20 new restaurants, cafes and bars to visit in KL and Selangor in May 2016

You can view a list of our most recent new restaurant features here. This is part of a monthly series.

From South American flavours to Southeast Asian fusion, May could prove a month to remember if you’re hunting for hot new restaurant tips.

1. Coquo

Chef Toni Valero Ruiz & sommelier Gustavo Arriaga are back: The two men who powered the currently-closed Ohla Tapas have resurfaced at Coquo, a notable new restaurant swathed in sleek shadows, with a menu that measures how a perceptive foreign chef can tailor his craft to fit seamlessly into the local milieu while keeping his culinary style and vision comfortably intact.

Coquo signals a fresh turn for Toni in crucial ways – here, he challenges and stretches himself by relying on an impressive diversity of both Malaysian and imported produce, pushing beyond his original Spanish know-how to incorporate contemporary cooking techniques that transcend national borders.

Address: D1-G4-6, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 WP Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Coquo at Solaris Dutamas
Find: Contact details and map for Coquo

2. Coley

Vowing to bring on the fun and flavour for cocktail hounds, Coley is the new playground of Malaysian bartender C.K. Kho, who’s been a stalwart of the scene for over a dozen years, earning the respect of both his peers and patrons. It’s no shock that seemingly everybody in KL who loves a good drink is now checking out Coley.

Address: 8 Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar
Read review: Coley at Kemuja, Bangsar
Find: Contact details and map for Coley

3. Classic Rebel

Rising up with a rebel yell, this new venue tucked on a Petaling Jaya back-lane seeks to subvert expectations of what a suburban cafe in the Klang Valley might serve, spotlighting mainly South American flavours on small plates and sharing platters.

Address: No 6, Lorong Universiti B, Petaling Jaya
Read review: Classic Rebel at Section 16, Petaling Jaya
Find: Contact details and map for Classic Rebel

4. Paleolicious

The seeds for this new cafe were first planted three years ago, when Malaysian childbirth educator Siew Yean began researching recipes for her husband, Korean architect Sang Kyu, to help curb his feelings of lethargy. She stumbled on the Paleo Diet – reliant on fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, in a rebuke to processed food, dairy products and grains – which proved effective for Sang Kyu.

The couple also found themselves regularly enjoying the Paleo menu introduced in 2014 by Paramount Garden’s Awesome Canteen. Now, they’ve embarked on their own eatery that’s wholly dedicated to Paleo fare.

Address: 12, Jalan Sri Bintang 6, Taman Sri Bintang, Kepong
Read review: Paleolicious at Taman Sri Bintang
Find: Contact details and map for Paleolicious

5. Pit Stop Community Café

Hope in the face of hardship: Pit Stop Community Café is a social enterprise by independent citizens with a heart for KL’s urban working poor and homeless. A short stroll from Central Market, the cafe is taking on a mission that’s complex and challenging – for a start, it’s offering warm, nourishing meals to anyone in the neighbourhood who needs them, from the man who barely makes a living as a security guard down the road to the teenagers who’ve been living on the streets nearby for months. But it wants to also do more, bringing together people and organisations to make a long-term positive impact on lives.

Address: 101, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Pit Stop Community Café at Tun H.S. Lee
Find: Contact details and map for Pit Stop Community Café

6. Tomorrow People

Tomorrow People is a venue that might be worth visiting today – its forward-looking founders offer an imaginatively conceived, intelligently constructed menu that infuses Malaysian sensibilities into contemporary cafe fare, sparking several unique results.

Address: G-0-4, Block G, Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas
Read review: Tomorrow People at Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas
Find: Contact details and map for Tomorrow People

7. Fest

Fest lives up to its name – on a Saturday afternoon, this cafe hums with the sounds of life, love and laughter, as families and friends celebrate the weekend. Fest’s founders Jia Yuan, Maryam and Lisan have known each other since they were seven years old, and their new venue is a cheerful destination with distinctive food choices that combine childhood flavours with contemporary flair. Their nasi lemak sourdough sandwich is already fast on its way to fame.

Address: Ground Floor, Jaya one, No. 72A, Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya
Read review: Fest at Jaya One
Find: Contact details and map for Fest

8. Koncent

Dachshund-shaped earplugs, memo papers that look like translucent leaves, and tea spoons made with moisture-absorbing diatomaceous earth: Koncent is a trove of cool concepts – this is the first Malaysian offshoot of a Tokyo-origin homeware store, offering mainly Japanese-designed accessories that juggle beautiful aesthetics with funky playfulness and elegant practicality.

Address: 30-1, Jalan PJU 1/3D, SunwayMas Commercial Centre, Petaling Jaya
Read review: Koncent at SunwayMAS

9. The Cow & Chicken

The Cow & Chicken succinctly delivers what its name suggests, concentrating on a shortlist of steaks and rotisserie chicken.

Address: 28-G Jalan 24/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas
Read review: The Cow & Chicken at Desa Sri Hartamas
Find: Contact details and map for The Cow & Chicken

10. The Bean Belt

This small, friendly new venue is KL’s first full-fledged cafe helmed by the Degayo coffee company, which is based in Indonesia but runs a Malaysian roastery & showroom in Ara Damansara. The Bean Belt is conceived for office workers in the city centre, within a stone’s throw of Concorde Hotel and Shangri-La. Take a seat and watch the cars and monorail trains go by.

Address: Ground Floor Menara Haw Par, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Read review: The Bean Belt at Menara Haw Par
Find: Contact details and map for The Bean Belt

11. The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese aims to be the toast of Subang, specialising in an array of grilled cheese sandwiches – you can choose from ‘Just Cheese’ to other varieties bolstered with, say, Marmite, chili con carne, ham, bacon, tomato and basil, or onions and leeks.

Address: LG39, Da Men USJ, Subang Jaya
Read review: The Big Cheese at Da:Men, Subang
Find: Contact details and map for The Big Cheese

12. The Insider

This fresh face in Telawi tries to tackle contemporary European fare, with a special interest in Italian and French cooking.

Address: 31 Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar
Read review: The Insider at Telawi, Bangsar
Find: Contact details and map for The Insider

13. Streat Thai

Possibly the Klang Valley’s most distinctive destination for Thai street fare, Streat Thai is fuelled by the formidable skills and experience of more than a dozen chefs from across the Land of Smiles, meticulously hand-picked and brought to Malaysia from Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Rai, Korat and Pattaya to cook up a storm of fierce, fragrant flavours.

Address: 100-G.001 The School, No. 72A Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya
Read review: Streat Thai at The School, Jaya One
Find: Contact details and map for Streat Thai

14. ChimiChurri

Cheers for ChimiChurri, which serves warm, wholesome and well-prepared salads, wraps and sandwiches, each emphatically hearty, equitably priced and enjoyably customisable with interesting ingredients.

Address: Lot 100.1.037 First Floor, The School, Jaya One, Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya
Read review: ChimiChurri at Jaya One
Find: Contact details and map for ChimiChurri

15. Pan & Tamper

Pan & Tamper celebrates a reunion of old friends: Nathan, Brandon, Ian and Vicci went their separate ways after school, exploring the world for several years before eventually returning to KL. This month, they’ve opened one of Solaris Dutamas’ most promising new cafes, bringing back flavours galore from their travels, including a dash of Europe and a dollop of Australia.

Address: Block D1, Level G3, Unit 9, Solaris Dutamas (Publika)
Read review: Pan & Tamper at Solaris Dutamas
Find: Contact details and map for Pan & Tamper

16. Enfin by James Won

This modern French restaurant ranks among the city centre’s most beautiful new venues, occupying the sort of space that bolsters expectations of a exceptional experience.

Address: Lot 2-05, level, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Enfin by James Won at Menara Hup Seng
Find: Contact details and map for Enfin by James Won

17. Thai By Thai

This no-frills venue could be worth a visit for various traditional Thai noodles not often seen in many of the Klang Valley’s restaurants – chef Nok hails from Chiang Mai, so the top temptation here is her city’s beloved khao soi gai.

Address: 10, Jalan 52/18, Section 52, Petaling Jaya
Read review: Thai by Thai at PJ New town
Find: Contact details and map for Thai by Thai

18. Tokyo Ramen

Tokyo Ramen takes customers on an authentic exploration of Japan’s beloved soul food, with restaurant founder Touichi Ishihara and his team bringing the steaming-hot comfort of noodle soups and rice bowls from their homeland to PJ’s Atria mall, served in a calm, welcoming venue outfitted with a traditional water wheel, white cherry blossom replicas and Japanese artwork.

Address: Atria Shopping Gallery, Damansara Jaya
Read review: Tokyo Ramen at Atria Shopping Gallery
Find: Contact details and map for Tokyo Ramen

19. Le Bistro 33

This French-helmed venue seeks to bring a bit of Europe to Subang, combining boulangerie fare with basic bistro-style cuisine – it’s a pleasant eatery with affable service and a competently executed menu that seems to be winning over this neighbourhood.

Address: No. 33 Ground Floor, Jalan USJ 10/1G, Subang Jaya
Read review: Le Bistro 33 at Subang Jaya
Find: Contact details and map for Le Bistro 33

20. Boxes

This shipping container cafe could prove a popular lure for photography fiends at Bukit Bintang City Centre’s sales gallery – colourful on the outside and comfortably cheery within, Boxes is something of a pop-up venue that staff members say may merely run for several months. Boxes’ nasi lemak maki is a signature here, tasty enough to pass muster as both nasi lemak and sushi roll.

Address: Bukit Bintang City Centre Sales Gallery, Jalan Hang Tuah, Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Boxes at BBCC, Bukit Bintang City Centre
Find: Contact details and map for Boxes