thursdvys

Good coffee is taking over Malaysia, but you won't find too many better than those at Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI). Pronounced as 'Thursdays', this tucked-away café situated along the same 'hood as Quar/tet is ironically not open on Thursdays. Totally did not see that one coming.

Stylishly hip with an industrial slant, the owner takes interior design to the next level. Caffeine addicts will croon over a delectable cup of Common Man Coffee Roasters blend at this tasteful and creatively designed café. The menu isn't long with only cakes on offer, but rumour has it that their kitchen is up to something.

Choosing a spot to sit is an effortless task. Just make sure you bring a camera along with you.

22, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail.


T.

frisky goat, ttdi

This new little café cum bakery is fast becoming popular amongst the locals and true to its name, the crowd is as frisky as it gets.

I must commend on the service provided here. In spite of the swarming visitors, the waiters make sure that their customers' requests do not fall on deaf ears. Coffee was all I managed to try. Creamy with cocoa notes, their Columbian black coffee is as good as the decor. I was told their savoury waffles are one of a kind, so it appears that I will be back very soon.

A modest example of the café movement that is sweeping Malaysia, Frisky Goat is definitely here to reign TTDI.

T.

the grumpy cyclist

At age 20, I'm probably one of the very few people that knows nothing about riding a bicycle, so you can tell that I felt pretty intimidated coming to this cafe. To be fair, I rode a tricycle when I was younger. Close enough.

The Grumpy Cyclist appears to be a cove for urban cyclists, hence the built-in showers and bicycle gears neatly cluttered around the cafe. It was nice to chance upon a few familiar faces behind the bar, couldn't have felt any better knowing that my coffee was made by someone I know.

Listed as one of the Top Five new hidden cafes in KL by Tatler, I have to agree considering the amount of people during my visit last weekend.

I just hope it stays that way for a long time/all my selfish reasons. :-)

T.

quar/tet

If you're wondering what my weekends look like, you're looking at most of them right now. 

It all starts with the nose.

Just kidding. It always starts with the bloggers, everyone knows that. It's just the way things go and that's exactly how I knew what my past weekend was to be.

While the coffee hasn't strike a chord with me even on my second visit, their food does. The folks sure do know how to win hearts with those poached eggs and they certainly have mine. Quar/tet is fast making into my list of go-to cafés for a perfect weekday getaway and it helps that their brunch menu is available till sunset.

T.

pickle and fig, ttdi

Before I die, I want to be rich — 

enough to be well-fed;

enough to give back;

and, enough to see the world

before I die.

Not gonna lie, I just made them up 5 minutes ago. Maybe they are all I want to have, maybe not. I remember stumbling into this story of a similar installation that went viral on the internet. It all started out as an experiment which became phenomenal. Today, 'Before I Die' can be seen all around the world and I am happy to find this work of art in this gem of a cafe.

'At their greatest, our public spaces can nourish our well-being and help us see that we’re not alone as we try to make sense of our lives.

With more ways to share in public space, the people around us can not only help us make better places, they can help us become our best selves.'

Read more about this installation at http://beforeidie.cc/site/about/.

There is nothing like an inspiring entrance to add to a unique dining experience. Like this guy would often say, we feast with our eyes first, taste - secondary. Perhaps, he's right. I've surely tasted better paninis before but that won't stop me from coming back to this cosy spot.

Set on an old shop lot of Taman Tun, Pickle and Fig delivers creative comfort food wrapped in hot, pressed breads and other open-faced savouries enough to attract hungry folks around the neighbourhood. Coffee is definitely not their forte, not when the barista is evidently confused when asked about the difference between a flat white and cappuccino... though, the drinks aren't all too shabby.

As we feast with our eyes... The industrial lighting fixtures and warehouse wooden furniture pieces create a promising, convivial vibe, though more relaxing at tea time. I'll probably be back... after I've figured out what I want before I die.

Pickle and Fig

T.

mukha cafe

Time flies really fast, yet the speed is continuously anticipated. More so because I finally decided to go ahead and pulled the trigger on a flight ticket to Melbourne this end of the year! To me, the greatest joy of travelling is in essence, to claim my rights as a young fool and see the world in all my naivety. When I was young, my mother would bring my brother and I along to her travels and the best part was more often than not, being able to see a 7-Eleven shop and be amused at its presence and contains. My dorkiness is probably why my mother stopped bringing me along and bought me key-chains instead.
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Last weekend brought me to two continents; America and the Middle East; to savour an amazing gastronomic infusion of Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon on Arab Toast and Shahi Arab Tea on the side. A total match made in heaven! Who would have known, for MYR26 and 30 minutes drive are all it takes for an international breakfast treat? Mukha easily makes it to the top of my go-to breakfast spots for their non-complex, comforting food, and laid-back ambience. Heck, the fact that they serve poached eggs all day is enough to sum this place up. Mukha Cafe (... they're also good for when you want to boast about your recent travels to two continents. *score!)

T.