The best bars and cafés Malaysia

If the centre of Kuala Lumpur lacks a certain charm, at nightfall, admiring its illuminated skyscrapers is a pure delight. The Traders Hotel has installed a bar on the top of its floors that offers a breathtaking view of the Petronas towers, located just across the street. We like the large bay windows separated by concrete partitions and in which large red benches slide in or laze around while sipping a cocktail. At your feet, the hotel's long swimming pool, fortunately closed to swimming in the evening.

Popular with backpackers staying in Chinatown, this darkly atmospheric bar is always busy. Brick walls, subdued colored lights, a long bar and wooden tables and chairs, it's more like a speakeasy in the suburbs of Boston than a straw hut in Kingston. The owners make up for this by playing King Bob Marley and his disciples. On weekends, the bar comes alive with live concerts. You'll bump into a lot of travelers on the road. Perfect if you're looking for good deals and last-minute information.

An authentic Chinese bar in the evening that serves beer at a reasonable rate.

Shophouse of the th century beautifully converted into a cosy bar with all the brown wood. It is nice to have a beer or a glass of wine in a warm atmosphere. There is also a good Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy sushi, sashimis and bentos. The terrace is particularly valuable in the evening when the outside temperature becomes more bearable.

A reggae atmosphere, with a jukeboxes that rolls the Bob Marley tubes. Many people in the evening.

A relatively neutral but air-conditioned cafe, offering good pastries. It also makes Internet coffee.

It's one of the center's few haunts for young people and expats looking for a festive evening out. This lively bar, with its funky decor, is the ideal place to relax and meet new people. The drinks menu offers a wide selection of creative cocktails, international beers and quality spirits. Themed evenings, live concerts and DJ sets are regularly organized. The tree-lined terrace in the adjacent alleyway, with its lanterns, is very pleasant at dusk.

Here's a little café ideally located on pretty Jalan Padungan, frequented by Kuching's youth. It's a great place to share a coffee, but also for breakfast or lunch in the local style - the menu isn't long, but the classics have been mastered. The decor is uncluttered and cosy, the staff young and friendly, and the value for money unquestionably good. We recommend their delicious nasi lemak. And for those with a sweet tooth, try the gula apong palm sugar ice cream, a Sarawak specialty.

This bar-restaurant, popular with locals and tourists alike, is a great place to enjoy a drink in a festive atmosphere. Those who prefer a quiet chat can sit out on the terrace. In the evenings, local bands play live music. The line-up tends to be rock, with covers of international classics mixed in with personal compositions for the more creative. Large selection of draught beers. On the other hand, it's best to skip the food menu.

In an alleyway away from the hustle and bustle hides this modest but adorable establishment. In addition to good coffee and a variety of drinks, you can enjoy hearty, inexpensive dishes, with both Malaysian (chicken is their forte) and Western options (pasta, sandwiches, cakes). With its cosy decor, books and toys, the second floor will delight those looking for a peaceful place to linger for a while. A touching sincerity emanates from this place and its friendly owner. You'll feel right at home here, and won't hesitate to bring your children.

"Le coin des paresseux" sets the tone right from the start. Here, it's good to rest, relax, unwind, bask... in short, to pass the time with a drink. The beautifully laid-out terrace on the edge of Malacca is just the place. Low tables surrounded by rattan seats are set at the foot of the blind gable of a house. Green plants and potted flowers fill the space. A choice of bottled beers, cider, sodas and fruit juices to accompany snacks. There's also a clothing boutique.

Right in the center of town, as its name suggests, this establishment is the headquarters for locals, expatriates and tourists passing through. Open to the street, people drop in for a drink or dinner in a lively, festive atmosphere. The menu features a multitude of colorful cocktails, beers, shots and Mexican-inspired vegetarian dishes. There's nothing like nibbling on mini-tacos to soak up the alcohol, consumed in moderation. The warm setting is made of old wooden planks and bright colors.

This charming tearoom is ideal for breakfast or a sweet break during the day. Everything is homemade with great skill. The eyes don't know where to turn, so tempting is each delicacy. sweet "Burger" wrapped in whipped cream, French toast served with blueberries and strawberries, hot chocolate cookie with melting ice cream... The savory menu is just as appetizing. The dishes are simple and skilfully executed, like this crispy roast chicken. We recommend the organic bread, and sweet cakes like Nutella crunch.

If you're itching for a drink to extend your evening, Ming Cafe is the place for you. We love the atmosphere provided by locals and expatriates alike. If there's still room, take a seat on the covered terrace, around one of the beautiful solid wood picnic tables. The waiter will take your order. You can choose from shots, cocktails, draught beer, wine by the glass or a selection of Australian beers. And if you're feeling peckish, the café will satisfy your hunger with a variety of dishes.

In Kota Kinabalu's growing scene of trendy cafés, Woo! has its place. A large, bright room with checkerboard tiling and a pretty veranda overlooking the jungle set the scene. Here, you can enjoy good coffees and some of the best desserts and cakes in town. Special mention goes to the chocolate mousse tart or the salted caramel tart. For late risers, breakfast is served all day long. The restaurant also prepares savory dishes, all very appetizing and a welcome change from Chinese or Malaysian specialties.

There's nothing unforgettable about the Ipoh skyline; the mix of cold modern buildings and small Chinese or colonial houses is unlikely to be a lasting memory of your stay. On the other hand, The Deck, a bar on the ^13th floor of the Hotel Weil, offers an unobstructed view stretching as far as the mountains surrounding Ipoh. The pleasant setting, with its play of mirrors, long red banquettes and waxed herringbone parquet flooring, invites you to take your time. You can also relax by the pool on the terrace.

This is a café, bar and patisserie serving high-quality cakes, ice creams and drinks. Coffee lovers won't be disappointed, and it's also a great place to try matcha tea in all its forms. We love the design decor, with its light, modern, uncluttered lines that are refreshing to look at, as much as the small garden. A haven of peace for gourmands! At weekends, the restaurant opens in the evening, offering surprising and original cocktails. A veritable laboratory of flavors.

If reggae isn't in your musical pantheon, you'd better skip it. The baffles play a well-sounding bass to the swaying music of Jamaica. Bob Marley plays his classics every night, in the company of other Rastafarians such as Jimmy Cliff and Black Uhuru. The Jamaican star adorns the walls with giant posters. A small dance floor has been set up for fans to enjoy. And if your outfit isn't up to scratch, you can also buy a beanie, scarf or "Rasta style" clothing.

Pantai Cenang's most pleasant setting, day and night. Yellow is the color of the day, from the walls to the chairs and even the hammocks. The café has 3 different atmospheres: the restaurant with its dark wooden room, the bar with its big comfortable sofas and the beach café, with its feet in the sand and its big pear cushions. The beach is packed at sunset, especially as it'shappy hour, when you get two beers for the price of one. Good menu of Western dishes and snacks served non-stop.

Like all Bukit Bintang bars, it's also possible to dine here. But we prefer to come here for a glass of wine or a cold beer, accompanied by a few well-crafted tapas, as in Spain. This address is one of the city center's great classics, and it's sometimes hard to find a table here on weekend evenings. The atmosphere is lively and the waiters will greet you with an ola. Beware, the long list of tempting tapas, from jamon to patatas bravas, can quickly run up the bill.