Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown, also known as Petaling Street, is a place famous for its culture, bustling nightlife, trendy cafes, restaurants and bars, and Instagrammable art locations and not to forget the best place to flex your bargaining skills at the market.
In all its glory, Petaling Street has a lot of attractions varying from art streets, murals, Insta-worthy cafes, event spaces, and art markets that you could explore and have fun at. The many varieties could be overwhelming and difficult for you to choose a spot so here are some of our top picks of places to go to in Chinatown, KL.
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1. Indulge Authentic (and Wallet-Friendly) Nyonya Dishes at Old China Cafe
Located just 4 minutes of walking distance from the Pasar Seni LRT station, this hidden gem will surely keep you coming back for its nostalgic delicacies. Old China Cafe is a cafe that specializes in Nyonya cuisine. Not to mention that the portion of food that this cafe serves is worth it!
This small cafe, like its name, “Old China” has that old building look, making you feel like you’ve traveled to the past and reliving a classic Chinese movie. You can feel the nostalgia that this place serves. If you’re wondering why the aesthetics of this cafe is so real it’s because the building has been preserved and remain unchanged since the 1920s!
Photos by FunNow Malaysia
The cafe is suitable for a small group of friends and takeaway is also available at this restaurant. You can make a reservation and grab an RM100 cash voucher with a 15% discount when you book for this cafe with the FunNow app.
📍 11, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Old China Cafe
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 11:00am - 10:00pm
2. Step Into The Vibrant Tropical Rainforest at Malaya Garden
Malaya Garden is a popular cafe with a nicely decorated interior that mainly focuses on the more tropical and rainforest vibes. This can be seen with the tropical green coloured exterior decor and the tropical leaves painted on the walls outside of this cafe. The interior decor is also dominantly decorated with plants and leaves, it’ll totally make you feel like you’re dining in a garden. It’s just 6 minutes away from the LRT Pasar Seni and just a couple of blocks away from Old China Cafe if you’re thinking about cafe hopping!
Photos by @waltzwithstars via IG
This Insta-worthy cafe serves mainly local food while they also have western dishes. Did you know that they have a flat rate of RM15 for all pasta dishes? It’s affordable and worth the try if you’re a pasta lover! Have a sweet ending with their local desserts such as Pengat Pisang, Cempedak Cheesecake, and Cendol Panna Cotta. Each food item is served aesthetically, so take all the pictures you want and upload them on the gram!
Photos by @malayagarden via IG
📍 1A, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Malaya Garden
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 11:00am - 10:00pm
3. Minimalist Cafe That Serves Good Matcha? Niko Neko Matcha 2.0 Has Both!
Niko Neko is one of the most popular cafes among matcha lovers in KL. So, good news to all matcha lovers, Niko Neko Matcha opened another outlet here at Petaling Street! This cafe is near the Pasar Seni LRT station just a 2-minute walk from the station. This cafe also has a very minimalistic design with its aesthetically pleasing monochromatic walls and furniture, giving the matcha drinks and desserts a nice contrast, perfect if you are someone that keeps your social feeds in check.
Photos by @nikonekomatcha via IG
A variety of matcha drinks can be found here such as their Matcha Mocktails which mainly consist of matcha and fruits as well as different blends of matcha like Kiku Matcha, Ajisai Matcha, or Yuri Matcha. These different blends differ in terms of the nuttiness of the matcha, the umami savoriness, and the bitter aftertaste of the matcha. The cafe also serves various Japanese tea including Genmaicha and Houjicha.
Photos by @nikonekomatcha via IG
📍 181, Jalan Tun H. S. Lee, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Niko Neko 2.0 - Chinatown
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 11:00am - 10:00pm
4. Take A Look At These Restaurants And Bar Presented by Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown
Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown has a couple of Instagrammable restaurants and bar namely Quan’s Kitchen, Lady Yi’s Tea House, and Jann’s Bar. If you are staying in the hotel, be sure to visit these restaurants and bar and if you’re not, they are open for non-hotel guests too!
Photos by FunNow Malaysia
Quan’s Kitchen is located on Level 8 of this hotel. This restaurant serves traditional culinary specialties from Chinatown KL and Western favorites. The restaurant also features an open theatrical kitchen so you can enjoy watching the chef and kitchen staff preparing your food!
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 7:00am - 10:00pm
Photos by @fourpointskualalumpurchinatown via IG
Next is Lady Yi’s Tea House. Located on the 7th floor of this hotel, this cozy teahouse is the perfect place to escape for a nice and calming tea time. Their floor-to-ceiling windows allow a lot of natural light to seep in, making the place very Insta-worthy with the contrast of the dark wood panels and vibrant accents from the tiles and furniture Explore the Peranakan culture with their tea set, confectionaries, and Asian delicacies at this tea house.
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Photos by @jann.kl via IG
The last one in the food and beverage section presented by Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown is a bar and lounge. Jann is also located on the 7th floor. The main attraction of this bar is the unique cocktails inspired by Chinatown such as Tau Foo Fah a drink inspired by the famous Petaling Street traditional Chinese tofu dessert kiosk. The bar eludes a Great Gatsby feel with a Chinese twist and has a good mix of a modern and traditional feel.
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 4:00pm - 12:00am
🔎 Waze Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown
📍 2, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
5. Immerse Yourself In The Artistic Alley of Kwai Chai Hong
If you are into art, this is the place to go! Kwai Chai Hong takes its visitors a trip back in time to the 1960s era of Chinatown. The alley often features art installations by various local artists that are colourful and mesmerizing, making this place very Instagrammable. Don’t forget to check out their fun interactive murals and beautiful exteriors, capture as many pictures as you want, and feed your socials with the aesthetics of this alley!
Photo by @lewyee_ng via IG
You will be amazed by the vibrant food and beverage scene in this small alley of Kwai Chai Hong, ranging from cafes to restaurants selling traditional local cuisines, from dessert shops to popular bars such as G-String KL and Concubine KL.
📍 Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Kwai Chai Hong
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 9:00am - 12:00am
6. Vintage 1988, An Establishment That Doubles As A Cafe And An Accessories Shop.
Still looking for an Instagrammable cafe? Vintage 1988 is one of the most Insta-worthy cafes in Chinatown KL. True to its name, the cafe has an overall vintage feeling with its interior design. The cafe also doubles as an accessories shop which you can find at the entrance. The accessories available are earrings, bracelets, and chains. You can also create your own unique accessories by customizing them!
Photos by @v88_cafe via IG
Don’t forget to try their Gelato Ice Cream which varies from classic flavours like Dark Chocolate and Vanilla to more unique flavours like Earl Grey, Avocado and Mango, and Houjicha. These Gelato are handmade with fresh ingredients without any artificial colorings and flavorings!
📍 34, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Vintage 1988 Cafe & Accessories Store
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
7. Hang Out And Feel The Vibes At The New “It” Place, REXKL
REXKL is a historic venue that has been reborn into an event space and is centered around art, mainly used for exhibitions, performances, and various types of events. The main attraction of REXKL is definitely BookXcess which is located on the third floor of this building. With floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books, this bookstore screams Instagrammable and will have you taking plenty of pictures there. Perfect for those who enjoy browsing and want to take cool pictures for the gram.
Photos by @hueinlow via IG
Aside from BookXcess, there are other stores available in REXKL such as an accessories shop, bars, and a rooftop dining restaurant. Trendy cafes such as Stellar Coffee & Lauk Pauk are there if you want to grab a bite. There is also an indie bookstore on the 1st floor that sells preloved books. REXKL is the perfect place to hang out with friends or even alone.
📍 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze REXKL
⏰ Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
8. Enjoy Cozy R&B Jam Sessions at Jao Tim
Adding to the list is this trendy event space and cafe located in front of the Vintage 1988 cafe. What makes this place trendy and cozy is their Weekly R&B Jam Sessions held every Saturday and Sunday, featuring various local and indie artists. A good place to wind up your busy week.
Photos by @jaotimkl via IG
The retro vibe of the cafe is surely Insta-worthy. Not to mention that they have an art gallery here. The cafe is spacious so you don’t have to worry about cramped spaces. Be sure to give this place a visit and enjoy their cozy atmosphere as well their jamming sessions during the weekends!
📍 61, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Jao Tim
⏰ Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
⏰ Friday to Saturday: 11:00am - 9:00pm
9. Buy Quality Flowers at Wholesale Price at Lee Wah Florist!
When walking around the Chinatown area, one cannot miss out on the activity of buying flowers.
Photos by @leewahfloristkl via IG
Lee Wah Florist sells fresh flowers ranging from roses, baby breaths, carnations, and many more. Not to mention that they let you customize your bouquets, so go on to pick your favourite flowers and make them into a nice bouquet. The flowers here are also cheap and affordable so if you’re looking for flowers to maybe decorate your room, this is the right place.
📍 129, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Lee Wah Florist
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 8:30am - 9:00pm
10. Not Planning To Stay For Long? These Staycation Hotels Have Some Good Short-Term Stay Deals.
Photos by FunNow Malaysia
If you’re looking for an affordable staycation around the area, we have two places that we would like to recommend. The first one is Travelodge City Centre. This hotel is visible from LRT Pasar Seni and is only 2 minutes walking distance away from it. The hotel is close to local street vendors and cafes. It is the perfect place to take a break and recharge for a few hours if you’re tired or not feeling like going back. The rooms are also affordable and with FunNow, you will be able to book rooms for short-term stays.
📍 7, Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Travelodge City Centre
Photos by FunNow Malaysia
The second hotel is Season Point Hotel. The hotel is only 6 minutes walking distance from LRT Pasar Seni. This hotel has cheaper options for lodging. Guests will have free access to the rooftop to enjoy the KL City view. This place is perfect for tourists, families, and business travelers. Book a room with FunNow and enjoy the stay at a discounted rate now!
📍 No 11, 13, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, City Centre, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
🔎 Waze Season Point Hotel
Are you feeling excited to visit Chinatown KL now? If you are, this guide will help you have a wonderful time when visiting Chinatown. Be sure to click here to check out the available places to book in Chinatown through FunNow!
