Malaysia has quite a number of hidden gems when it comes to eating out: from special restaurant experiences to Instagram-worthy ice cream parlors to traditional Sunday brunch dim sum!
Well, we have yet another one to add: themed cafes. One for the food, two for the aesthetic – these places are perfect for both picture-loving young adults and families on holiday outings!
Hence, here’s our list of the top 10 themed cafes you can visit and eat at in Kuala Lumpur (KL) as well as where exactly you can find them!
10 Top Themed Cafés in KL
1. Barbie™ Café
Located within the same place as Le Petit Chef and The Grand Getaway, the Barbie™ Cafe is the recent brainchild of Grand Hyatt Hotel and the company of the world’s most well-known doll icon. Specializing in afternoon tea (Barbie™ Pink Teatime In A Box and Barbie™ Pink Afternoon Tea), visitors can enjoy unique pink-themed pastries in a cozy setting to fit! This can also be paired alongside the themed rooms and suites overlooking KL’s skyline as part of the full Barbie™ Ultimate Staycation experience!
*Note: Reservations will have to be made beforehand.
Location: 12, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Session 1 from 12pm – 2pm, Session 2 from 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Contact: 03-2182 1234
Social media: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
2. Meeples – European Boardgame Café
Not just known as a unique themed cafe in KL, Meeples is also Malaysia’s biggest provider and even Southeast Asia’s largest distributor of designer board games and game accessories! While some of their top games include Catan, Carcassonne, The Resistance, Dixit, Gemblo, and Panic Tower, you can probably find any other board game – from A to Z – you’d like to play with family and friends here. Do be sure to keep a lookout for the new branch at KOTAK Sunway Pyramid as well!
Location: 64-1, Jalan SS 15/4d, Ss 15, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: Daily from 5pm – 12 am
Contact: 03-5633 8033
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter
3. Happy Landfill
This themed cafe in KL is set in a 90s office, complete with the matching office decor as well as analog TVs and cathode-ray tube computers for that nostalgic, retro feel! While the menu mainly consists of coffee and pastries – quick for an on-the-go break time snack – their simple yet refreshing iced chocolate is a customer favorite. They have also hosted in-venue events such as Recycled Moments and HuaiRen Soft Launch so be sure to stay tuned for the next one!
Location: Level LG1, A-G-06, Dataran Cascades, Jalan PJU 5/1, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: Daily from 11 am – 10pm, closed on Mondays
Contact: 012-339 9967
Social media: Website, Facebook, Instagram
4. Grey V Café
Self-dubbed as Malaysia’s number 1 industrial and prison themed cafe – located right in KL, the aesthetic does well to live up to its name! The grey interior – spacious and modern – houses morbid mannequins, and there is even a photo area to create your own mugshot! Mainly specializing in Western cuisine, some of their best-sellers include burgers, pastas, and pizzas. Their desserts and drinks are beautifully crafted with an assortment of delicious flavors – perfect for your Instagram feed!
Location: 8, Jalan PJS 11/7, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: Daily from 10am – 10pm
Contact: 017-229 3717
Social media: Facebook, Instagram
5. Old China Café
Formerly the guild hall of the Selangor & Federal Territory Laundry Association, the place has been well-kept and preserved to remind visitors of the Chinese community’s old social life during the 1850s hard-working, tin-mining scene in Ampang – a key piece of history! They specialize in serving traditional Baba Nyonya (descendants of an ethnic group in which Chinese people adopted Malay culture into their way of life) cuisine derived from the communities in Malacca and Penang.
*Note: Reservations will have to be made beforehand.
Location: 11, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Daily from 11am – 10pm
Contact: 03-2072 5915
Social media: Website, Facebook
6. Monster. A Garden Café
This cozy, camping-themed cafe is lined with lush green plants, allowing visitors to peacefully be one with nature while still amidst the city! Not to mention the lovely place is pet-friendly: you may even catch a glimpse of the owner’s (Nelson) cute cats, Dumbo and Pumpkin, wandering around the cafe! Aside, you can check out their new breakfast menu which offers Instagram-worthy treats such as the pulled chicken dishes and Blueberry Cream Cheese on Toast.
Opening hours: Daily from 9:30am – 5pm, closed on Wednesdays
Contact: 016-206 6946
Social media: Instagram
7. Base Camp
Following the camp theme, Base Camp is a rooftop coffee bar that offers both a scenic view of KL and a private spot to take a break away from the hustle and bustle of city life! No doubt their wide selection of colorful coffee and specialty drinks is worth a try, but they also serve sandwiches, snacks, pastas, and even a breakfast menu! Some of their recommendations include the Tuna Tsuyu Pasta, corn ribs, and their refreshing Summer Watermelon Cake.
Location: second floor, 62, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Mondays-Thursdays from 12pm – 11 pm, Fridays from 12pm – 12 am, weekends from 10am – 12 am, closed on Tuesdays
Contact: 03-2602 3152
Social media: Instagram
8. Bu Tian Café
A quaint dessert cafe styled accordingly to a zen Japanese theme, this place will be sure to pique both your sweet tooth and your snapshot takes! Their specialty is Japanese desserts – from cookies to cakes to tarts – some of which wholly embody traditional Japanese teas such as their Japanese Tea Sandwich Cookie Box with Houjicha, Matcha, and Genmaicha flavors. Their other best sellers also include a whole Triple Matcha Cake topped with fresh fruit!
Location: 16-1, Jalan Indrahana 1, Taman Indrahana, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Daily from 11 am – 7pm, closed on Wednesdays
Contact: 011-3320 6680
Social media: Website, Facebook, Instagram
9. Mary Jane KL
At Mary Jane’s themed cafe in KL, they wear pink: from the seating cushions to the elegant dining wares to the flowers cascading from the ceiling and walls! While their expansive menu is inclusive of brunch, dinner, bar snacks, cocktails, and more, some of their current recommendations (taken from their social media feeds) are the Australian wagyu striploin, sticky banana pudding with tau fu fa ice cream, and the Super Lemon Haze alcoholic beverage!
Location: 106, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Weekdays from 12pm – 10pm, Fridays from 12pm – 12 am, weekends from 10 am – 10pm
Contact: 018-216 0968
Social media: Facebook, Instagram
10. Viola Flower Café
Another flower-themed cafe in KL alongside Mary Jane, this one adds a Japanese spin on their aesthetic! Not only can you take beautiful photos straight from a model photoshoot under the dried flower bed hanging from the ceiling, you can also indulge in their Japanese-Western fusion food! Their Japanese afternoon high tea encompasses a lovely mix of savory and sweet dishes, and their large-portioned churro burgers and pastel Cloudy Smoothies are must-try items.
Location: H-1, 03, Persiaran Jalil 1, Bukit Jalil City, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Daily from 11 am – 9pm
Contact: 03-2733 5718
Social media: Facebook, Instagram
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