Top 7 Digital Nomad Cafes in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Big & Small spent a month in Malaysia’s gleaming, bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur. Our intention here was not only to take in the city’s spicy food and melting-pot culture, but to be true “digital nomads,” i.e. save money and focus on our online work.

Before arriving, we’d heard a lot of bad reviews about internet in Malaysia.

But we personally never experienced a problem. Most places are well-connected (even the many malls), and for extra coverage, it’s cheap and easy to get a local SIM card right when you land (we went with Maxis, and the whole transaction took under five minutes).

We booked an AirBnB in the outskirts of the city, and while the location wasn’t too terribly ideal, the apartment was. The space was clean, comfortable, and spacious, and it had fast internet, a large (often empty) pool, a yoga deck, a small gym, and a stunning rooftop view.

Still, we often felt the need to escape such luxury living quarters to refresh and refuel.

Fortunately, Kuala Lumpur is teeming with cafes perfectly primed for the digital nomad. Here are our reviews of 7 cafes located in Bukit Bintang, Chinatown, and Bangsar.

1. Aku Café & Gallery – No. 8, 1st Floor, Jalan Panggong 

Multi-Tasking: Big gets some work down AND enjoys the Hainan Toast and other goodies at Aku!

Situated in Chinatown, just around the corner from the the chaotic Petaling Street, Aku is a quiet, charming respite with some refreshing quirk and character. Cutesy traditional music plays in the background, a bookshelf and reading area sit in one cozy alcove, and funky art lines the walls. This was our personal favorite café, for the intimate feel, the attentive staff (who even tested out a new dessert on us—see our 7 Reasons to Visit Kuala Lumpur video to see more!), and the fine food.

We had no problems with the internet connection, but the seating can be tricky and not the most comfortable if crowded—which it rarely was. They only do pour-over coffee (we personally prefer Italian-style), but the tea selection is fairly extensive. We loved the food, particularly the Turmeric Chicken with Rice and the Hainan Toast (a decadent toast with butter and kaya—a coconut jam that Small became obsessed with!), and it was all reasonably priced.

Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-8pm, Closed Mondays
Pros: Cute, Intimate, Fantastic Food, Good Internet, Great Staff
Cons: Only Pour-Over Coffee, Uncomfortable Seating
Must-Get: Hainan Toast

2. VCR – 2, Jalan Galloway

Located on a quiet street just outside the party center of Bukit Bintang, this spacious spot is at the top of many digital nomad lists for good reason. (Note: There’s another smaller location in Bangsar, but we preferred this one.) Given the name, we were expecting to see some rad ’80s décor, but VCR is very much a sleek, modern café with just a touch of wicker.

You’ll see plenty of laptops in the upstairs section, which includes separate tables surrounding a large communal one. It serves well as a space for meeting others, but we found it just as good for a productive few hours online.

You’ll want to get your caffeine fix here, as their big draw is their artisanal espresso and coffee drinks. The food menu is just as impressive with a selection that I can best describe as global fusion comfort food. The VCR Big Breakfast is a popular plate, while vegetarians will want to go straight for the Avocado Toast or House Salad. The prices here are significantly higher than your average Malaysian eatery—expect to pay roughly $10 (USD) on average for food and drink.

Hours: Everyday 8:30am-11pm
Pros: Comfortable Seating, Good Internet, Digital Nomad Hotspot, Good for Meeting Friends, Great Food Selection, High-Quality Coffee
Cons: Expensive, More Social (Can Get Loud)
Must-Get: Cappuccino, VCR Big Breakfast

3. Tea Press in Bangsar – Jalan Telawi 2

Big’s got the place to himself!

In hip Bangsar, we happened across this serene tea spot that offers premium Japanese tea and a quiet, comfortable space to get some quality work done. The tea sommeliers will help you pick the perfect tea for your tastes and then carefully prepare your drink in the traditional Japanese manner. Come at the right time and you’ll get complementary Japanese treats like Daifuku Strawberry and Mochi.

From our experience, the staff was lovely—helpful and attentive—and the space was never crowded. While it’s not intended to be a pure digital nomad spot, the Zen-like ambiance works well for keeping your focus. It’s a good place to work for an hour or two.

If you’ve worked up a hunger, you can pick from a small food selection. There’s a little Japanese, of course (the curry rice), alongside pasta dishes and quiche. It seemed like a strange combination with the tea, so we didn’t try the food, though the small mochi treats are a must.

Hours: Tues-Sun 8am-10pm, Closed Mondays
Pros: Serene Space, Good Internet, Superb Tea, Great Staff, High-Tech Bathroom!
Cons: Small Food Selection
Must-Get: Green Tea, Daifuku Strawberry

4. LOKL Coffee Co. – 30 Jalan Tun H.S. Lee

Like VCR, LOKL attracts a younger scene– it’s attached to a hostel, after all. This means a slightly louder, more social vibe, but you’ll still see plenty of keyboard-tapping among the crowd. It’s a bit outside of the more touristy areas, but easily accessible from the city center.

The design here is fresh, open, and modern. However, the tables are small and the overall space a little cramped. For us, LOKL didn’t provide the most comfortable working conditions.

That said, the staff were helpful and friendly and we found it to be a good spot to meet fellow travelers. Also like VCR, you’ll find a creative fusion-style menu with Western classics like Chicken and Waffles and modern Asian dishes like the Balinese Chicken Bowl. The espresso-based drinks are on point, but if you’re feeling adventurous, ask for the local “Kopi O” black coffee (just maybe skip the added sugar).

Hours: Everyday 8am-6pm
Pros: Great Food and Coffee Selection
Cons: Can Get Crowded, Cramped Seating, Pricey, Early Closing Hours
Must-Get: Espresso, Breakfast Salad

5. OJO Café in Bangsar – No. 23, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru

Photo Credit: OJO Cafe

Also in Bangsar, OJO boasts a warm, wooden space and a lengthy selection of specialty coffee and tea-based drinks. The vibe here can be more eat, drink, and chat then eat, drink, and laptop, but the internet is reliable and you’ll find plenty of power sockets to keep your devices juiced.

Overall, the space is fairly accommodating, especially during less-busy periods. If you’re a night-owl worker, this could be a good choice, as it’s open until midnight most nights (and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays).

Along with single-origin coffees and signature lattes, OJO offers some great food options no matter your diet. Choose from inventive salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, waffles, and baked goods. We dug the Superfood Salad, Croque Madame with Roast Beef, Lebanese Pizza, and artisanal chocolate.

Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-12am, Fri 9am-1am, Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-12am
Pros: Great Food Selection, Plenty of Seating, Late Hours
Cons: Can Be Loud at Certain Times
Must-Get: Single-Origin Coffee, Lebanese Pizza

5. Feeka Coffee Roasters – 19, Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang

Just a few minutes’ walk from the buzzing Bukit Bintang center, Feeka offers a quieter refuge for laptop-lugging nomads. This was the first café we visited in the KL, but our least favorite as a dedicated work spot. For us, the internet was spotty (lots of people streaming videos seemed to slow things down severely), and the overall seating felt a bit cramped.

However, like many of the city’s cafes, the food on offer is a fun fusion of heartwarming Western favorites, like the Lemon & Ricotta Pancakes and the Duck Confit Pasta, and the specialty, single-origin coffee drinks are made with care. The prices here run about the same as VCR and LOKL, so expect to pay quite a bit more than the average KL café.

Hours: Everyday 8am-11pm
Pros: Great Food and Coffee Selection, Good Location, Late Hours
Cons: Spotty Internet, Can Get Crowded, Cramped Seating, Pricey
Must-Get: Seasonal Cold Brew, French Toast w/ Matcha Custard

7. Illy Caffe at Petronas Towers

If you happen to be visiting the Petronas Towers with laptop in hand, head on in to the attached shopping mall (the Suria KLCC) and make your way to the Italian espresso giant Illy Caffe.

Because of its location and its name, don’t expect a great deal, but do expect some good standard Italian-style coffee. We recommend skipping the overpriced food, though. It may be tough to find seating, but if you do, you’ll find the internet works surprisingly well for a cafe situated in the center of a busy mall.

Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm
Pros: Good Coffee Selection, Great Location, Late Hours
Cons: Expensive, Crowded, Mall Traffic
Must-Get: Espresso

A Journey Through Vietnam’s True Food Capital: Hue

Big & Small are excited to introduce Jazlyn Trent, a dear friend and our first guest writer! Below she gives her mouthwatering account of the food of Hue, an historical city that she believes is Vietnam’s True Food Capital. See more from Vietnam on our YouTube.

The Best Food in Hue

The Imperial City

There is something almost therapeutic about eating hot noodle soup in 100-degree (F) weather at 90% humidity. Maybe it’s because as soon as that steaming bowl is placed in front of you, all vanity vanishes as your senses immediately take over. Your nose starts running like mad; beads of salty sweat drip out from every crevice, matting your hair and soaking your shirt. But none of this matters when that soup hits the tongue. If you’ve never experienced this sort of indulgence, you’ve probably never been to Vietnam, and definitely not to the city of Hue.

The food of Vietnam varies drastically throughout the country. What you eat in the South is significantly different than what you will eat in the North. Every region has its own signature flavors, dishes, and customs. Even cities within the same region have their own particular tastes and specialties. Central Vietnam is a perfect example of this. Three of its most visited cites — Danang, Hoi An, and Hue — are easy day trips from one another, yet they are widely different when it comes to food.

[Follow Big & Small as they visit Hoi An’s Central Market and take a Vietnamese cooking class HERE!]

How Hue Became Vietnam’s True Food Capital

Many have declared Hoi An to be Vietnam’s food capital, but I found that Hue offered a far more exciting and incredibly diverse cuisine. Notorious picky eater Emperor Tu Duc (who was seemingly not as picky with his wives — he had at least 104 of ’em) was rumored to have refused to eat the same meal twice for at least a year. Because of this, Hue’s food culture became strongly influenced by a wide array of flavors from around Asia, just to please the emperor. Today, we have the pleasure of enjoying the fruits of his fussiness.

Meridian Gate of the Imperial City

Tourists most often come to Hue to see its Imperial City, where they can catch a rare look at an empire long gone. The citadel dates back to 1362 and took over 200 years to complete. It has amazingly stayed relatively intact through the centuries. Hue was the capital of the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. The city has historically found itself caught up in wars for little reason other than its central location. Two Indochina wars and the Vietnam/American war have severely slowed down the city’s development. In fact, Hue is still recovering from the war in the ’60s and ’70s, when it was essentially leveled from bombing and napalm. The rubble is still being cleaned up from both domestic and foreign armies.

While the landscape has significantly been altered, the food has (thankfully) stayed the same. It’s something the city is proud of. Hue’s incredibly friendly locals want to show you the right way to eat their food so that you get maximum satisfaction with every bite. There isn’t one dish that defines Hue’s food culture, but there are plenty you must try, including Bun Bo (beef noodle soup), Banh Beo (a type of rice pancake), Com Hen (clam rice), Bahn Loc Goi (tapioca dumplings), and Bun Thit Nuong (vermicelli noodles with grilled pork).

Bun Thit Nuong

Banh Beo

Love at First Sweat: Bun Bo Hue

In Hue, I found a lot of meals worth sweating it out for. Upon arrival, my first meal, Bun Bo Hue (pictured below), lived up to its mighty reputation. Unless you’re vegetarian (and don’t worry, Hue’s got you covered there; just keep reading), you can’t come to this city — this country — and not try this dish. Like most Vietnamese dishes, Bun Bo Hue is rather simple on paper, but has myriad variations. The basic soup includes chunks of pork, beef, pig’s foot, and white rice noodles. How the rest is assembled depends on the cook, but every Bun Bo must have one thing: a hell of a kick to it. It must be spicy, otherwise it’s not the real deal. The combination of red pepper flakes and lemongrass are essential and complement the meat and noodles perfectly. I knew this going in; I was fully prepared. And as soon as my bowl was presented before me, I completely forgot what I was doing. I dug in and plowed through that soup so fast I forgot to take a picture of it until I was halfway through.

Bun Bo Hue

Always Eat As The Locals Eat

While my first meal in Hue was memorable, my last left the biggest impression. I had a mid-afternoon flight that day and didn’t plan on doing much beforehand. Since the temperature was already reaching 90, I didn’t want to venture too far from my hostel. Fortunately, I was close to Lien Hoa, a popular vegetarian restaurant. The place was quite large and spread out, but completely packed. I wasn’t sure where the front door exactly was, so after wandering around, a waiter led me to the middle of a long table full of workers, monks, and other locals.

I pointed to the menu at something that looked like vermicelli, a dish I was quite familiar with. He simply shook his head “no.” I laughed before realizing he was being totally serious. He nodded his head toward the rest of the table: nearly everyone was eating the exact same meal. I couldn’t tell what it was, but I got the message; this is what you eat here, so how could I possibly refuse? I hadn’t yet been steered wrong by the locals’ suggestions.

Now, I’ll be honest, I’m still not totally sure what I was eating, but sometimes you can’t explain greatness. I can tell you that the dish (pictured below) consisted of white rice and an assortment of vegetables topped with a type of fried tofu that had been marinated in an incredible sauce that made me nearly weak in the knees. Seriously, I was half-considering breaking into the kitchen and demanding the recipe just for that sauce.

The Must-Have Dish at Lien Hoa

Like every other meal I had in Hue, this one offered an assortment of flavors that were both familiar and totally unique to anything I had ever eaten before. A piece of cooked and sweetly seasoned tofu sat atop a hefty amount of soft white rice and steamed bamboo. Several dishes holding ingredients like red peppers, seaweed, tofu, and fish sauce were placed on the side. I added a bit of everything and dug in.

I only got two bites in before the waiter came back and once again shook his head “no.” This time he was pointing at my chopsticks. He pulled out a spoon and handed it to me. I had worked so hard on my chopstick skills, so I was ready to prove that I could handle this. But, alas, it wasn’t the way to experience this meal. The lady in front of me smiled in amusement. I smiled in embarrassment and retired the chopsticks.

With that, my trip to Hue ended as it very much began: with profuse sweating, runny nose, and no care in the world — this intense blend of flavors had completely taken over all of my senses and my sense of rational thought.

A Taste of Hue

I think it’s impossible to pick out one city in Vietnam that is representative of the whole country. Like the food, every region has its own unique history. The South is heavily influenced by modern Western culture; the North remains more traditional and conservative; and the central region, especially Hue, falls somewhere in between.

The citizens of Hue have seen some of the most tragic parts of Vietnam’s history, including war, colonialism, and economic hardship, yet they still stand steadfastly proud. They’ve adapted as needed, but never sacrificed their culture. They are Vietnamese through and through. Leaders both native and foreign could never take that away. I thought about this every time I had the pleasure of eating a meal in Hue. I was enjoying centuries-old recipes that were being recreated and served by people who took pride in their traditions — and were always happy to share them.

Hoi An, Vietnam: Travel Tips

Watch our travel tips video above on Hoi An for more detailed and colorful explanations.

The historic town of Hoi An may just be the most charming city in Asia. Located in central Vietnam, just south of the country’s third largest city Danang, Hoi An is a growing tourist destination. The Ancient Town is a UNESCO Heritage Site and it’s a stunning place in which various cultures collide—see lasting remnants of the strong Chinese history and influence, the Japanese Bridge and merchant houses, and French colonial architecture. And don’t forget the incredible Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a wonderful destination to eat, relax, and soak up traditional Vietnamese culture. If you’re planning to visit, here are 7 quick tips to enjoy Hoi An to the fullest.

Coffee by the beach at Sound of Silence Coffee in the Hidden Beach area of Hoi An.

1. Skip An Bang Beach and Head South
An Bang Beach is the main beach of Hoi An, but it can be a bit of a tourist trap. But it’s easy to get away and find your own private patch of sand. Just head south along the beach. A good spot to stop is Sound of Silence Coffee, which specializes in espresso-based drinks (which aren’t easy to find here in Hoi An). If you order a drink, you have free access to a beachfront seat. Nothing is better than having a fresh cup of coffee with toes in sand and the sea as your backdrop. Check out Sound of Silence Coffee for the best beach experience.

2. Enjoy the Local Cuisine
The cuisine of central Vietnam is fresh and flavorful. Our personal Hoi An favorites are the Cao Lau (a noodle and pork dish) and Banh Xeo (a savory, crispy pancake that’s rolled in rice paper). There are also a few spots where you can order an egg coffee, a Hanoi specialty.

Take the time to bike through the vegetable village outside the ancient town of Hoi An.

3. Take Your Bicycle to the Fields
Escape the manic roads and take a bike ride through the tranquil rice paddies. Most hotels, villas, and homestays in the area offer free bikes to rent—definitely take advantage of this. It definitely takes some nerve to get on a bike in Hoi An, but once you reach the rice fields and Vegetable Village (Tra Que), you’ll find some serenity amongst the plants, cows, and water buffalo.

4. Visit the Hoi An Museum
The main museum in Hoi An is small, but has some interesting artifacts, especially from the Vietnamese/American war. Because of its location, Hoi An was somewhat neutral during this time, as it sits near the demarcation line between the north and south. Still, there was plenty of fighting going on in this region, and the chilling artifacts at this museum—including missiles recovered not long ago by the Vietnamese—remind you of the recent and dark history here in Vietnam.

5. Protect Your Valuables When Biking

Petty crime can be a problem in Hoi An. We have heard stories of cyclists being bumped into and robbed during all times of the day. If you’re carrying a bag, the best way to avoid any potential problems is to simply strap your bag around the bike’s handlebars. Keeping your bag attached to the bike makes it much more difficult for quick-handed scooterists to snatch your stuff.

The Vietnamese Hat known as Non La is together with Vietnamese dress, one of the most recognizable symbols of Vietnam.

6. Get Lost and Explore

Even within the busy Ancient Town, you can find plenty of small streets and quiet alleyways to sneak into and explore. Outside the main town, take your bike through the rice fields and around the quaint neighborhoods of Cam Thanh and Cua Dai.

7. Loosen Up with a Yoga Class at Nomad Yoga

Yoga can be hard to come by in this part of Vietnam, but Nomad Yoga offers a great selection of classes daily (except for Sundays) for all levels. The studio is in a beautiful setting, located just near the rice fields in Cam Ha. Classes on offer include Ashtanga, Hatha Vinyasa, Gentle Flow, and Yin Yoga. You can also take an early morning class right near An Bang Beach.