Top Nine Cafes of 2022

Here are the Top Nine Cafes we visited in 2022.

Just like mushrooms after the rain, we were really surprised by how many new cafes have emerged after the pandemic this year.

Obviously, we were unable to visit all of them – but these are the ones that made an impression in terms of ambiance, food/drinks, and/or service.

Top Nine Cafes of 2022

To be clear, this Top Nine Cafes of 2022 list includes cafes that we discovered during the year (regardless of when they first opened for business). This list is not in any order of preference.

Also, check out our Top Nine Meals of 2022. Find our previous list – Favourite Cafes of 2021 here.

1. Petiteserie Bakery Café, Ara Damansara [Pork-free]

Sometime this year, we were on a mission to find the best French croissants in town.

Our quest ultimately led us to Petiteserie Bakery Cafe, which was recommended by our Instagram friends.

And truly, Petiteserie’s croissant is in our top three for best croissants we’ve had in the Klang Valley!

The Croissant au Beurre here is made from 100% Beurre d’isigny butter from Normandy, which gives it a beautiful buttery fragrance, with no bread improvers or additives added. The croissant hits the right notes by being sufficiently flaky (but not overly crunchy) with a moist and soft inside, and a sweet French butter fragrance.

We have been visiting this cafe regularly and enjoyed its Pain Au Chocolat, Valrhona Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Chip Banana Cake made with pisang raja. We’ve heard great things about the warm dishes from the kitchen but have yet to try them.

Read our post here.

2. Bray Bakery, KL [Pork-free]

Bray Bakery in Menara See Hoy Chan on Jalan Tun Razak is another favourite spot for amazing croissants.

We adore Bray’s Signature Croissant for its flaky layers, buttery fragrance, and softness in the middle. The croissant is buttery enough to eat on its own. We also enjoyed the Pain au Chocolat and the different sourdough toasts we ate here on our subsequent visits. Read our post here.

3. Kedai Coklat, SS2 [Pork-free]

Newly opened in June this year, Kedai Coklat in SS2 is run by the same folks behind Cocoraw Chocolate.

Cocoraw’s truffles are one of our favorites due to their natural decadence (no artificial additives) and spotlight on single-origin Malaysian chocolate.

Kedai Coklat is a natural extension of Cocoraw’s offerings as the shop continues to spotlight local single-origin chocolates in its pastries, confections, and drinks.

Our favourities here are the Chocolate Terrine, Flourless Chocolate Cake, and Banana Chocolate Bread. Read out post here.

4. CC by Mel, Bukit Jalil [Pork-free]

Located just next to Pavilion Bukit Jalil, CC by Mel offers Japanese fusion meals and desserts.

The signature Nori Tacos and Sandos are definitely the most intriguing items on their menu. CC Mel offers everything from Angus beef to tamago and unagi sandwiched between soft white bread or encased in a crispy fried seaweed shell.

We really enjoyed the Ebi Nori taco and Watermelon Cake during our visit here.

5. Transparent Coffee, Kampung Attap [Pork-free]

Nestled within the 80-year-old Sam Mansion Flat in Kampung Attap, Transparent Coffee is just a stone’s throw away from Zhongshan Building.

Besides the amazing coffee, what really surprised us are its unassuming desserts and snacks. During our visits, we really enjoyed the Lescure Rum Cream and Kaya Toast (coconut coffee jam in warm brioche). The lemonade here is very refreshing too. Check out our post here.

6. Patricia Coffee, North Kiara [Pork-free]

Many cafes in the Klang Valley are a-dime-a-dozen, with the food items on the menu usually an afterthought.

Besides its food and coffee, we were really charmed by Patricia Coffee with its hidden cozy nook in the Concerto North Kiara condominium, and desserts that are truly enjoyable. If you’re looking for a quiet place to catch up with friends, look no further. Read our post here.

7. Cream Coffee Stand, Jalan Raja Chulan [Pork-free]

Cream Coffee Stand is one of our favourite cafes because this is where Max gets his daily caffeine fix whenever he’s in the office.

Besides the excellent coffee brewed by the friendly barista trio of Yuen, Resha, and Mason – Max also enjoys the Ham and Cheese Croissant here.

Again, this entry comes as no surprise as The Roast Things / Cream is our regular spot to get our coffee beans, and Neutrals TTDI (another offshoot of TRT) also featured in our Favourite Cafe list last year.

8. Vintage Kissa, Kota Damansara [Pork-free]

Located in Kota Damansara, Vintage Kissa Cafe is run by a couple who are passionate about coffee and vintage hi-fi audio collection. There’s no hype attached to this place, as the cafe just offers a nice cozy spot for coffee and light snacks, with classical jazz music in the background.

We enjoyed the Americano, Rose Tea, and Croffles here. Check out our post here.

9. Third Mile Cafe, Rivercity [Pork-free]

Coffee, pastries, and cakes aside, what set Third Mile Cafe apart is its warm food offerings.

The Beef Deluxe Burger really surprised us: beef burger patty that’s unbelievably juicy as it is cooked as a katsu, topped with crispy onion and honey mustard truffle aioli in between soft brioche buns. Read our post here (which needs an update for the Beef Deluxe Burger).