Beautiful places where you can grab brunch and coffee in style
When it comes to enjoying a satisfying meal, the taste and quality of the food is undoubtedly paramount. At the same time, savouring your juicy burger, decadent spaghetti carbonara or fluffy brioche French toast in a gorgeous setting certainly does not hurt the experience. From a lush garden greenhouse and pleasing sea views to minimalist interiors and a moody, industrial-chic ambience, these seven cafés in Johor Bahru provide aesthetic vibes aplenty – so you can snap a few shots for the ’gram while tucking into a delicious brunch.
1. The Brewmen
Opened just last year at Tasek Central, The Brewmen is a spacious, light-filled café comes complete with high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and plants that add pops of green to an otherwise muted colour palette. Take a seat on one of the plush chairs and tuck into classic brunch fare such as eggs Benedict and avocado toast. Coffee-wise, it specialises in filter brews: Currently on offer are single-origin varieties such as the Costa Rica Don Cayito (with tasting notes of lemonade, apricot and honey) and the Nicaragua La Bendicion H1 (with tasting notes of lychee, jackfruit and hawthorn).
Plaza Tasek, Lot 2-44, Level 2, Tasek Central, 16 Jalan Pendekar, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah
2. Chaiwalla & Co
This unique container café – said to be the first of its kind in the country – located along Tan Hiok Nee Street is housed in a large shipping box and has been serving up drinks and sweet treats to the masses since 2012. Chaiwalla & Co’s aesthetic appeal is only furthered by large plants that are strewn throughout the space. Besides the ambience, patrons flock here for the sheer range of drinks – including matcha milkshakes, cold brews, Thai milk tea and Vietnamese coffee – which you can pair with snacks such as meat pies, brownies and cinnamon rolls.
36 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru
3. Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro
Situated in the Taman Pelangi district, Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro specialises in farm-to-table dishes that are as pretty as the well-designed interior. High ceilings, mismatched vintage furniture, cement floors and various plants hanging from the ceiling give this corner café a relaxed, chic vibe, making it the perfect spot for a languorous weekend brunch. Try one of their customisable signature grain bowls, or opt for the soufflé pancakes (we recommend the version topped with fresh strawberries) if you’re in the mood for something sweet.
78 Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi
4. The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen
Located in a 1940s heritage shophouse and inspired by the charming cafés of Melbourne, The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen remains a hot favourite among locals and tourists alike. This minimalist café, founded in 2015, comes complete with whitewashed walls and hanging industrial light fixtures. Cosy up in its gorgeous semi-circle booths and take your pick from its sumptuous selection of brunch classics, pastas, churros, tapas-style bites and even the odd Malaysian fare. If you’re famished, we recommend ordering the Breakfast Platter, a hearty plate of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, sausages, sundried tomatoes and muesli toast. Wash it down with one of their espresso-based beverages or specialty teas.
33 Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
5. Yard & Co
For a momentary escape from the concrete jungle, make the drive to Yard & Co in Pengerang. You’ll be rewarded with picturesque views of the Singapore Strait and a waterfront café complete with rustic rattan furniture, lots of natural light and a cosy ambience. The café offers a range of hearty dishes and smaller plates with an Asian influence, including an innovative nasi lemak Benedict and the laksa pasta, which comes topped with juicy tiger prawns.
Lot 4785, 1 Lorong Siakap, Kampung Sungai Rengit, Pengerang
6. Bev C’afe
One of the city’s most popular cafés is tucked within a quirky fashion boutique of the same name. Bev C’afe’s moody interiors are completed with charming furniture, dark-wood furnishings and exposed concrete, as well as funky touches like a vintage tear-away calendar and old books scattered throughout the space. Sip on one of their flavoured lattes and dig into dishes such as açai bowls, croissant sandwiches and cakes that are almost too pretty to eat.
54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru
7. Fika Farmhouse
Nature buffs should head to the Nusajaya area, where this sprawling, greenery-filled mini-kampung is located. Fika Farmhouse specialises in farm-to-table menu of international comfort food (think pastas, grilled meats and breakfast platters) and grows a number of different fruits and vegetables on its premises, including strawberries and cherry tomatoes. For an equally picture-perfect drink to complement the surroundings, try the Purple Sweet Potato Latte – a pastel blue, milky white and light purple concoction that looks as good as it tastes.
Y2, 1 Jalan Hijauan 1, Horizon Hills, Nusajaya
