Traveling to Kota Kemuning? Try Out These Hipster Cafés.

Photo credits: www.kotakemuning.net

Kota Kemuning is a growing township in Shah Alam. Located between Subang Jaya and Klang, no one really knows about the town unless they travel to or from Klang. When I first moved to Kota Kemuning in 1999 there were only two housing phases and close to zilch cars on the road. My concern at the time was food. If I recall clearly, between 1999-2005, food selection was very limited and sometimes required us to travel out of Kota Kemuning to have a decent meal. If my parents were too lazy to drive all the way to Subang Jaya or Klang for lunch or dinner, we would have to make do with the same ol' hawker stalls for the rest of the week. Fast forward 15 years, and not only are there hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and mamaks to choose from, but we also have our very own neighborhood shopping mall, Gamuda Walk, which opened in December 2014.

Among all sorts of eateries, my favorite would be cafés, although they may be on the pricier side. Right now, the number of cafes in Kota Kemuning are gradually growing (yay!) alongside the increasing number of residents (nay!). Despite the fact that most cafes in the Klang Valley may burn a hole in your pocket, they are rather nice to hang out at for an occasional brunch or dessert date with friends. Today, I am proud to present - in my personal opinion - the top five cafes you should drop by if you are ever in Kota Kemuning.

Brew&Bread

Photo credits: www.dineout.com.my

Brew and Bread is actually a coffee bar but pulls off pretty well as a cafe too. Probably one of the most well-known cafes among KK-ians (yes, that is what we call ourselves), they take pride in their hand-brewed coffee and quality food. Despite their name, they serve more than just coffee and pastries. I'm not much of a coffee junkie so most of the time I settle for their fruit juice (their freshly squeezed orange juice is the bomb!). Their menu contains lots of eggs, Eggs Benedict and Mushroom Egg Omelette to name a few. They also serve pasta (Prawn Aglio Olio is a must try!) and sandwiches. The ambiance here is pretty amazing, making you feel all cozy with soothing acoustic music playing in the background. However, this place can get pretty crowded during weekday lunch hour  so if you're planning to drop by for a relaxing read, it would be best to come in the evening before dinner or on weekend afternoons when there isn't much of a crowd. Don't forget to check out their Facebook page and hit 'Like'!

Brew&Bread: No 10, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla M31/M, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor; +603-5131 5201; 8 AM-7 PM (Closed on Thursdays)

Le Rozell Café Crêperie

Photo credits: www.mecoffeejourney.com

If you are a sucker for crêpes, this is one place you shouldn't miss out on. The cafe is run by a French woman who is in charge of the kitchen while her husband can occasionally be seen working at the bar. Like most cafes, they offer al-fresco seating as well as air-conditioned seating so you can opt to sit inside and enjoy the air-conditioning if the weather is too hot in the day. Spoil yourself silly with a wide choice of crepes from fruit-flavored ones like the Mango Maniac Mille Crepe to classic chocolate ones like the Chocolate Supreme Mille Crepe. A recent addition to their humble cafe are pastas which I have yet to try. They also have frequent deals and special crepes during big events such as National Day and Deepavali so do like their Facebook page for more information and updates!

*Update: This cafe has ceased operation.

Le Rozell Café Crêperie: 35-1, 8 Jalan Anggerik Vanilla BE31/BE Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor; +603-5131 4092; 11 AM-10 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)

Dotz Café

Photo credits: www.cmkinimy.com

This little cafe may be a bit difficult to locate if you don't pay enough attention. Their signboard is pretty small so keep your eyes open. The interior of Dotz is extremely cozy although some may feel a bit uncomfortable due to it's small space. Painted mostly in blue-tones, a section of the cafe's wall is covered in post-it notes courtesy of the patrons. Books and magazines are also readily available for your reading pleasure. Their food is nothing to shout about but they do serve delicious cakes! I can still remember the taste of their Mango Cheesecake in my mouth, but sadly they don't have it daily. Don't fret though, they serve good Tiramisu too! In conclusion, if you are not too claustrophobic, do pay them a visit and try out their scrumptious cakes accompanied by great hospitality by the staff. Here's their Facebook page too in case you would like more information.

Dotz Café: No 3-1, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla 31/93 Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor; +603-5110 0472; 9 AM-7 PM (Sun-Thurs) & 9 AM-9 PM (Fri-Sat)

Grandeur Gallery Café

Photo credits: www.stdirectorytravel.com

Another cafe which may give you a headache due to its location. They are located at the first floor so be sure to look out for their signboard. This is the cafe I would patron for lunch before proceeding to work on my assignments back when I was a student. There is ample space and the ambiance gives me a sense of calmness. Pieces of art are placed in almost every corner and wall of the cafe giving an artistic feel to the place. The fact that I rarely ever drink coffee brings leaves me no choice but to order their Dilmah tea, which I love having anyway because of it's fragrance and presentation. They have a number of all-day breakfast sets to choose from as well as a range of different pastries and cakes every other day or week so keep yourself updated by liking their Facebook page.

Grandeur Gallery Café: 22-2, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla BE31/BE Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor; +603-5525 5568; 11:30 AM-6 PM (Closed on Monday)

Sips & Bites Café

Photo credits: www.kindmeal.my

The last, but far from least. Sips & Bites happens to be one of the newer additions to the growing number of cafes and coffee shops in Kota Kemuning. Located nearby Grandeur Gallery, it's walls awash in blue and white accompanied by minimalistic floral decor and furniture provide the perfect background for taking hipster photos *hint*. That aside, it really is a lovely place for gatherings and weekend brunch dates with the girls (or boys). I am in love with their ice-cream and waffles because they are generous with their toppings of strawberries, blueberries, vanilla ice-cream and chocolate sauce. Did I forget to mention that they serve a mighty fine breakfast platter? As you already know, due to coffee not being my  cup of tea, I would usually go for their tea as they have a good choice of flavor-infused teas which I suggest you try if you're a tea lover. A real gem not to be missed!

Sips & Bites Café: 24-1, Sinaran 2, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla BE31/BE Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor; +6019 271 1309; 8 AM-10PM (Mon-Fri) & 9 AM - 10 PM (Sat-Sun)

By Andrew Tai
April 08, 2015 | Food & Beverages