). Expect a starter of mushroom soup flavoured with kulim, or jungle garlic, a local nut with a truffle-like aroma. Khor’s take on the traditional lam mee features extra-large prawns in a bouillabaisse sauce and angel hair pasta.
Pulling it all together is the warm and attentive service that makes the whole meal feel like a visit with someone stylish and fabulously well-travelled. The space is intimate, so best to book in advance. – Tara FT Sering
2 KL: A feast for the senses
Chinatown’s flavours get a bold, modern twist at Upper House KL, on the rooftop of B Hotel on Petaling Street. Enjoy inventive bites such as wagyu ox tongue on roti benggali, octopus with laksam sauce (a fish-based coconut milk gravy) and ulam raja (King’s salad). The mains include succulent wagyu beef, and smoked duck with orange, Sichuan peppers and lotus leaf buns. The view is just as spectacular: the Merdeka 118 – the second tallest structure in the world – in all its towering glory.
3 Perak: Escape to paradise
Here’s a weekend escape idea: TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh, which stands out for its breathtaking limestone scenery. Its centrepiece is a seahorse-shaped pool opening out into a lake that surrounds Rockhaven, a 200-million-yearold limestone monolith often veiled in mystical morning mist. Located at the base of a mountain, part of a range that forms the spine of Peninsular Malaysia, the hotel’s 150 deluxe rooms offer private balconies with panoramic views of the dramatic cliff faces. Whether it’s a morning hike, a lakeside yoga session or simply unwinding by the pool, we can’t think of a more serene setting for a rejuvenating escape.
4 Kuala Lumpur: Tea down the rabbit hole
The menu at Surreal, a newly opened café in Kuchai Lama, lists inventive sips such as fermented apple, cinnamon and brown sugar tepache, alongside The Cousins, a shaken Earl Grey infused with apricot and plum. The food is just as playful: hotate pai tee (scallop in a pastry shell), coconut green soup and grilled miso-marinated tentacles with pumpkin purée. The dreamlike aesthetic extends beyond the plate – whimsical fonts and Edward Hopper’s Soir Bleu add to the ambience, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that feels like you’ve stepped into a painting.
5 Sabah: Kopitiam classics meet modern café vibes
Craving a touch of kopitiam nostalgia in Kota Kinabalu? Atukuupi in Central Plaza – a portmanteau of atuk (grandfather) and kopi (coffee) – brings a modern café twist to beloved kopitiam staples. Signature drinks include salted Atukuupi Masin coffee, Atuk Cham (a rich coffee and tea blend) and the Traditional 3 Layer Atuk Teh, infused with gula melaka and evaporated milk. The food menu stays true to its local roots with staples like nasi lemak, nasi kuning (yellow rice) and the indulgent Atuk Roti Banjir Curry – a comforting dish of toast drenched in fragrant curry.
6 Johor Bahru: Through the portal
Fusion food takes centre stage at The Portal Café in Johor Bahru, with dishes like tender Bulgogi Beef Hash with pulled brisket. It’s not just the food that draws you in. Since opening in early 2024, the café has been living up to its name with a captivating atmosphere. Its carved-out entrance leads to a sci-fi-inspired walkway before you’re greeted by a print of René Magritte’s The Son of Man and the two main attractions – an inverted tree that grows downward and a surreal terrarium that spans the length of the café.
7 Malaysia: Look here!
Just in time for Eid, Dia Guild and Tangsi Tujuh team up to impress with the limited-edition LIUK collection, which features elegantly crafted pieces that play on whites, pastels and translucence. The collection includes the standout Keluk, a voile poncho-style top with a Mandarin collar and delicate blue embroidery; the Desir long tunic, adorned with delicate clematis flower motifs; and the bold kebaya lapel Gelora top, featuring intricate cutout lace and pink embroidery.
8 Malaysia: Here comes the sun protection
Headed for the beach? The ingredients in the new Tribiotics 360° Suncare (SPF50) by homegrown skincare brand B&B Labs reads like a delicious concoction of the region’s best. It contains botanicals such as durian flavonoids, mangosteen xanthones, aloe vera, Buddleja flower, Ougon and Houttuynia extracts, along with prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics (all the rage in the wellness world). The new product also provides protection against pollution and dust.
9 Negeri Sembilan: Raptor watch
Heads up, birders – the annual Raptor Watch in Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson coincides with the spring migration of raptors across the Straits of Malacca. Thousands of birds of prey – including eagles, hawks and falcons – utilise Tanjung Tuan, with its iconic Cape Rachado Lighthouse, as a crucial stopover point during the long journey south, providing a spectacular aerial display for observers. Organised annually by the Malaysian Nature Society, participants can join guided birdwatching tours, attend informative talks and learn about raptor conservation. So, set your date for 8 and 9 March 2025 and make your way to Tanjung Tuan to witness this thrilling celebration of nature and wildlife.
10 Say hello to a new, improved you
After experiencing the wonders of biohacking – a proactive, science-driven approach to making small, intentional changes to your body, diet and lifestyle – Yap Yann Fang set up ĀMANÏ Biohacking Club, Asia’s first and largest biohacking club, in the suburb of Bangsar. It is now a sanctuary for individuals with a holistic approach to wellness, offering a range of spaces that includes a salt pool and a meditation cave.
ĀMANÏ also conducts workshops that teach people who cook for you at home how to whip up nourishing meals. Cutting-edge technologies worth checking out include Waveguard, a machine that protects against harmful EMF radiation, and the BioCharger Lounge, where electromagnetic frequencies and light therapy work to revitalise cellular energy. Ready for your superfit era?
11 Sarawak: Call of the wild
The 3rd of March is World Wildlife Day, making this month a fitting time to visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Sarawak, a short drive from Kuching. The centre, located within the Semenggoh Wildlife Nature Reserve, focuses on rehabilitating the animals for release back into the wild, while conducting research and breeding programmes. The centre has become synonymous with orangutan rehabilitation and is a natural haven for these critically endangered primates. Semenggoh offers visitors a rare chance to see Borneo’s great apes up close in their natural habitat – and even feed them along the trail.
12 Malaysia: Watch out!
Did you know that Malaysia is home to one of the most acclaimed young watch brands on the global market? MING, an independent watch brand founded by designer and photographer Ming Thein, is out to reignite excitement in watch collecting.
Collectors and watch nerds will be thrilled to know about Thein’s latest creation: the recently unveiled 37.09 Uni, inspired by the sea urchin. The new, limited edition model is a black DLC-coated dive watch with vibrant orange accents, reflecting the sea urchin’s tough exterior and prized interior. It can operate in depths of up to 600m and is pretty fancy too, featuring a sapphire caseback and a rotating sapphire timing dial.
Powered by an automatic Sellita SW300. M1 movement, the 37.09 Uni introduces a newly designed hour index. Notably, it is the first MING watch to feature orange emission SuperLumiNova, echoing its namesake’s vivid hues. For those into rare finds, only 150 pieces are available.
Malaysia Airlines flies all over the country.
