This list of halal cafés in Kuala Lumpur proves that you can easily get your coffee and brunch fix in the Malaysian capital. KL’s thriving and diverse café culture is heavily inspired by Melbourne, with cafés serving all-day brunch fare like big breakfast platters, eggs benedict and avocado toast, paired with quality coffee and teas.
To cater to the local Muslim community (and add a Malaysian flair), many cafés offer a variety of fusion-style and pork-free comfort food, such as nasi lemak with soft shell crab, pandan French toast and pasta with green curry pesto. Whether you’re staying in Kuala Lumpur city centre or venturing out to commercial districts like Bangsar or Petaling Jaya, there are cafés that are not only known for alcohol-free and pork-free offerings, but for their photogenic interiors and warm ambience.
Rimba & Rusa Kuala Lumpur
Rimba & Rusa Kuala Lumpur is a halal-friendly café in Petaling Jaya, featuring a spacious and naturally-lit dining space with pastel furnishings, potted greenery and an upstairs play area for families with young children. Food-wise, the braised glazed short ribs (with whipped potato, charred corn and onion rings), peanut butter crunch milkshake and pandan French toast come highly recommended. Meanwhile, its cake counter is teeming with a rotating menu of delicious desserts, such as cakes, tarts, brownies and puddings. All dishes at Rimba & Rusa Kuala Lumpur are made from scratch, so a little patience goes a long way here.
- Opening Hours: Mon – Thu 12:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 22:00
- Address: D-GF-01 Sunway Nexis, Petaling Jaya
- Tel: +603 6151 4022
LOKL Coffee Co
LOKL Coffee Co, set along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, serves comfort food with a local flair, western and local coffee, as well as an assortment of cakes sourced from local bakeries in the city. Its weekend breakfast menu includes the buttermilk waffles, smoked brisket hash and frittata. For something a little healthier, try the egg white omelette with spinach, cheese, cherry tomatoes and sourdough, or the berry quinoa salad with honey citrus dressing. The café may not serve alcohol or pork dishes, but its courtyard/smoking area is shared with BackHome Hostel, where guests are allowed to provide their own alcohol.
- Opening Hours: Tue – Sun 08:00 – 20:00
- Address: 30, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: +603 2072 1188
Peter & Mawar Café
Peter & Mawar Café is a floral-themed dining venue in Petaling Jaya, serving Asian and western dishes, as well as cakes and pastries that are sourced from local bakeries throughout Kuala Lumpur. The two-storey café is fitted with wooden furnishing, walls covered in bright flowery murals and floor-to-ceiling windows allowing plenty of natural light. For a more cosy setting, head upstairs where you can relax on plush couches and catch up with friends and family. Food-wise, we love the Nasi Lemak Ketam, which comprises soft shell crab atop a bed of fragrant pandan-coconut rice, with anchovies, cucumber, egg and spicy sambal sauce.
- Opening Hours: Sun – Thu 12:00 – 23:00, Fri 15:00 – 00:00, Sat 12:00 – 00:00
- Address: C-01-GF, Block C, Jalan PJU 5/10, Sunway Nexis, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya
- Tel: +603 6150 4400
Commoners Space KL
Commoners Space KL’s minimalistic interior attracts coffee lovers looking to enjoy some time away from the often bustling city. Located in Shah Alam, it’s relatively far from KL city centre (about 45 minutes by car), but it’s definitely worth the long drive. Priced between RM8 and RM20, the café serves western favourites such as risotto pesto, salad topped with smoked salmon and feta and linguine cremeuse pesto. Aside from using local ingredients in all its dishes, Commoners Space KL also makes its own sourdough bread and kombucha (fermented tea). Drinks-wise, you’ll find the usual array of black and white coffee, as well as cold brew and batch-infused tea.
- Opening Hours: Mon – Wed, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 22:00, Fri 16:00 – 22:00
- Address: 71, Jalan Snuker 13/28, Seksyen 13, Shah Alam
- Tel: +6013 335 7762
Jibby & Co attracts a steady crowd of brunch lovers in Subang Jaya thanks to its wide range of Australian-inspired brunch dishes, cakes and strong coffees. Occupying a glasshouse-like building in Empire Shopping Gallery, diners are greeted with light bulbs hanging from the high ceiling, colourful potted plants on communal tables, plush couches and massive glass windows providing plenty of natural light. For a more comfortable and laidback vibe, we recommend visiting in the late afternoon or evening as it can get crowded during weekends. We recommend the Chic Breakie, which consists of poached eggs, hash browns, smoked salmon, salmon roe, corn, zucchini and hollandaise sauce. Read More...
- Opening Hours: Daily 08:30 – 22:30
- Address: GK11, Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya
- Tel: +603 5613 7070
Merchant’s Lane Kuala Lumpur is a rustic-style café in Chinatown KL, specialising in international favourites with a distinctively Asian twist. Standouts include Italian chow mein served with chicken rendang, pesto green curry pasta and South China Sea, a hearty ensemble of grilled salmon, poached eggs, homemade hash brown and salsa. Drinks range from classics such as long black, mocha, piccolo and cappuccino to unique infusions like jasmine black, caramel latte and cold-brewed earl grey latte. Our favourite is the rose honey milk – a honey-sweetened milk beverage garnished with delicate rose petals and served in a while porcelain teacup. Read More...
- Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 10:30 – 20:00, Sat – Sun 09:30 – 20:00
- Address: 50, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: +603 2022 1736
Soul Sacrifice Café KL
Soul Sacrifice Café KL is a relatively hidden dining venue within KL’s Desa Pandan neighbourhood, but it attracts a steady local crowd thanks to its fusion fare and friendly ambience. Cup of Nations is a must try, which has a crispy Scotch egg atop a bed of whipped sweet potato, cream leak sauce and sambal drizzle. If you’re a fan of pasta, the pumpkin curry pasta with grilled chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, grated parmesan cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds comes highly recommended. For drinks, the café serves the usual coffee offerings, using beans from Artisan Roast (Malaysia’s first speciality coffee roaster).
- Opening Hours: Tue – Sun 08:00 – 19:00
- Address: 38, Jalan 4/76C, Desa Pandan, Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: +603 9201 3596
Grind22 Café
Grind22 Café is a relaxing getaway from Bangsar’s busy Telawi suburb, serving both classic and Malaysian-inspired coffees and mocktails. Like most cafés in KL, its interior is kept minimalistic and rustic, with a spacious outdoor dining section that’s shaded a glass roof. There’s also a selection of cakes and pastries from local bakers, if you’re feeling peckish. Drinks-wise, we highly recommend the Nona Latte (latte with a shot of gula Melaka) and The Hangover (black coffee with soda). You can also enjoy some shopping after (or before) your coffee break as the café is connected to Twenty2, a fashion boutique selling Muslim-friendly attire at reasonable rates.
- Opening Hours: Mon – Thu & Sun 12:00 – 22:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 01:00
- Address: 22, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: +6012 6737 205 or +6019 9710 731
Purradise Cat Café KL
Purradise Cat Café KL is home to over 20 rescued cats, roaming freely in a spacious and colourful setting. Located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, this cosy café has hand-painted wall murals, plush beanbags, an indoor swing and wood-and-steel dining tables. Food-wise, the café serves light snacks, smoothies, tea and coffee, as well as wholemeal sandwiches at affordable prices. Perfect for a scorching afternoon is the Purr by the Beach smoothie, which is made with pineapple, mango and honey. The café charges an entrance fee of RM15 for the first hour of playing with the cats (inclusive of juice or smoothie) and, if you purchase a sandwich or drink that costs RM12 and above, you’ll get an additional 30 minutes.
- Opening Hours: Tue – Fri 14:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 23:00
- Address: 24A (First Floor), Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Petaling Jaya
- Tel: +603 2389 0976
Vibes Café & Bistro KL
Vibes Café & Bistro KL is set within Utropolis Marketplace Shopping Mall, featuring wood-and-steel furnishing, a sleek bar area, communal tables and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow plenty of natural light in. Its extensive food menu is a mix of local, western and fusion dishes that are not only halal, but also made in-house. Highly recommended are the pizzas, which are made with a tortilla thin crust and folded with homemade tomato-based sauce, bell peppers, mozzarella cheese and your choice of mushrooms, Hawaiian chicken, beef pepperoni or chicken ham. If you are feeling adventurous, the salted egg waffle sliders comprise apricot-glazed Belgian waffles, beef bacon or chicken ham, topped with a sunny-side egg and a generous drizzling of homemade salted egg sauce.
- Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 22:00
- Address: Lot G-B1, Utropolis Marketplace, Jalan Kontraktor U1/14, Shah Alam
