10 Cafes in Johor Bahru You Should Visit

roost johor bahru

The proximity of Johor Bahru has made the capital of the Malaysian State a popular weekend getaway destination for many Singaporeans.

To our surprise, the city has seen the opening of numerous impressive cafes, most of which are specialty coffee shops that serve a delectable variety of brunch items and splendid desserts.

We shortlisted a couple of reputable cafes that have been making waves online and offline. From specialty coffee shop Faculty Of Caffeine to Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe, here is a Guide to 10 Cafes in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

alispecialty


#1 ALICAFE SPECIALTY COFFEE


Do not let the looming dark exteriors of Alicafe Specialty Coffee put you off. The two-storey exotic specialty coffee shop is actually a great place to hang out at, and the adorable latte art deserves your attention. If you are feeling peckish, there is also a selection of hot food and scrumptious desserts available at wallet-friendly prices.

27, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7350 7739
Mon to Fri : 3pm – 12am
Sat to Sun : 2pm – 12am

Bev C Johor Bahru


#2 BEV C


Industrial chic Bev C Cafe is located at the upper loft of a restored shophouse and is definitely one of the most Instagramed cafes in Johor Bahru. Cool yourselves down from the scorching heat with Bev C’s popular espresso Ice Cube Drink with Chocolate (RM12.90) or dig into their best selling White Chocolate Truffle Pie (RM12.90).

54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7221 3530
Mon: Closed
Tue to Fri: 1pm – 11pm
Sat to Sun: 12pm – 11pm

chaiwalla johor


#3 CHAIWALLA & CO. CONTAINER CAFE


Housed in a shipping container and situated across a public parking lot, Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe is a paradise for all hipster cafe lovers. Try their signature iced cold Chai Latte (regular at RM7.80, large at RM8.80) and grab a savoury chicken mushroom pie or black pepper beef pie (RM5.80) too.

Lot 2810, Tan Hiok Nee Street
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-735 3572
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 12 am
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12am

Faculty of Caffeine


#4 FACULTY OF CAFFEINE


Faculty Of Caffeine’s decor is a tasteful blend of old and new furnishings. Coffee served here is brewed with 100% Arabica beans and served in unique takeout cups that resemble eye charts. While their all-day brunch menu does not serve pork or lard, it is important to note that the cafe is ultimately not Halal-certified.

Note that Faculty Of Caffeine’s Google Map location is currently wrong and we suggest you to follow the coordinates 1.460700, 103.763443 instead.

106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-713 2714
Daily: 9am – 6pm

maco jb


#5 MACO CAFE & BAKERY


Maco Cafe & Bakery is a spacious casual eatery that specialises in traditional French pastries such as Mille Crêpes and Varlhona Chocolate Fondant Cake. Several savoury French classic dishes are also available on the menu and you can expect the all-time favourite Croque Madame and aromatic quiches.

65, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama
81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-556 8490
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 11am – 12.30am
Sun: 11am – 10.30pm

pace cafe


#6 PACE CAFE


Characterised by a variation of geometric elements, Pace Cafe is a must-visit for all design and architecture fans. The cafe-cum-bar is tastefully designed by award-winning AZ Concept and we love how gorgeous both its interiors and exteriors are. Three different types of beans are used here- Colombia Inza, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Kochere and Kenya Kirimara.

40, Jalan Ibrahim
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-222 4896
Daily: 10am – 8pm

roost repurposed recycled


#7 ROOST, RECYCLED & REPURPOSED CAFE


As its name suggests, Roost, Recycled & Repurposed Cafe has an interesting concept of using only recycled materials for their furniture. The end result is a surprisingly beautiful mess – think random pushcart trolley and mismatched chairs. Aesthetics aside, the cafe’s menu too offers healthy fresh fruit juices as well as refreshingly hearty salads.

14A, Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-776 7489
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 12am
Sun: 6pm – 12am

TIP the icecream project


#8 THE ICE-CREAM PROJECT


The Ice-Cream Project’s vegan-friendly handcrafted nitrogen ice-cream are free from additives and preservatives. Each gelato mix is freshly churned right before your eyes with liquid nitrogen – which has an incredibly low boiling point of negative 196°C – and a smooth ice-cream is created within seconds.

31, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-300 7286
Mon: Closed
Tue to Thu: 3pm – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 3pm – 12am
Sun: 3pm – 10pm

the replacement lodge kitchen


#9 THE REPLACEMENT – LODGE & KITCHEN


Brought to you by the same people behind Faculty Of Caffeine, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen is a cafe illuminated by its harmonious combination of white pastel presence and rustic wooden furniture. Food and beverages served here deserve a thumbs up and we thoroughly enjoyed the Croque Madame (RM19.90) and Red Ranger Juice (RM15).

33, 34 Jalan Dhoby
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 10 226 0311
Daily: 10am to 10pm

vanilla bean cafe johor bahru


#10 VANILLA BEAN


Specialty coffee shop and patisserie Vanilla Bean is a pretty new face in Johor Bahru’s luxurious integrated marina, Senibong Cove. The cosy third-wave café has a menu that includes Asian-inspired waffles, espresso beverages, artisanal cakes and a splendid selection of all-day brunch items.

G-08, Block B
Pangsapuri Pinggiran Air
No 2, Persiaran Senibong
Senibong Cove
81750 Masai, Johor
Tel: 016 7239238
Mon: Closed
Tue to Fri: 9am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 8pm


For more recommendations, read our guide on 10 MUST-TRY Street Food in Johor Bahru.


About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.