A meal is never complete without dessert – even if you have to trek to another neighborhood just to get your fix. These cafes in KL know all too well our cravings, and they’re more than happy to boost you up on a sugar high with their array of treats, from cakes and tarts to waffles and brownies to ice cream and pastries.
If you’ve already scoured through KL’s brunch scene, found your way across the best dim sum spots, and sipped on all the classy cocktails at hip bars, saccharine treats should be next on your list.
So browse through our rundown of the city’s top dessert joints. ‘Cause sweet dreams are made of these.
Choco Loco Caffe
Like its name suggests, this cafe is obsessed with all things cocoa. From waffles and crepes to pancakes and brownies, the generous portions are topped with drizzles of Belgian chocolate for that kick of rich decadence.
It’s basically the type of place where you’ll have to leave your calorie-counting at the door.
Solaris Dutamas, 1 Jalan Dutamas. +60 3-5886 0689. Daily 11am-midnight.
Dessert Bar by Stanley Choong
A neon-lit joint with French-inspired sweets, this patisserie is known for its intricately plated designs and layers of flavor in each dessert. With new creations coming out of the kitchen every so often, the unusual pairings include raspberry mousse with sesame crème brûlée on a chocolate tart shell, green tea chiffon with matcha mousse and pineapple pudding, and jasmine with burnt butter macarons. It also offers creative cake customization services for those who prefer not to pick something off the shelves.
16 Jalan Radin Bagus 9, Sri Petaling. +60 16-692 5333. Sun-Mon & Wed-Thurs 1pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 1pm-11pm.
Foo Foo
Its sun-drenched interior is an eclectic mishmash of rattan, wood, and clusters of greenery, but the desserts at Foo Foo are as fine as they are fancy, with affordable price tags to boot. Putting a twist on classics, the kitchen crafts pretty plates of fruit-topped semifreddo with a brownie base, apple strudel paired with black pepper mango ice cream, pumpkin tres leches, and profiteroles with salted caramel coffee ice cream.
Other house-made frosty flavors include chrysanthemum, balsamic vinegar, and Guinness stout. To draw out your time here, swipe a book from the library corner and settle in for the afternoon.
64A, first floor, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. +60 3-2389 3155. Fri-Tues 3pm-11pm.
Inside Scoop
An ice cream parlor that never fails to satisfy, this homegrown brand has extended its reach across the country, doling out smooth, creamy pints made in small batches. The churning started in 2013 in Bangsar, and now it’s got the inside scoop on more than 70 ever-rotating flavors.
Steering clear of artificial flavors and preservatives, the popular picks here include D24 durian, Nutella, pistachio, teh tarik, peanut butter jelly, green tea, and café latte. You can get a scoop or two with fluffy waffles, or maybe even go lactose-free with the range of fruity sorbets.
23 outlets, including No. 9, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru. +603 2202 0235. Mon-Thurs 1pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12:30pm-midnight, Sun 12:30pm-11pm.
Jaslyn Cakes
A cozy bakery that brims with fresh bakes each day, Jaslyn Cakes gleefully tempts passers-by with its delicious displays and glorious whiffs of desserts. You know you shouldn’t indulge (again), but you’ll want to anyway.
Made with organic flour and kampong eggs, while staying away from artificial flavors and essences, the cakes on offer include lemon curd, Earl Grey chiffon, Victoria sponge, pavlova, chocolate peanut butter, and vanilla bean cheesecake. Blondies and brownies are available as well, along with banana yogurt and lemon drizzle loaves, plus an array of cupcakes.
Two outlets, including 7A, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru. +60 3-2202 2868. Tues-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-8pm.
Kind Kones
Billed as a “chemical-free vegan ice cream bar,” Kind Kones takes the wholesome route with its coconut and nut milk treats made with natural, unprocessed ingredients like unrefined coconut cane and molasses sugar. Besides going egg- and dairy-free, it’s also got gluten-free options like dragonfruit banana sorbet, mint choc chunk, banana walnut, black sesame, and charcoal vanilla.
Plus, you can get scoops of cherry pie, jackfruit, matcha coconut, pistachio kulfi, and salted gula melaka to go with your wholemeal vegan or flourless waffle cones, then top it all off with a sprinkle of chia seeds, quinoa crunch, or house-made granola. Other desserts on the menu include baked chocolate donut, pandan chiffon cake, and purple pecan pie.
It’s so good, our Singaporean neighbors across the border had to have it, too.
Five outlets, including Plaza Damansara, No. 61, Jalan Medan, Setia 1, Bukit Damansara. +60 3 2011 5313. Daily 11am-11pm.
MadHatter Desserts
The name behind this whimsical patisserie is Marcus Low, also known as “Dessert King” on MasterChef Asia (he was runner-up on the first season in 2015). Just like he blew the judges away on the TV cooking competition, Low has been coming up with unconventional recipes and refining locally-inspired creations in his kitchen for the past two years.
Some of his photogenic treats include yam and pine nut cake, watermelon assam tart, and the iconic claypot rice dessert, which combines rice milk gelee, barley pudding, and rice milk snow ice. The flavors are funky, and savory occasionally finds its way into the mix with sweet, making each visit an intriguing experience.
19G, Jalan SS21/60, Petaling Jaya. +60 12-370 4327. Mon & Thurs 2pm-10:30pm, Fri 2pm-11pm, Sat-Sun noon-11pm.
Souka
A cake house that takes on customized orders, Souka humbly originated in the home of a husband-and-wife duo in 2008. The cafe offers a savory menu as well, but really, the sugary delights are its main focus. Think burnt cheesecake, Nutella cheesecake, pandan coconut cake, berry pavlova, and jackfruit bundt.
The goods also come in petite form, with bite-sized items like profiteroles, banana caramel babycakes, scones, and salted caramel chocolate tarts. Oh, and let’s not forget the cookies, in case you’re after that milk and chocolate chip comfort food after a long week at work.
No. 53, Jalan SS 15/5A, Subang Jaya. +60 17-661 8528. Daily 10am-10pm.
Swich
An advocate of local fruit flavors, Swich is hailed for its tropical cakes, with signatures like mangosteen mousse, pandan pistachio praline, and cempedak mango. If you’re a chocolate enthusiast, try the rum and raisin Valrhona mousse or Nutella and grilled banana cakes.
Alternatively, nibble your way through cheesecakes like mango mascarpone, salted egg, or gula melaka coconut. And don’t let the stench of the King of Fruits stop you – the bakery does a mean Musang King burnt cheesecake and infuses durian in its mud pies and chocolate cakes.
Two outlets, including C11A Concourse Floor, Atria Shopping Gallery, Jalan SS 22/23, Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya. +60 3-7731 7702. Daily 10am-10pm.
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