Who are you, what do you do and what do you love about your city?
Hello it’s me Malik.
I'm from Kuala Lumpur (KL) and used to make coffee at 3FE. I've worn a few hats during my time at 3FE as a barista, a head barista, manager of the Sussex Terrace location, and lastly retail coffee manager.
Place for coffee you recommend?
Medium, The Roast Things, One Half, Kopenhagen Coffee, Soul Sacrifice (Disclaimer: The coffee scene in KL has evolved a lot since I was home and there's great coffee everywhere now so I highly recommend being adventurous!)
Place for Brunch you recommend?
Feeka in Bukit Bintang.
Feeka's been a staple in KL's brunch scene for many years and one of my favourite spots for a sunny weekend morning breakfast. Sit outside for the best vibes. It's a lovely hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A place for lunch?
Village Park Restaurant
I'm sorry but this might ruffle a few feathers as nasi lemak fans in KL are very territorial. I think it's one of the best Nasi Lemak in town - with the perfect combination of sweet/spicy sambal and crunchy fried chicken.
If you’re fond of a snack and stroll?
The best places for snacks are street vendors. I don't have a favourite place because you tend to just stop by the street to get them, so I'll recommend my favourite snacks - Apam Balik, keropok lekor, cekodok, curry puff
A Casual Dinner?
Your local 'mamak shop'. Mamak shops are indoor, open air food establishments, with a super unpretentious & casual setting. This is where you'd go to catch up with a few friends casually and some of them are open 24 hours. You can typically have roti canai, nasi kandar, nasi goreng, mi goreng with a delicious mug of teh tarik.
Fine Dining?
Chocha Foodstore is one of my favourite elevated dining experiences. It's nestled in a restored old shophouse near Petaling Street, and the food celebrates local seasonal ingredients. It's also sharing plates style so you get to try different things!
What are all the other places you wanted to mention above?
REXKL is a very cool creative hub right next to Petalig Street. It's a restored old cinema complex with food stalls, quirky shops, and a massive bookstore upstairs. It's also a great spot to have a few drinks and cool down while exploring Petaling Street. Also be sure to head to a Kopitiam and have a local Kopi. It's very different to western coffee, that it's roasted in margarine to give it a richer and more fragrant cup.
Where to stay?
Near Bukit Bintang or Petaling Street as the city center itself is very walkable and well-connected by public transport. Loads of street food hotspots, cool cafes and restaurants, as well as the slightly more touristy bits like the Twin Towers within reasonable distance.
Cultural activity?
Visit the National Mosque. It's a grand mosque in the city center with beautiful modern Islamic architecture. Jamek Mosque is also not too far and is one of the oldest mosques in KL, so it's very different from the National Mosque.
What's the one thing people need to know about your town/city before they arrive?
Prepare to be stuck in traffic. Give yourself plenty of time to get to places as traffic in KL is a different kind of monster. You could be stuck for hours at the worst of times.
Everything Else
Best way to get around ?
I'd recommend against taking taxi, Grab (like Uber) to make small trips as you'll spend more time in traffic. Spend more time on foot and take the MRT & LRT to immerse yourself more. If you're going a bit further from the city center, take the MRT/LRT to the closest station and then get into a taxi/Grab to close off the last mile.
Best Atmosphere?
Take a walk in the park just outside the Petronas Twin Towers. It's a surreal feeling to be surrounded by greenery with the Twin Towers overlooking you.
Best time to visit?
Generally avoid Monsoon season which falls between October and December as it will be raining a lot with many places experiencing floods.
Best View?
Sky Deck KL Tower.
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