Kenjo Bakery Cafe at Austin Crest in Johor Bahru ☏ +6016 289 2900

Kenjo Bakery | 29, Jalan Jaya Putra 7/4, Bandar Jaya Putra, 81100 Johor Bahru ☏ +6016 289 2900     ⏰ 10:30am - 8pm

In between meals during our dawn till night JB food trail, we needed a coffee stop to cool our heels. Yeah, the weather was blistering hot this couple of weeks.

Coffee & Toast @ Big Beard / Janggut of Yong Peng • Maxims Snack Shoppe 大胡子面包小食 ☏ +6011 1050 7920

We pulled over at Yong Peng town on the way to Malacca. Haven't eaten anything nor had any caffeine since we woke up and left Singapore. I suggested we pull over at 大胡子面包小食 - I've been here a few years ago, liked it and wanted to come back to try more things before writing about it.

Roast & Coffee R & C Cafe in Johor Bahru • Cemerlang • Tan Hiok Nee • Eco Palladium

Buddy Carol is a big fan of Roast & Coffee, and I love modern coffee shops, so I was eager to try her recommendation. I went to both the Desa Cemerlang and Ecopalladium outlets. They have an outlet at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee too which I've been to some time ago.

Restaurant name: Roast & Coffee @ Ecopalladium

Address: B-01-05, Blok B, Jalan Ekoflora 7, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru (near the entrance and on the right hand side)

Tel: 013 628 6100

Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm

Hanyuan Daily Hip Cafe • Traditional Coffee Shop in Mount Austin Johor Bahru 韓源

Johor Bahru now have many rustic hip traditional Nanyang kopi (coffee) shops. Many of them serve good coffee with a wide range of breads, pastries and Malaysian local delights. Buddy Carol recommended Hanyuan, so I popped over for a try. She is right, Hanyuan serve one of my favourite coffee, the white type without add on like corn and margarine during roasting.

Restaurant name: Hanyuan Daily 韓源

Address: G-01-05, Austin 18, Jalan Austin Perdana 3, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor

Tel: 011 1331 0626

Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Restoran Xin Segar Coffee Shop · Amazing Kaya Butter Toast & Six Six Ice Coffee · Mutiara Rini

Our JB plan was simple - go nice makan (eat), and in between go to nice cafe to chill out before makan again 😬 Kim was raving about this frothy coffee place in Taman Mutiara Rini in Skudai but I couldn't really make out what exactly she said as I was in the back seat of the car. I just assumed it would be a nice Instagram opportunity that would make any influencer proud jealous.

Restaurant name: Restoran Xin Segar 新食客美食阁

Address: 1, Jalan Jasa 64, Rini Hills, 81300 Skudai, Johor

Tel: +6016 712 7993 (Bosh)

Hours: 6:30am - 1:30pm (Mon off)

The Sunbird Cafe. Wonderful Chendol Cheesecake, Three Tea Mug & Good Coffee in JB

I found a lovely new place to hang out in JB. Ok... not really I found lah - actually, owners Charlene and Yumi invited me to visit their newly opened cafe in Johor Jaya, Ros Merah. I am very excited to tell you about their unique chendol cheesecake, Three Tea Mug and good coffee.

Kheng Guan Hiong Coffee @ Pontian. Love it or Not, there's No Other Like it 瓊源香

After a lifetime of coffee from Robusta, Liberica to Arabica in Singapore, Malaysia and beyond... the coffee that is most memorable for me is at Kheng Guan Hiong 瓊源香 in Pontian, Johor. The second is a Vietnamese coffee in Los Angeles 30 years ago, but that is a story for another post.

Barn 81 Cafe Taman Melodies JB. Tasty Savouries, Great Desserts, Good Coffee

Daniel invited me to visit his Barn 81 Cafe in Taman Melodies in Johor Bahru. I enjoyed the food, desserts and coffee here.

People & Places Cafe. Johor's Newest Check-in Hotspot

Popped by People & Places Cafe just now - because it's Johor Bahru's newest check-in hotspot 😄

Vanilla Bean Coffee & Patisserie. Senibong Cove. Johor Bahru JB

Corinne proposed that we meet at Vanilla Bean Coffee & Patisserie for the first stop of our cafe hop day in JB 😄

2017 All the Hip Cafes near City Square Johor Bahru JB Checkpoint

Friends want me to take them cafe hopping in Johor Bahru 😃 Drink latte instead of kopi C kosong 😂

It's no longer news - once sleepy, old downtown JB is energized - came alive as hipster cafe central in Johor.

The Toast at Permas Jaya Johor Bahru JB 土司坊

There is a place in Johor Bahru where I like to hang out - take a break where the food and drinks are nice, prices are more than reasonable, the ambiance is pleasant and the service is earnest, even if the staff are mostly new.

Tai Chiang Coffee Shop Saleng near Kulai and Senai Johor 沙令大眾茶餐廳

You want to step back in time to 1950s/60s Johor, sip thick black bitter sweet coffee and eat kaya toasts like a local? If you are shopping at Johor Premium Outlet in Kulaijaya or trekking at Gunung Pulai, I suggest you swing by Tai Chiang Coffee Shop 大眾茶餐廳 in Saleng between Kulai and Senai.

EH HE Gallery | Ink Brew Cafe by JWC 墨跡手沖館 in Johor Bahru JK1124

Uncle Martin was very excited to show us Eh HE, his new discovery in JB old town, 10 minutes walk from the JB CIQ. EH HE is a brand new cafe sporting the theme of old JB cultural history.

In all honesty, I just tagged along with Uncle Martin with no great expectations of new cafes as they try to outdo each other with more of the same old creative decor - "same old creative", is an oxymoron I know.

But, a visit to EH HE changed my mind. It is still possible to have interesting concept cafes in an industry which once gave me the impression that it was already saturated and squeezed dry of ideas.



This is the entrance to EH HE at the historic Jalan Tan Hiok Nee side. EH HE is just beside Hiap Joo 协裕 Bakery and right opposite Kin Wah 锦华餐室 kopitiam.

EH HE is made up of 7 (seven) pre-War shop lots, so it's a huge space.

The quaint name EH HE is derived from the phrase EartH HEart. The word art is highlighted by it's absence (yeah, that's a bit beyond my old wooden head ;-p ).



Two large papier-mâché figures stood at the entrance from the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee side. As I gingerly skirted around the delicate looking figures while being led up the stairs by Uncle Martin, the first thought that came to my mind was "This is a cafe?".



Stepping into the first space upstairs, and greeted by these ancient China opera costumes in loud colours, a specialty coffee cafe was the furthest thing from my mind.

This is EH HE's Classic Accents Art House.



The Classic Accents Art House is a space for showcasing Chinese heritage artifacts. Many of the artifacts are on loan from other galleries in Malaysia and regularly rotated, so that there are always new old artifacts to behold at EH HE's Classic Accents Art House.

The theme during our visit was Chinese operatic arts.



Pauline, one of the artist-owner of EH HE sharing with us the fascinating stories behind Classic Accents Art House and the artifacts.

We next stepped into the large adjacent room (from the Art House).



The space is very bright as the roof is elevated to allow natural light to flood the interior. As much as possible, the original red brick walls of the heritage building are preserved, giving the space a rustic charm.



This is a very comfortable, open space to chill out with friends.



Pauline was full of passion and enthusiasm as she explained the inspirations behind EH HE Gallery | Ink Brew Cafe.



In yet another room upstairs, there is a giant fantasy mural on the wall of a little long haired girl in a red dress, giant ducks, ducklings, whales and forests.



Pauline, the artist who created this mural which she named "Temptation" explains the inspirations behind her hand drawn masterpiece which took 2 weeks to complete.



We can also chill in this comfortable fantasy room.



Next, we stepped down these steep ancient stairs with creaky old wooden floor boards and hand railing.



The space at the bottom of the stairs is in sharp contrast with the spaces upstairs. Ink Brew is a contemporary hipster cafe by Just Want Coffee (JWC), one of the leading coffee roasters and brewers in Johor Bahru.

Even the music here switched from Chinese opera upstairs to easy listening Spanish pop music down here at Ink Brew.

This reflects the modern youth in Johor Bahru who are comfortable with their heritage and are open to the modern world at the same time - switching comfortably, effortlessly, almost unconsciously between the two different Worlds.

This trait is an asset in our very small global village.

Ink Brew serves the full range of specialty coffees from espresso, syphon to hand brews. The food and beverages at Ink Brew are specially created by JWC as tributes honouring the rich heritage of old Johor Bahru.



Barista Windy is a picture of concentration and focus.

The food and coffee are generally good as one would expect from Just One Coffee (JWC).



Garden Pizza RM15.90+. A thin pizza crust topped with fresh greens and dressed with tofu sauce.



The Forest Waffle RM16.50+. Savoury waffle, not really appealing to my taste buds.



Balloon Waffle RM17.90+. Waffle with traditional ice cream topping was more to my taste ;-D



Tan Hiok Nee Coffee 陈旭年咖啡 RM16.80+.

This coffee commemorates Tan Hiok Nee 陳旭年, the Major China of Johor in the 1870s. There is a ritual to drinking this coffee to appreciate it's meaning which the friendly staff will gladly explain to you ;-D

When you drink the coffee you would first taste a blend of citrusy bitterness, then tartness from the caramelised orange before sweetness from the icing sugar. This taste profile represents 苦尽甘来, a Chinese saying that when one swallows bitterness to the end, one will be rewarded with sweetness. This represents the spirit of the ancestors of Johor Bahru in building the city.



Irish Coffee RM26+



Chingay Coffee 游神 - 五帮共和 RM16.50+. 

The idea behind this coffee is interesting. It is a blend of 5 Arabica beans representing the 5 Chinese clans (Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka, Hainanese and Cantonese) at the annual Chingay in Johor Bahru. I must admit that my tongue is not well tuned enough to discern the five beans. Still the cold brew is likable and the idea of celebrating the harmony among the five, once warring Chinese clans has already won me over.



View of EH HE | Ink Brew Cafe from along Jalan Ibrahim.

I am touched by the sincerity of Classic Accents Art House and Just Want Coffee towards preserving and showcasing the Chinese heritage of Johor Bahru.

Now we have one more nice, comfortable place to cool our heels as we explore the dusty JB old town on foot. Actually, I can stay here happily the whole day ;-D

Restaurant name: EH HE Gallery | Ink Brew by JWC Cafe 墨跡手沖館
Address: No. 1, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru 80000, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Junction of Jalan Trus and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee (just beside Hiap Joo Bakery)
Map: http://bit.ly/EHHEGallery
GPS: 1.456477, 103.764608
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm daily

Non Halal

Date visited: 5 May 2015

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Pan Swee Cafe in Medan Selera Maharani, Muar 方水茶室

Bloggie friend Tiffany's aunt brought us to Pan Swee Cafe in Medan Selera Maharani in Muar 方水茶室 for her favourite, must have morning coffee.



Medan Selera Maharani is a typical small town food centre and market place. Lots of people, laid back, relaxed, warm and friendly. 

Video credit: Yuki

People gather here for the good food and coffee. The friendly gentleman on the right said that "if you did not come here to drink coffee, you have not been to Muar".

At Medan Selera Maharani, it's Pan Swee Cafe's Nanyang kopi (Malaysia/ Singapore style old school coffee which is made with by roasting locally grown Robusta beans, corn, sugar and margarine). 

Corn is used as a cheap filler, sugar to mask the bitterness of Robusta and margarine to smooth out the harshness of the beans. Nanyang kopi is a comforting beverage from leaner and harder times which we still love today. 



The old kopi sock way of making coffee may seem simple but control of temperature, flow of hot water, and timing makes a lot of difference between cups of coffee.



See how thick that black coffee was when it passed through that sock?

Lim kopi (drinking coffee) is a very communal kind of activity and it doesn't have to be all coffee.



On this tray there is kopi O (coffee with sugar), kopi O kaw (coffee with less water), kopi C kosong (coffee with evaporated milk and no sugar), and Milo sio (hot Milo).



My kopi C kosong. My usual order of Nanyang style kopi.

I am more into specialty coffee nowadays, but ahhh...... a good Nanyang coffee is still sooo....... heartwarming and satisfying.

Pan Swee's kopi C kosong is round bodied, has a carmelly aroma, slightly savoury, it's bitterness smoothed and sweetened by the milk.



Yuki savouring her kopi O. Yuki is a kopi addict fan who must have her cuppa to start her day.

Is Pan Swee's kopi good enough for Yuki?



I think so. 

She couldn't have enough of it, so she bought 1 kilo of ground coffee to drink at home.



Pan Swee Cafe 方水茶室 in Medan Selera Maharani, an old food centre and market in Muar.



Medan Selera Maharani is just across the road from Streetview Hotel along Jalan Ali.

Thank you Tiffany and family for your gracious hospitality.

Restaurant name: Pan Swee Cafe (inside Medan Selera Maharani)
Address: Jalan Ali, Muar Town, Johor (across the road from Streetview Hotel)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/JqNe4
GPS: 2.047066,102.569510
Hours: Breakfast
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

Date visited: 24 Aug 2014

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Grazia Cafe in Johor Bahru, Taman Sutera Utama

Grazia Cafe is a quaint little eatery tucked in a corner of Taman Sutera Utama near Sutera Mall.



Every nook and corner of Grazia Cafe bears the imprint of Kellie, the youthful owner.



Kellie wanted to a create a relaxing, unpretentious space for her customers where everyone would feel at home.

The furnishings in Grazia Cafe are eclectic, a mishmash of odds and ends. This is partly because Kellie is a lady of many interests and also because many of the items in Grazia were bought secondhand.

Kellie dreamt of owning her own cafe and started Grazia three years ago on a shoestring budget. So, many of the furnishings were pre-used and adopted from other places. Re-use, recycle and re-purpose are also Earth friendly ideas which Kellie brought home from her travels.

Kellie is a coffee enthusiast, and hence there is also an espresso bar in Grazia Cafe.

As Kellie is an avid traveller who had been to many Asian and European countries, Grazia is decorated with many of Kellie's travel memorabilia.

Kellie loves to mail postcards to her family and friends from the place she is travelling. So she welcomes customers to buy and mail postcards from Grazia Cafe. Just hand your written postcard to the staff, and s/he will stamp and mail it for you.

Grazia serves a wide range of cafe fare such as pizzas and pastas, all with a local twist. Kellie's younger brother who had worked in a Singapore hotel before, helms the kitchen at Grazia. 



The homemade cream of mushroom soup RM7.90. 

Savoury and mushroomy, the soup was likable flavour wise but was blended a bit too finely for my liking. In Johor, the public generally prefers finely blended mushroom soup.



Bacon and Ham Pizza RM18.90.

A thin crispy crust topped with fried bacon, turkey ham slices, chopped capsicum and shiitake mushroom, and melted cheese.  



Omelette with bacon, chicken sausage, potato wedges, and baked beans.



Simple omelette with chopped ham, this was one of most beautifully executed omelette that I have ever eaten. The eggy plump yellow torpedo had a pillowy bounce and moist texture with bits of soft savoury ham.



Egg lovers must try this omelette.



Bacon Aglio Olio RM13.90.

Spaghetti with shiitake mushroom, bacon, cheese, garlic and chili. The smooth syrupy sauce was aromatic and savoury. The pasta was cooked till slightly softer than al dente in deference to local taste buds.















Smoked Duck Aglio Olio RM16.90.

Same spaghetti with savoury smoked duck breast slices, shiitake mushroom, garlic and chili.



Brownie with ice cream RM8.90.

Generic vanilla ice cream but the warm homemade brownie was chocolaty rich, syrupy moist and buttery sweet.

Perfect with coffee.



Cappuccino RM7.90.

Brewed from a blend of Brazilian and Sumatran Arabica, the medium bodied cappuccino was gently savoury with mellow caramelly sweet notes and aroma, and citrusy aftertaste.

Nice coffee!



My coffee kaki Corrine's Americano (RM6.50) on the way. Tasted smokey and piquant.



An iced coffee we tried which was not on the menu yet :P Watch out for it :D



Grazia Cafe also serves warm blended fresh milk which are popular with customers.



A casual, cosy, family friendly chill out place with nice food and good coffee at reasonable prices.

Thank you Kellie for the invite.

Restaurant name: Grazia Cafe
Address: 80, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/JsNUQ
GPS: 1.515212,103.668891
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm
Tel: +60 7-559 6428
Non Halal

Date visited: 1 Sep 2014

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