Despite the sliding Malaysian Ringgit currency, Johor Bahru’s cafe industry is still booming rapidly. Johor Bahru’s hipster street, aka Jalan Dhoby, is the best place to explore the various Malaysian cafes – do proceed to sample the city’s street food thereafter.
If you are sick of the overrated pricey cafes in Singapore and itching for a weekend day trip, we would highly recommend visiting newcomer The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen in Johor Bahru. It can be accessed within a 10-minute walk from the Johor-Singapore Causeway and is characterised by its all-white interiors, potted plants and minimalistic furnishings.
Definitely one of the hottest cafes in Johor Bahru now!
Similar to Singapore, most cafes in Johor Bahru are closed on Mondays. Fortunately, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen is open daily, so dining there on Mondays ain’t an issue at all! The spacious halal-certified cafe was one of our highlights during a recent cafe-hopping adventure and we were glad that we succumbed to its inviting entrance.
Take a step in and expect to bump into fellow avid Instagrammers. We were not that surprised, given how the cafe was characterised by potted green plants and rustic wooden furniture with abundance of natural light shining in. The free wifi and blasting air conditioning were two great bonuses too.
Aesthetics aside, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen boasts an all-day brunch menu with wholesome dishes ranging from RM$16.90 to RM$26.90.
We particularly enjoyed their Croque Madame (RM$19.90) – a classic French ham and cheese sandwich with cheesy bechamel sauce and a fried egg.
We heard a lot of good reviews about their churros but were actually very disappointed by the lack of crisp.
Perhaps those who favour a mushy texture would take a liking to these desserts. You can choose your churros in original flavour (RM$12.90) or pair it with fruits (RM$16.90) or ice-cream (RM$19.90).
The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen
33, 34 Jalan Dhoby
80000 Johor Bahru
Daily: 10am to 10pm