Here’s your curated guide to the most exciting new cafés and restaurants to check out this August.
1. Sushi Bell
Tucked away on the 11th floor of TSLAW Tower, Sushi Bell is the city’s latest omakase experience making waves for its refined presentation and surprisingly accessible pricing. The intimate counter-style restaurant offers curated sushi sets at an inviting entry price point in a market where omakase often comes with a steeper price tag. Expect a thoughtful progression of aged fish, seasonal cuts, and minimalist plating in a sleek, modern space that lets the craftsmanship speak for itself.
Address: Level 11, TSLAW Tower, 39, Jalan Kamuning, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 6:00pm – 10:00pm daily
Contact: +6011-5873 2088
2. Pizza Duo
Owners Mark and Aina’s second Pizza Duo venture has landed at The Campus Ampang, bringing their Naples-trained Neapolitan craftsmanship to the east side of KL. Their standout special – Coast to Coast pizza – features anchovies from Cetara (Italy), San Marzano and heirloom tomatoes, stracciatella, basil pesto, basil oil and lemon peel. Cooking from custom-built Stefano Ferrara ovens, the space serves everything from crab fettuccine arrabbiata and eggs maritozzo to chicken cotoletta and tableside tiramisu.
Address: Lot LG-03, The Campus, Jalan Kolam Air Lama, Mukim Hulu Kelang, Ampang, Selangor
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm (Mondays to Thursdays), 9am – 10pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Contact: +6012-599 2980
3. CARFÉ
Whether you’re into coffee or cars – or both – CARFÉ delivers. Themed around automotive elegance, this café doubles as a car gallery, showcasing Porsche RWB, MINI, and GT3 RS models. Featuring a La Marzocco experiential space, visitors to CARFÉ will be able to sip on specialty brews, nibble on snacks with style, soak in the motorsport-chic vibes, and soon also be able to get a coffee-making workshop all in one.
Address: 1067, Jalan Jenjarum, Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm (Tuesdays to Thursdays), 10am – 7:00pm (Fridays to Sundays), closed on Mondays
Contact: +6018-208 9913
I @mycarfe
4. Akami Izakaya
Also tucked with REXKL is Akami Izakaya, which arrives this August with a focus on classic izakaya fare in a casual-chic setting. Designed for after-work crowds and creative types drawn to the Petaling Street art and food hub, this cosy hideout promises skewers grilled over charcoal and small Japanese bites, perfectly paired with handcrafted drinks. This addition surely strengthens REXKL’s position as a go-to destination for relaxed yet elevated Japanese drinking and dining experiences in downtown KL.
Address: Level 11, TSLAW Tower, 39, Jalan Kamuning, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 12:00pm – 1:00am daily
Contact: +6011-5680 1688
5. By Age 18
Kagawa, Japan’s famed plant-based, gluten-free Sanuki udon brand recently debuted its first international outpost in Kuala Lumpur. This inclusive concept delivers chewy, flavourful udon without wheat or animal products, simmered in kombu- and shiitake-based broth. Supervised by Chef Kusumoto (of Tokyo’s Saido fame), it’s a welcome addition to the city’s increasingly diverse halal‑ and allergy‑sensitive dining scene.
Address: Block A, Level 1, The Five, Jalan Dungun, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 11:30am – 3:00pm and 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Weekdays, closed on Wednesdays), 11:30am – 9:30pm (Weekends)
Contact: +603-20112362
6. Trattoria Mialino
Brought to you by the team behind Basil Gourmet Store and Basil Pasta House, Trattoria Mialino appears poised to bring understated Italian dining to REXKL’s creative culinary roster. Think neighbourhood-level simplicity elevated by quality ingredients, with a wide selection of non-halal offerings including its artisan sourdough ciabatta sandwiches, several small bites, folded flat bread stuffed with various fillings, and handmade pasta and risotto.
Address: Food Fiction, 80, Ground Floor Lot-10, REXKL, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 12:00pm – 9:00pm (Tuesdays to Sundays)
7. Sando-Icchi
Sando-Icchi has taken Publika by storm with its gloriously overstuffed Japanese beef sandos, and if you haven’t had one yet, you’re probably already too late for the day’s batch. Known for selling out fast, these thick sandwiches are packed with massive slabs of perfectly cooked beef, layered between cloud-soft milk bread, and sliced into photo-perfect halves that practically beg to be Instagrammed. Whether you’re here for the ‘gram, the melt-in-your-mouth marbling, or just a really satisfying lunch, the hype is totally justified.
Address: G2‑56, Publika Shopping Gallery, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Contact: +6017-776 3603
8. Open Table & Bar
Located within the Pickle Depot arena at Sentul Depot, Open Table & Bar is the latest offshoot of the beloved Open Table café, reimagined for a more social, industrial-chic setting. It brings playful comfort fare to the fore – think house-baked focaccia paired with flavoured butters like chilli garlic, chicken crackling, and kombu; rosti with avocado and egg; plus crowd-pleasing hojicha lemonades and oat matcha lattes. It’s been designed as a welcoming “third place” for casual catch-ups and post-game bites, all just steps away from the Sentul MRT.
Address: Sentul Depot, Jalan Strachan, Sentul West, 51100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8:00am – 10:30pm (Mondays to Thursdays), 7:00am – 11:00pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Contact: +6014-833 9411
9. Eternyl Vinyl Café
Address: 7-1, Jalan 21/11b, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 2:00pm – 10:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: +603-2694 1968
10. General Store Café
General Store Café offers a serene community retreat in the heart of Kuchai Lama. Bathed in natural light, the spacious café doubles as a cultural showcase, with lounge-style sofas, gallery racks of Asian artist works, vinyl records, and rotating pop-ups from skate to tattoo creatives. The drink menu is both artful and refreshing, with recommendations like pistachio affogato, lychee‑osmanthus mocktails, and pomegranate cider coolers, while a soon‑to‑open micro‑bakery promises house‑baked treats.
Address: 1-3, Dataran Loka, Jalan Kuchai Lama, Taman Continental, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 9:00am – 6:00pm daily
Contact: +6012-232 8373
11. B.E.D
Don’t let the name fool you – B.E.D at The Exchange TRX is far from a snooze. By day, it’s a stylish brunch and coffee spot with polished interiors and a laid-back rhythm; by night, it transforms into a snazzy bar that doesn’t shy away from turning up the volume. With hearty bites, inventive cocktails, and a dancefloor that draws the city’s after-dark crowd, B.E.D brings a seamless blend of flair and fun to TRX’s Market Lane.
Address: Market Lane, The Exchange TRX, Persiaran TRX, Tun Razak Exchange, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10:00am – 11:00pm (Mondays to Wednesdays), 10:00am – 1:30am (Thursdays to Saturdays), 10:00am – 10:00pm (Sundays)
12. Mauceri
For a limited time through September, Chef Paolo Mauceri brings the sun-toned flavours of Sicily to KLoé Hotel. This vibrant pop-up serves handmade pastas like parsley-bright spaghetti with pangrattato, sweet tagliatelle pomodoro with crushed basil, and cacio e pepe busiate accented with cured yolk and Pecorino. Start your meal with a creamy burrata salad or Mauceri’s signature beetroot soup, and finish with a refreshing sorbetto al limone. The space itself is thoughtfully styled, creating a laid-back vibe in the heart of one of KL’s favourite boutique hotels.
Address: First Floor, KLoé Hotel, 227, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Wednesdays to Fridays), 12:00pm – 10:00pm (Saturdays and Sundays, closed on Mondays)
Contact: +6012-633 4524
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