MANY MALAYSIAN CHEFS are looking inward to recipes and ideas that have shaped the culture over centuries—it’s those melting pot vibes. As for bars, KL dominates the favorites but Penang and even Kota Kinabalu get love. Here are the best restaurants and bars in Malaysia for 2023 as selected by our Tastemakers panel.
Edited by Elyza Khamil, Aishwarya Pant-Menon, Alisa Phibunsiri-D’Addario and Samai Singh
To learn about our voting panel, visit www.travelandleisureasia.com/global/tl-tastemakers/tastemakers-panel-2023
Malaysia’s 25 Best Restaurants
Aliyaa Kuala Lumpur
aliyaa.com
Au Jardin Penang
restaurant-aujardin.com
Beta KL Kuala Lumpur
betakl.com
Chipta 11A Selangor
chipta11a.carrd.co
Cho Cha Food Store Kuala Lumpur
chochafoodstore.com
Cili Kampung Langkawi
instagram.com/cilikampung_langkawi
Communal Table by Gen Penang
gencommunaltable.com
Dewakan Kuala Lumpur
dewakan.my
Fuego Kuala Lumpur
fuegodining.com
Joloko Kuala Lumpur
bar-joloko.com
Kayra Kerala Cuisine Kuala Lumpur
kayra.com.my
Leens Middle Eastern Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/leens.kl
Lubuk Bangku Cabin Cafe Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/lubukbangk
Nero Nero Kuala Lumpur
neronerokl.com
Palillos Yakitori Bar Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/palilloskl
Nadodi Kuala Lumpur
nadodikl.com
Natalina KL Kuala Lumpur
natalinakl.com
Olivia Deli Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/oliviadeli.bangsar
Pinchos Tapas Bar Kuala Lumpur
pinchoskl.com
Sambal Hijau Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/restoransambalhijau
Samudra @ Anjung Patin Ville Kuala Lumpur
samudrapatin.com
Sek Yuen Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/sekyuenrestaurant
Studio Kuala Lumpur
studiorestaurant.co
Village Park Restaurant Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/villageparkofficial
Yun House Kuala Lumpur
fourseasons.com
Malaysia’s 10 Best Bars
Archipelago Penang
facebook.com/archipelagogeorgetown
BAC Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/highbac.kl
Backdoor Bodega Penang
backdoorbodega.com
Bar Flips Kota Kinabalu
instagram.com/bar_flips
Bar Trigona Kuala Lumpur
fourseasons.com
Coley Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/coleylumpur
Jann Kuala Lumpur
jannkl.com
Jungle Bird Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/ junglebirdkl
Penrose Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/penrose.kl
Reka:Bar Kuala Lumpur
instagram.com/reka.bar
Of course these lists are not thorough or definitive—there are countless places worthy of your awed first-bites and appreciative slurps. But these 25 restaurants and 10 bars in each of eight destinations exemplify the revelatory dining and drinking experience that is Southeast Asia today, why everyone comes here to eat. Make your bookings first (or check when the stall is open), then plan everything else around that.
Lede and hero image by Getty Images Plus/iStock/Nikada.
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