Food hunting continues with a unique hotpot experience inside a bubble dome right in the city centre.
The newly opened restaurants and cafes in 2020 are telling us one thing — you have to think out of the box to capture the attention of foodies in and around town. Whether it is an exclusive cat cafe that’s extremely IG-friendly or a sexy dining space for hotpot (inside a bubble dome), these unique dining experiences will surely keep you busy in the next few weeks.
Hidden in the newly rebranded Setapak Village showcasing a concept of stacked containers, Becky & Nana’s is the currently the one and only hippy cafe in the row of claw machine shops as well as Chinese mala and hotpot restaurants. The unassumingly dark green exterior is hard to miss with an interior that’s lofty and scattered with plants. The menu is extensive with a section dedicated to breakfast food and another that’s more filling — Asian delights, pizzas, pastas and rice dishes. The cafe also offers a good mix of creative desserts and cakes of the day.
A new addition to the dining scene in Bangsar, Apollo Dining takes on a modern fusion cuisine that’s set in a space that’s absolutely minimalist with a touch of rusticity. Diners can revel in many IG-worthy moments while sampling a bevy of contemporary dishes from pasta and risotto to dumplings and deep-fried snacks. (Credit: Source )
Vegans and vegetarian foodies can now rejoice as there’s a new plant-based restaurant that has opened in the centre of town. The Hungry Tapir is the latest to join the many newly opened IG-worthy restaurants in Chinatown since the revival of the ‘dead town’ a few years ago alongside the rebranded Kwai Chai Hong and the recent Four Points by Sheraton Chinatown KL. The interior is an instant eye-catcher, with a pink patio peppered with leafy leitmotifs. There are also specially crafted vegan and vegetarian cocktails that you can try here. Currently, it is open daily from 4 pm onwards except for Tuesdays with an all-you-can-eat Herbivore Buffet on Sundays.
The Section 17 neighbourhood welcomes a new cafe in its newly launched Seventeen Mall, serving a creative pool of all-day breakfasts from meat-free options to hearty dishes for those who fuel on high calories. From granola bowls to burgers, sandwiches to tacos, there’s something here for everyone to try. While you are at it, take some time to enjoy the quasi-speakeasy interiors that are beautifully designed with millennials in mind.
Swaadisht KL joins the neighbourhood at Jalan Kamunting as its first North Indian restaurant serving a delightful spread of thali (rice, chapati and side dishes on banana leaves), breads, curries and grilled BBQ. For lunch, we’d recommend the Special Punjabi Thali that comes with a generous portion of Aloo Jeera Gobi (potato and cauliflower), Butter Paneer (mild cottage cheese curry), Chicken Karahi and Chicken Makhani.
If you are a cat lover, here’s a new place for you to spend your weekends doing nothing but cat whispering. This quaint cafe, located above a florist, that’s strictly by reservation only serves delectable French desserts like caneles, eclairs and various cakes alongside artisanal coffee with a side of furry felines prancing all around the nooks and crannies of the space.
Looking for a quiet spot to dine with ardent foodies or a loved one? Chipta 11A offers omakase dining with a twist, presenting casual refined food prepared by Chef Jack. Put all your thoughts on the usual omakase out of the door when you enter here as Chipta 11A does nothing but surprise you with an unconventional way of cooking and a unique course-by-course dining experience. A little tip? Come prepared.
If you’ve been wanting to try how it feels to be in a bubble tent, here’s your chance to do so while enjoying the ever-comforting hotpot. The brand new Skydome Hotpot is located in Chan Sow Lin is a unique concept for those who seek something different. A sexier way to promote hotpot, there are tents of various sizes to meet your needs — whether you’re coming in a large group or just in pairs. While you’re enjoying a selection of Spicy Mala Soup, Tomato Soup or Wild Mushroom Soup, you’ll find yourself being serenaded by its in-house saxophonist.
Martin Teo
Editor-in-Chief
Martin has a bent for history and food culture, especially of the Peranakan heritage. Since the pandemic, he finds joy in plant parenting and continues to expand his collection of Philodendrons, Anthuriums, and Syngoniums. On his free time, he finds time scouring through the latest cafes in search for the best croissant in the city.
