If you’re someone who loves a good cheesecake, then you have to make a deliberate trip down to Johor Bahru’s underrated cafe haven, Taman Mount Austin, to check out this new cheesecake shop.

Opened just recently, The Cheese Lab is a brand new addition to the slew of cafes in the area of Taman Mount Austin—a hidden enclave of cafes in Johor Bahru—and here they specialise in cheesecakes and utterly Instagram-worthy beverages. Here’s why it is worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of pillowy-soft, creamy cheesecakes.

If you’re looking for a full-fledged meal, The Cheese Lab probably wouldn’t be the best option for they serve only one edible item here—the Signature Cheesecake Slice (RM16.90). Having just one item on their menu raised our expectations by a notch but you’d be glad to know that despite high expectations, the cheesecake did not disappoint.

Served with a helping of decadent and fluffy cream cheese, the cheesecake was aptly moist and sweet. The dessert boasts a light texture and we absolutely adore how incredibly rich the cake tasted despite the texture.

But the lack of variety on their edible menu is surely made up for with that of the beverage menu. Boasting a wide array of drinks ranging from hot coffee to gorgeous, “Insta-worthy” ice-cold ombré drinks, you can definitely count of The Cheese Lab to quench your thirst.

We opted for their Milk, Raspberry and Butterfly Pea (RM13), which sees 3 different layers of colourful liquid. At the bottom of the cup is a raspberry jam, followed by fresh milk and finally, a blue-hued butterfly pea mixture.

The Cheese Lab
39 Jalan Austin Heights 8/5
Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Daily: 1pm – 11pm

All Singaporeans know that Johor Bahru is the place to go when you want a short escape from all things expensive in Singapore. Everything is cheaper there — shopping, massages, transport, and most importantly, food!

There are a plethora of well-known cafes near the causeway that many of us Singaporeans love to visit. Aside from that, however, there are a number of other fantastic eateries deeper within Johor that we feel you need to check out. 

With that, here is our list of our 23 favourite cafes in Johor Bahru that you can refer to for your next day trip over the causeway.

Photo Credit: Birdfolks

ATLAS COFFEE EMBASSY 

The interior of this place is minimalistic and has great lighting to take amazing photos of your food for the gram. This place, like its name, says, is must-try for coffee as the barista behind these brews is none other than Malaysian Barista Champion JH Yee. Do try their Atlas Signature Blend coffee for an amazing coffee experience!

Taman Mount Austin
32 Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-358 7546
Daily: 8.30am – 7pm 

BASILICO

Basilico is a tiny Italian cafe that is neatly tucked away in the Mount Austin area. The lighting here is pretty dim — not so good for taking photos, but great if you want a cosy place to have a chill hang out session with some friends. Basilico’s aim is to sell authentic Italian food at affordable prices, and they’re definitely doing that right.

Taman Mount Austin,
17 Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-364 7463
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm

BEV C

Popular industrial-themed Bev C Café is located on the upper level of a restored shophouse in Johor Bahru and it is a well-loved destination for cafe hoppers and foodies. Cool yourselves down from the scorching tropical heat with Bev C’s popular espresso Ice Cube Drink with Chocolate or dig into their best selling White Chocolate Truffle Pie.

54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-725 3530
Mon to Sun: 10am – 7pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)

BIG BITES CAFE

Big Bites Cafe is an artisanal café that is nestled within the café-filled enclave of Jalan Dhoby. Here, they specialise in coffee as well as a wide array of signature homemade Mille crepe cakes. For those of you who adore all things durian related, you need to try their Musang King Durian and it is one dessert that we would happily cross the border for in a heartbeat.

18 Jalan Ibrahim
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7221 1475
Mon to Fri: 10am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm

CHAIWALLA & CO. CONTAINER CAFE

Housed in a shipping container and situated in a public parking lot, Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe is a hipster paradise for cafe hoppers. You should definitely stop by to try their satisfying signature iced cold Thai Milk Tea, which is a much-needed remedy to combat the sweltering heat.

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

Photo Credit: Creamery_JB

CREAMERY BOUTIQUE ICE CREAMS

Creamery Boutique Ice Creams serves up some really good ice creams, but what they truly are famous for is their massive lava cookie. When they say lava, they seriously mean lava. These cookies have molten chocolate cores, so once you cut it open, thick, creamy chocolate oozes out, just like a chocolate volcano.

Taman Mount Austin
33 Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-362 1300
Daily: 2pm – 10pm

DING DING JI PAI

You don’t need to take a plane to Taiwan if you’re hankering for some solid Taiwanese food; all you need to do is hop over the causeway to Ding Ding Ji Pai! We absolutely love their fried chicken; it’s the real deal! They also sell scrumptious, comforting rice bowls that really hit the spot.

FACULTY OF CAFFEINE

Faculty Of Caffeine’s decor is a tasteful blend of old and new furnishings. The coffee here is brewed with 100% Arabica beans and served in unique takeout cups that resemble eye charts. They also have a wide range of delicious brunch foods that tastes great with the coffee.

106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-713 2714
Daily: 9am – 5.30pm

FLOWERS IN THE WINDOW

Flowers In The Window is a cosy, picturesque cafe that promises a mixture of great food, beautiful interiors and Insta-worthy beverages. Boasting an indoor garden with rustic touches, the charming double-storey café has won the hearts of many ladies who make it a point to take their OOTDs there before leaving.

9, Jalan Dhoby,
Bandar Johor Bahru,
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Mon to Sun: 10am – 8pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)

Photo Credit: gCafemtaustin

GCAFE

gCafe offers a wide variety of western style food such as salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and cakes. Our favourite dishes here has to be the Soft Shell Crab Pasta. They do their desserts and drinks really well too, and some of their customer favourites are the Lemon Cheesecake, Rosa Cafe Latte, Banana Crepe and Creme Brulee.

Taman Mount Austin
147, Jln Mutiara Emas 10/19, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-362 1261
Daily: 11am – 11pm

Photo Credit: muhdazizulhakim

JUST WANT COFFEE HOMIES 

Our favourite thing here at Just Want Coffee Homies has to be their brunch sets, which comprise a wide array of delicious brunch delights such as bagels, eggs, bacon and sausages. They also serve really good coffee, drinks and desserts such as Hot Sizzling Brownie and their Rose Latte.

Taman Molek,
Jalan Molek 1/27, Johor, Malaysia,
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-361 3338
Sun to Thur: 8.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 11.30pm

LA’FARINE

La’Farine is a gorgeous, newly-opened cafe in Mount Austin that serves up a delicious array of Western and local fare. They are also popular for their sinful, French-inspired desserts and freshly baked pastries that will definitely perk you up.

Photo Credit: Lamuse Coffee

LAMUSE  COFFEE 

Lamuse Coffee is a cosy cafe that serves western, Japanese and local fare for very cheap prices. Some classic local food that you should try here is their Nasi Lemak and Satay Chicken With Rice. They also have a newly launched Japanese menu that has classics such as Omurice Curry With Chicken Karaage and Chicken Katsu Curry.

Taman Desu Tebrau
28, Jalan Harmonium 23/13, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-351 8838
Daily: 7.30am – 6pm

LET’S GET CEREAL

This cereal-centric café is the perfect place to be at if you want to relive your childhood days. Here, they have over 20 local and imported cereal brands to choose from as well as a variety of flavoured milk to go with your cereal, making for one heck of a breakfast experience.

18, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-757 0703
Daily: 10am – 10pm

MACO CAFE AND BAKERY

This spacious, casual cafe specialises in traditional French pastries such as Mille Crêpes and Valrhona Chocolate Fondant Cake. They also dish out savoury French dishes and you can delight yourself in their all-time favourite Croque-Madame and other aromatic quiches.

65, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama
81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-727 3366
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.30pm

MOK MOK BRUNCH AND BISTRO 

Mok Mok Brunch and Bistro is a gorgeous garden-themed cafe and here, they serve a mix of western and Asian fare which include rice bowls, burgers, soba, and brunch sets. A must-try has to be their signature Gyutan Bowl and for desserts, do try their famous Kumo Ultimo —  amazing pillowy cream cheese souffle pancakes that will satisfy any sweet tooth!

78, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi
80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 18-270 6068
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm

OUR TOAST OUR TIMES

Our Toast Our Times is an old school cafe tucked away in a crevice of Mount Austin that serves up an array of comforting local and fusion dishes that sure to pique your interest. Ever thought of having both bacon and Nutella in your sandwich? That’s the kind of interesting food you can expect from this place!

Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, Taman Mount Austin
Johor Bahru 81100
Daily: 8.30am – 6pm

SHAKESPEARE MILKSHAKES

Shakespeare Milkshakes is the brainchild of the people behind The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and this Scandinavian style cafe is a wonderful addition to the hipster enclave in Johor Bahru. Here, they specialise in decadent milkshakes, iced teas as well as a range of savoury croffles (croissant pressed between a waffle iron).

9 Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru 80000
Tel: +60 16 421 8530
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 12am

TASTEA

This rustic western cafe at Mount Austin serves up a variety of scrumptious nosh that is sure to warm both the heart and the belly. Besides their delicious brunch items, they also serve up some pretty damn good waffles that will leave you craving for more.

49, Jalan Austin Height 8/5
Taman Mount Austin, Tebrau, 81100
Tel: +60 010-766 0138
Mon to Thu: 12am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 12am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm

Photo Credit: The Alley Malaysia 

THE ALLEY MOUNT AUSTIN 

The Alley makes their own in-house tea to ensure that they stand out from their competitors. A popular bubble tea item here would be their Royal No.9 Milk Tea, but what really got us excited are their Aurora Series drinks — Northern Lights and Morning Sunshine fruit beverages, which are the prettiest, most mesmerising drinks we have ever seen.

Taman Austin Heights
Jalan Austin Heights 1/8, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 16-726 9343
Daily: 11am – 1am

THE CHEESE LAB

Newly opened The Cheese Lab specialises in decadent, sinful cheesecakes that taste like a little piece of heaven. Aside from their cakes, they also have a variety of fruity, refreshing drinks that are perfect to combat the scorching heat.

39 Jalan Austin Heights 8/5
Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru 81100
Daily: 1pm – 11pm

THE REPLACEMENT LODGE AND KITCHEN

The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen is a café illuminated by its harmonious combination of white pastel presence and rustic wooden furniture. Not only is the overall design of the place visuaully pleasing, the food served here is pretty damn solid as well and this winning combination makes it the perfect cafe to chill and unwind at while on your day trip to Johor Bahru. 

33, 34 Jalan Dhoby
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-547 7885
Mon to Thu: 10am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 11pm

VANILLA BEAN

Vanilla Bean is a speciality coffee shop and patisserie as well as an excellent addition to 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.

Blk B, Pangsapuri Pinggiran Air
No.2 Persiaran Senibong,
Johor Bahru 81750
Tel: +60 7-380 4900
Sun to Tue: 8.30am – 6.30pm
(Closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays)

If you’ve ever travelled to Europe, you’ll understand the joy that walking up to a pastry stand would entail. The aroma of freshly baked bread comes second to none and the endless varieties of brightly coloured tarts and pastries never fails to seduce the senses. Over at La’Farine located in JB’s Taman Mount Austin, you can experience just that with their many numerous French desserts and pastries.

For the love of Western pastries, local delicacies and everything in between, this is one place to visit to kickstart your JB day trip proper. For first-timers, Taman Mount Austin is just a short 15-minute drive from the checkpoint. We suggest hailing a cab or booking yourself a GRAB because it’s literally impossible to walk there.

Combining the best of Western bakeries and Malaysia’s local cuisine, La’Farine offers diners a well-rounded experience. We took a gamble and went for their Rendang Nasi Lemak (RM15.90) as opposed to the more conventional version.

There was nothing to complain about. The rice was fluffy and aromatic, the sambal was fresh, piquant and sweet and the chicken rendang was hearty, flavourful and extremely tender. The rendang gravy was thick, full-flavoured and paired exceptionally well with the rice.

A fried chicken rice dish stemming from Eastern Java, the Ayam Penyet Rice (RM14.90) impressed with its brilliantly seasoned, super crispy skin.

The chicken was succulent and the exterior, although crispy, was not oily at all. Served alongside it was a halved calamansi fruit which, when squeezed over top, gave the fried chicken a nice citrusy zing.

Their dessert selection is seriously off the charts. They have anything from cakes, crème brûlée, tarts and freshly baked bread with a selection of jams to pair with it. Many of the desserts seem to draw its influences from classic French recipes, especially their La’Farine Classic Dessert (RM15.90).

Without even taking a second to ponder, the wait staff confidently recommended it. Comprising layers of almond dacquoise—basically, a meringue made using almonds—fresh cream, diced fruits, toasted and toasted almonds, this dessert impressed with its many interesting textures underscored by a fruity, creamy decadence.

La’Farine (Taman Mount Austin) Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Tel: +60 19-343 1415 Mon to Sun: 9am – 12am Tue: 11am – 10pm

While Johor Bahru’s charm lies in its local food-packed nooks and crevices, it also has a massive hipster café scene to boast.

With an array of innovative and somewhat exotic creations that give even the most ambitious cafés here in Singapore a run for their money, we must say that when it comes to proper café-hopping, Johor Bahru is one great place to start—not to mention that prices are way cheaper there.

For the hipsters and those looking to liven up their social media accounts with pretty pictures and ever ready to try unconventional creations, this is for you. Here is our list of 11 cafés in Johor Bahru that’ll make your day trip worthwhile.

BEV C

Industrial-themed Bev C Café is located on the upper level of a restored shophouse and is definitely one of the most well-known cafés in Johor Bahru. Cool yourselves down from the scorching heat with Bev C’s popular espresso Ice Cube Drink with Chocolate or dig into their best selling White Chocolate Truffle Pie.

54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-725 3530
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Mon to Sun: 10am – 7pm

BIG BITES CAFÉ

Nestled within the café-filled enclave of Jalan Dhoby, Big Bites Cafe is an artisanal café in Johor Bahru that specialises in coffee as well as a wide array of signature homemade Mille crepe cakes.

For those of you who adore all things durian related, the Musang King Durian (RM12.50++) is just the thing you need to perk you up. Boasting a strong aroma of durian, this is one dessert we would happily cross the border for in a heartbeat.

18 Jalan Ibrahim
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7221 1475
Daily: 9am – 7pm

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CHAIWALLA & CO. CONTAINER CAFE

Housed in a shipping container and situated in a public parking lot, Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe is a paradise for all hipster café lovers. You should definitely stop by to try their signature iced cold Thai Milk Tea—a much needed remedy to combat the sweltering heat—or simply grab a bite.

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

FACULTY OF CAFFEINE

Faculty Of Caffeine’s decor is a tasteful blend of old and new furnishings. Coffee 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 café is ultimately not Halal-certified.

Note that Faculty Of Caffeine’s Google Map location is currently wrong and we suggest you 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 – 5.30pm

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FLOWERS IN THE WINDOW

A cosy space to escape the overbearing midday heat, Flowers In The Window is one that promises a mixture of great food, beautiful interiors and Insta-worthy beverages.

Boasting an indoor garden with rustic touches, their beverages also adhere to the stunning flowery theme. The charming double-storey café has won the hearts of many ladies who make it a point to take their OOTDs there before leaving.

9, Jalan Dhoby,
Bandar Johor Bahru,
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon to Sun: 10am – 8pm

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LET’S GET CEREAL

This cereal-centric café is where you get to feel like a kid all over again with over 20 local and imported cereal brands to choose from. Not only that, there are even options of flavoured milk to go with your cereal, making for one heck of a breakfast experience.

The humble cereal shop has their own clothing label so feel free to browse through some trendy clothing between spoonfuls.

Aeon Tebrau City
Level Two
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-757 0703
Daily: 10am – 10pm

MACO CAFÉ & BAKERY

Maco Café & Bakery is a spacious casual eatery that specialises in traditional French pastries such as Mille Crêpes and Valrhona Chocolate Fondant Cake.

Several savoury French classic dishes are also available on the menu and you can delight yourself in the all-time favourite Croque-Madame and other aromatic quiches.

65, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama
81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-727 3366
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.30pm

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MOK MOK BRUNCH & BISTRO

Escape from the mayhem of city life to this beautiful garden-themed café that is just 15 minutes drive away from the checkpoint.

At Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro, guests can look forward to fresh produce that are sourced from local farms and an exciting range of rice bowls and aesthetically pleasing desserts that are sure to impress.

78, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 18 270 6068
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm

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SHAKESPEARE MILKSHAKES

From the folks that brought you The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and Faculty of Caffeine, Shakespeare Milkshakes is a wonderful addition to the hipster enclave in Johor Bahru. This Scandinavian-style café specialises in decadent milkshakes (not meant for full stomachs).

Besides sweet treats, look forward to a range of savoury croffles (croissant pressed between a waffle iron) and a wide selection of hot beverages and iced tea that will keep you coming back for more.

9 Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru 80000
Tel: +60 16 421 8530
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 12am

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THE REPLACEMENT – LODGE & KITCHEN

Run by the same team that manages Faculty Of Caffeine, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen is a café 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 and Red Ranger Juice.

33, 34 Jalan Dhoby
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-547 7885
Mon to Thu: 10am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 11pm

VANILLA BEAN

Speciality coffee shop and patisserie Vanilla Bean is an excellent addition to 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. Their Ole Ole Waffle—an ondeh ondeh style waffle topped with gula melaka sauce, ice-cream and pandan ganache—is absolutely to die for.

Blk B, Pangsapuri Pinggiran Air
No.2 Persiaran Senibong,
Johor Bahru 81750
Tel: +60 7-380 4900
Mon to Thu: 9am – 8pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 11pm

Words by: Alvin Tan
Edited by: Julee Ooi

For more recommendations, read our Johor Bahru guides to discover the best places to visit.

Johor Bahru’s progressive cafe scene is seeing a large number of Singaporeans making plans to visit these concept cafes over the weekends since many are easily accessible by walking or public transport from the immigration checkpoint.

On our latest trip to Johor Bahru, we made our way to what is possibly our favourite cafe there thus far—Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro. Just a 15-minute drive from the checkpoint, the cafe is where you escape from the mayhem of city life for a refreshing change as it is decked out in greens and surrounded by glass walls for natural sunlight to filter in.

At Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro, guests can also look forward to fresh produce that are sourced from local farms and an exciting range of rice bowls and aesthetically pleasing desserts that are sure to impress even the most discerning foodies.

Its nature-inspired interior design seeks to provide a welcoming space for friends to gather over excellent food and coffee and it is not surprising to find many guests taking their OOTDs at the stylish and light-filled cafe.

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Go to the cafe with an empty stomach, for you have to try their Signature Bowls which features your choice of meat placed over a very special homemade rice recipe. We opted for the crowd favourite Gyutan (RM28) and for the uninitiated, that is the Japanese term for grilled beef tongue.

But do not be put off by the sound of it yet! This Japanese delicacy is certainly worth a try and what you get at Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro is slices of savoury beef tongue with spring onion and chopped chilli on a bed of signature rice and a drizzle of chilli sesame oil and shoyu. Every mouthful was extremely flavourful and we honestly cannot wait to visit them again to try some of their other rice bowls.

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When we were ready for dessert, the highly recommended Kumo Ultimo (RM22) caught our immediate attention. Comprising cream cheese shuffle pancakes that are paired with cookie crumbs, flavoured mousse, ice cream and your preferred topping, this sweet treat is nothing but pure indulgence.

Boasting a melt-in-your-mouth interior that was fluffy and bouncy, there was nothing to nitpick about this dessert at all.

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The cafe also serves a range of drinks, with some that has been created to look good for social media such as the Galactic Dream and Masala Chai Latte. Besides that, they also offer the usual coffee, tea and soda options too.

Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro
78, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 18 270 6068
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm

Sangkaya is popular Malaysian coconut creamery with over 30 outlets in the country. Stepping into Sangkaya on a sunny day is like a breath of fresh and cool air. The café is nicely air-conditioned with a very comforting vibe. It is a nice retreat and break-stop if you are strolling around the area!

Sangkaya focuses mainly on coconut ice cream and a variety of other desserts. Go for the Signature Coconut Ice Cream (RM9.90) where you can choose 4 different scoops of coconut ice cream served in a half coconut shell.

We tried the Cha Yen (Thai Milk Tea), Bandung, Teh Tarik and of course, Coconut. The great thing about the ice cream here is that you get to go crazy with the free unlimited toppings. We went for some corn and crushed Oreos to complete our bowl.

We washed down the creamy ice cream with a cup of their Coconut Water (RM4.90). The drink was fresh and they even included actual coconut flesh inside.

The next time you visit Malaysia, do try Sangkaya’s famous coconut ice cream!

Looking for more cafes in Johor Bahru?

With the surge of new cafes across the border, cafe-hopping is no longer confined to our sunny shores. From the folks that brought you The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and Faculty of Caffeine, Shakespeare Milkshakes is a wonderful addition to the hipster enclave in Johor Bahru.

This Scandinavian-style café specialises in decadent milkshakes (that isn’t for the weak). Besides sweet treats, look forward to a range of savoury croffles (croissant pressed between a waffle iron) and a wide selection of hot beverages and iced tea that will keep you coming back for more.

When it comes to Instagram-worthy interiors and flat lay-worthy food, Shakespeare Milkshakes is your best bet. Time to cross the border for this beautiful cafe in Johor Bahru!

Chocolate lovers can go all out with the café’s Kinder Bueno Specialty Shake (RM18). The milkshake comes with a chocolate dipped glass encrusted with nuts on the outside, filled to the brim with a rich dark chocolate shake and topped with a savoury cheese stick, salted cookie, and a mini Kinder Bueno Chocolate.

Even though the shake was simply delicious and not overly sweet, it might be overwhelming for one. That’s a lot of sugar for one person!

The café’s Salted Caramel Affogato (RM18) features fluffy waffles sprinkled with gula melaka crumbs, vanilla soft serve lined with salted caramel sauce, a mini Kinder Bueno and a shot of espresso. The whole idea is to drizzle the espresso over the waffles and ice cream. But with so much going on the plate, the different elements did not seem to work out very well.

However, Shakespeare Milkshakes’ Beef Pastrami and Cheese Croffle (RM10) is a must-order! A croffle is essentially a croissant pressed between a waffle iron. Sink your teeth in a crispy puffed pastry stuffed with beef pastrami, sweet onions and packed with cheese.

Pair the croffle with the refreshing Watermelon Lychee Ice Fruit Tea (RM10) for the perfect afternoon snack. The medley of fruity tea and savoury croffle was a match-make in heaven.

Shakespeare Milkshakes is a great stop over for a sweet fix after a long day of shopping and feasting on street food in Johor Bahru. As we all know, there is always room for desserts.

Shakespeare Milkshakes
9 Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru 80000
Tel: +60 16 421 8530
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat and Sun: 12pm – 12am

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Johor Bahru.

Fancy a cosy space to rest your weary feet after a full day of walking and eating around Johor Bahru’s food streets? Well then, look no further than Big Bites Cafe.

Nestled within the cafe-filled enclave of Jalan Dhoby, Big Bites Cafe is an artisanal cafe in Johor Bahru that specialises in coffee as well as a wide array of their signature homemade Mille crepe cakes. Those in search of something a little more hearty can also indulge in their mains that include pasta, pizzas and even a variety of chicken-centric dishes.

Nothing beats lounging about in a comfortable, air-conditioned cafe with a freshly brewed cuppa and a sweet treat to match so be sure to include this cafe in your next JB itinerary.

Located right opposite the popular Chaiwalla & Co. Container Café, Big Bites Cafe occupies a two-storey shophouse and features both upstairs and downstairs seating. The interior itself is decked out in a minimalistic shade of black with some wooden furnishings.

For those who are not particularly fond of overly sweet desserts can opt for the Matcha Azuki (RM9.50++). This crepe cake is only mildly sweet with most of its sweetness coming from the Azuki beans.

Although we were not entirely blown away by it, we must say that it did possess a pleasant aroma of matcha and a subtle bitterness which complemented the sweet red bean pretty well.

For those of you who adore all-things durian related, the Musang King Durian (RM12.50++) is just the thing you need to perk you up. Boasting a strong aroma of durian, this instantly caught our attention.

As we began digging into this decadent cake, the first thing that was revealed to us was a luscious durian puree slathered between each crepe layer with fibrous bits included to offer some textural variety. Bonus points for using real durian in their crepe cakes!

The cafe’s proximity to Johor Bahru’s Immigration Checkpoint makes it a great pit stop for those who are seeking respite from the humid weather; we definitely recommend their King Musang Mille crepe cake to all fans of durian!

Big Bites Cafe
18 Jalan Ibrahim
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7221 1475
Daily: 9am – 7pm

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Johor Bahru.