From creamy lattes to unique local twists on coffees, here’s where to go in KL for a delicious cup of joe on the go
KL’s burgeoning cafe scene makes it one of the most exciting cities for coffee lovers in Asia. Now that parking yourself in your neighbourhood cafe is impossible during the MCO 2.0, many of KL’s coffee shops are bringing their delicious beans and specialty brews to your doorstep instead. Not only are these coffee deliveries a welcome pick-me-up on days when being cooped up gets wearisome, it’s also a great way to show your support to small and independent businesses during this time.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best cafes in KL that are still open for takeaway or delivery. From unique local twists to expertly-brewed single-origin coffees, here’s where to go to get your caffeine fix from home.
1. Lucky Coffee Bar
Lucky Coffee Bar is the sister cafe of the locally-loved Lokl Coffee in downtown KL, so you know their coffees will be nothing short of stellar. This stylish and expansive coffee bar, located in Bukit Bintang’s much-buzzed-about new boutique hotel KLoe, serves excellent coffee brews alongside classic fare like salads, sourdough sandwiches, pastries and nitro drinks with a local twist. We recommend the classic and creamy flat white or, if you’re feeling adventurous, its nitro kopi susu (milk coffee). Pre-MCO, getting a table here can be tricky; both its indoor space and courtyard are often packed with diners, particularly on weekends. Luckily, the new takeaway and delivery offering means you can now enjoy its delicious cup of joe to go from home.
Open daily for takeaways and deliveries from 7am to 5pm.
2. Kopenhagen
Kopenhagen is a Danish-owned cafe has a menu that’s as simple and unpretentious as its minimalist interiors. Its selection of comforting homebaked Danish-inspired cakes, crumbly scones, specialty coffees, teas and highly-raved drool-worthy ‘brookies’ (brownie cookies) are just what you need to perk you up as you stay home. While they don’t roast their own beans here, all their brews are skillfully grounded from seasonal single-origin coffee beans and locally roasted. Try the filter coffee or hot mocha with Korté chocolate. Kopenhagen Coffee also has an impressive vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu. Try the Vegan Mermaid (their version of a vegan quiche made with bell peppers, mushroom and tofu) or Green Knight (homemade tempeh balls). You can also opt for milk alternatives like soy and oat in your coffee.
Open daily for self pick-up or via delivery platforms such as Grabfood, Foodpanda and Beepdelivery.
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3. Sunday Coffee Cakes
As well as being one of KL’s prettiest spots (the arched entryway, for one, is hard to miss from the street), Sunday Coffee Cakes is known for doling out cosy breakfast fare and great coffees. Take your pick from its selection of freshly baked goods like the peanut butter crumb cake, carrot cake and tarts to go along your preferred brew. We also recommend trying its delicious homemade kaya, which you can take home to enjoy.
4. VCR
With a location within the city centre and an outpost in the trendy Bangsar district, VCR is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most popular specialty coffee shops. The café’s all-black exterior – which applies both locations – stands out amid the surrounding buildings, while inside you’ll find a team of baristas doling out delicious brews made with their in-house roasted beans. We recommend going for the cold brew or an espresso tonic or try their house-made kombucha if you’re after something tart and refreshing.
Open for daily for takeout and delivery from 8am to 5.30pm.
5. Cream
The café outpost of local coffee roaster The Roast Things, Cream puts their coffee beans front and centre of the customer experience. You can sample brews – be it a filter coffee, iced latte or affogato – made using various blends and single-origin offerings from the likes of Colombia, Kenya, Costa Rica and Honduras, among other key coffee-growing regions. Cream also lets you purchase its coffee beans from its roastery via the web store.
Cream is temporarily closed for takeout. You can still purchase your coffee beans from its roastery available on its web store.
6. Transparent Coffee
Located in Bangsar, Transparent Coffee – which transforms into Coley Cocktail Bar at night – is one of the newer players on the scene, but has quickly developed a following for its excellent brews made with beans that owner Joey Mah sources directly from producers. Make your way through the lush plant-framed entrance and order yourself a filter brew of whatever single-origin variety they’re serving that day.
Open daily for delivery and takeaway from 8am to 4.30pm.
7. Pulp
Pulp, the Malaysian flagship outlet of Singaporean coffee roaster PPP (formerly known as Papa Palheta) can be found at creative space Art Printing Works in Bangsar. It’s a spacious café, roastery, showroom and workshop space rolled into one – heaven on earth for coffee geeks – and where quality shots using in-house roasted beans are pulled using a Synesso espresso machine. We recommend trying a refreshing and light cascara cold brew or decadent iced mint chocolate.
Open daily from 8am to 8pm for takeout and delivery.
Do check each establishment’s official websites for opening hours and requirements before visiting. Please adhere to the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) while dining in.
A version of this story was first published in June 2020.
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