10 trendy food spots in Bangsar for wholesome brunch dates & exciting nights out
A night out on the weekend can only mean one thing: a trip to Bangsar. Bangsar equates to dinner at the most aesthetically pleasing restaurant, then drinks at the latest bar.
Although Bangsar is relatively large, the main areas people go to for best eats are Jalan Telawi and APW. Jalan Telawi is usually referred to as “Telawi” by locals, and this street houses a combination of contemporary restaurants and hip bars.
APW, also known as A Place Where, used to be a printing factory called Art Printing Works, that produced books, magazines, and newspapers. Now, APW is host to some of KL’s most popular cafes and stores filled with products from local brands.
With an abundance of choices at your disposal, you might feel overwhelmed, but I’ve assisted in narrowing down the list to present you with the absolute cream of the crop. Without further ado, here are 10 trendy food spots in Bangsar for wholesome brunch dates & exciting nights out.
1. PULP
PULP’s name derives from the rich history of its location and the process of coffee seed extraction. Situated in what used to be the cutting room of a printing factory, they were inspired by the material itself— paper, that’s made from pulp. In conjunction with that, in order to remove the seeds, coffee has to be depulped.
Before you dig in, be sure to order a cup of coffee. PULP’s coffee is a favourite among cafe hoppers in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from the usual suspects, they offer unique cold brew blends that may be difficult to find elsewhere, like their Nitro Black Matter and Cascara Jasmine Cold Brew (RM18 each).
To add some spice to your life, try the Kimchi Melt Sandwich (RM25) made with homemade kimchi and pineapple. They also have Coddle Eggs & Toast (RM19), a dish of 64° eggs on sourdough topped with potato truffle puree, and their Thai Chicken Rice Bowl (RM28).
29-01, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2201 3650
Daily: 7.30am – 9pm
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2. VCR
VCR is perhaps Bangsar’s most famous cafe. Back when hipster cafes were a relatively new concept in KL, VCR was one of the trailblazers that set the trend into motion. Even after so many years, their outlets are consistently packed with patrons on the weekends. On weekdays, you’ll spot people hunched over their laptops, cup of coffee in hand.
Not only do they have 2 outlets, one here in Bangsar and another at Jalan Galloway, they’ve even established extensions of VCR like VCR Stacks, which focuses on sandwiches; VCR Bakeshoue serving artisanal baked goods, and VCR Ritchie, a restaurant.
A visit to VCR is not complete without the Pennsylvania’s Soul (RM30), a spicy habanero fried chicken and sourdough waffle dish that’s topped with Thai basil, Sriracha mayo, and chrysanthemum syrup. If you’re there in the evening, you’ll find dishes like Magret De Canard (RM45) made with pan seared duck breast, and Moroccan Lamb Stew (RM35) served with chickpeas and rice.
31, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2201 0011
Mon to Thu: 7.30am – 9pm
Fri to Sun: 7.30am – 10pm
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3. Breakfast Thieves
After the success of the original branch in Melbourne, Malaysian founders Brandon Chin, Edwin Koh, and Joel Teh decided that it was only right to bring the award winning cafe back to Kuala Lumpur. Breakfast Thieves is known for their seamless blend of Asian and Australian flavours, drawing customers to return time and time again.
While many eateries tend to come and go, Breakfast Thieves has held up against the test of time. This Bangsar restaurant is suitable for brunch with the girls and lunch with your family; they offer eats ranging from classic cafe dishes to elevated comfort meals.
For the early risers, their breakfast menu includes Terry Benedict (RM34) that uses slow braised black pepper Australian beef brisket, as well as The Mughal Legend (RM32), a Persian spiced chicken keema dish with baked eggs.
Those looking for some Southeast Asian flavours should check out their Pho My Love (RM40) made from rich duck broth, or the Bastardized Rice (RM40), which includes wagyu charsiu, poached chicken leg, and aromatic chicken rice.
Lot M, 29-5, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2201 8829
Tue to Sun: 9am – 5pm
Closed on Mon
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4. Alexis Bistro
Alexis Bistro is one of those restaurants in Bangsar that’s so iconic, it’s become a reliable dining and hangout spot. It usually goes like this: you aren’t interested in the restaurant gamble where you could potentially spend your hard earned money on a mediocre experience, so you go to Alexis where the food is guaranteed to be good, and the ambience is even better.
This eatery serves a varied mix of western and Asian cuisine, and a wide range of desserts. If you want something a little more special, try the Nasi Istimewa Alexis (RM45) that comes with mango kerabu, eggplant tumis, tamarind prawns, and chicken kapitan curry, or the Alexis Tuna Salad (RM35) with seared tuna.
They even have pizzas like Napoletana (RM39), Gamberetto (RM49) with garlic prawns and oven dried tomatoes, and Pollo (RM43) made with grilled chicken. Many go to Alexis Bistro for their Tiramisu (RM20), so don’t miss out on this sweet and rich treat.
29, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2284 2880
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12am
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5. Urban Daybreak
Urban Daybreak is an Australian-inspired restaurant in Bangsar that has 2 branches, one of which is in Georgetown, Penang. The best part about this cafe is that it’s pet friendly! Good food and fluffy pups, what more could you possibly ask for?
If you’re not entirely sure on where to start, give their recommended items a try. Some of the dishes marked with a small heart include their Stout Pulled Pork with Poached Eggs (RM30), Avocado Smash (RM26), and Zucchini Hash & Egg (RM28).
For those who want something less breakfast-y, they have a selection of mains that is bound to catch your eye. Similar to a certain major fast food chain, Urban Daybreak also has a dish called Fillet O’Fish (RM38). As expected, their take on this fish burger is elevated, using a housemade salmon and seabass patty.
11, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2303 0172
Daily: 7.30am – 5.30pm
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6. Ricksha
It’s almost impossible to overlook Ricksha as you’re walking past the street. Protruding from the windows of the second storey shop is half a rickshaw— bright, colourful, and mildly concerning (I definitely won’t be standing directly under it). Ricksha refers to itself as a boutique banana leaf spot. In other words, this Bangsar restaurant prides itself in taking banana leaf rice to the next level.
The base price for the Banana Leaf Set is RM13. This set comes with either white or parboiled rice, 4 types of vegetables, 1 fried vegetable, and curry of your choosing. It also includes other condiments like papadam, thovayal, moore mozhega, and homemade garlic pickles.
This Bangsar restaurant offers a wide variety of sides ranging from chicken and mutton, to seafood and even plant-based eats. They have Chicken Podhi (RM18), Mutton Varuval (RM25), and Kerala Claypot Koonthai Roast (RM28). Vegetarians can opt for the Paneer Butter Masala (RM25) or the Mushroom 65 (RM12).
9A, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar, 59100 Wilayah Persekutuan, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6012 800 1494
Daily: 11am – 11pm
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7. [PERMANENTLY CLOSED] myBurgerLab
Even after over a decade of operations, myBurgerLab remains as one of Malaysia’s leading homegrown burger joints. Not only do they offer juicy and creative burgers made with charcoal buns, they’re also the catalyst behind the start of the charcoal obsession in the country. After their launch in 2012, many establishments were seen incorporating charcoal into their own products.
One thing that can be guaranteed is that nothing on their menu is boring. As a nod to the king of rock and roll’s culinary preferences, they serve a burger called Jammin’ with Elvis (RM20.90)— a cheeky take on Presley’s favourite meal, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The In-N-Out Tribute (RM28.90) pays homage to the popular American fast food chain, featuring not one, but 2 beef patties. myBurgerLab has chicken and meatless burgers too, such as the Bait & Switch (RM17.90) made with a fried chicken thigh, budu mayo, and jalapeno relish, as well as Shroom Shroom Shroom (RM22.90) that uses a fried portabella mushroom patty.
19, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
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8. Nature’s Vegetarian Restaurant
Those who follow a plant-based diet don’t have to worry when they’re in Bangsar, as Nature’s Vegetarian Restaurant has everything you need. From the outside, the eatery may not look as trendy as the others on this list, but the food served inside definitely packs a punch.
As expected from a Chinese restaurant, they have Shark’s Fin Soup with Crab Meat in Cup (RM18.90). They even have a pretty solid dim sum menu that features dishes like Steamed Mix Vege Dumpling (RM9.50), Satay Bean Curd (RM9.50), and Chee Cheong Fun Roll (RM9.50).
Other than dim sum, they also have plenty of side dishes for a filling meal with rice. Some examples of what they have to offer include Dried Chillies Chicken (RM32.80) to add some spice, and Steamed Ginger Fish (RM28.80) for that home cooked meal feel.
24, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2283 5523
Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 8.30am – 9pm
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9. Proof Pizza + Wine
When it comes to big groups, pizza is the easiest thing to order because it’s easy to share. Everyone gets a slice, and the dish becomes a topic of conversation. Proof Pizza + Wine is the perfect spot for dates and catching up with friends.
Start off with an appetiser like Pomodoro Aranchini (RM35), which are Sicilian rice balls with mozzarella and taleggio fondue, or Prosciutto e Melone & Figs (RM34) with cantaloupe and Italian cured meat.
Proof’s pizza selection is so wide that it’s split into 4 sections: classic, artisanal, gourmet, and savoury + sweet. Their pizzas come in 2 sizes, medium and large. They have Chorizo Iberico Cular (RM38 and RM55) with Spanish sausage made from Iberico pork, and Fig & Gorgonzola Pizza (RM30 and RM48) topped with caramelised walnuts and organic honey dips.
29, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2201 3613
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Mon
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10. Flying Peacock
Flying Peacock’s name was inspired by a quote in the 2010 film The Other Guys. The line “I am a peacock, you gotta let me fly!” resonated with the founders who were unable to fully express their creativity under the strict pandemic restrictions. This gastrobar combines the yakitori and Pan-Asian flavours for anyone seeking a quick bite or a sit-down meal.
The eatery offers mains like Ebi Tempura Golden Ramen (RM35) with tempura sea prawns and scampi bisque and Gyutandon (RM28), a fermented chilli paste ox tongue dish. They also have sharing platters such as their Mussel & Clam Pot (RM48) and Adobo “Jerk Chicken” (RM38).
If you just want a snack or sides to complement your main dish, check out their Foie Gras Chawanmushi (RM34) or one of the hand rolled sushis. The one with scallops, pickled daikon, and caviar is RM29 while the roll with gochujang tuna and mentaiko creme is RM28.
C-07, No. 29, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2201 7388
Tue to Thu: 5pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Sun: 5pm – 11pm
Closed on Mon
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