The Ultimate Guide To Weekend Brunch In KL & PJ
The perfect prelude to a midday nap, these soporific brunches are more upscale than most; you won't find any cafés on this list. Want to recommend your favourite spot? We welcome recommendations at samantha.lim@tatlerasia.com.
[Last updated: January 2020]
1/13 Flock, W Kuala Lumpur
Inspiring our Meet The Makers documentary series, the Sunday Retox Brunch at the W Kuala Lumpur has our full support for its commendable efforts in food sustainability. Leisa Tyler, cofounder of Weeds & More and retired World's 50 Best Restaurants Food Critic, said it better than we ever could: “What the W Kuala Lumpur is doing is revolutionary in a sense because only privately owned restaurants have been able to really support farm to table (or farm to Flock). You have to understand, given the many tiers of the hospitality industry, how hard it is to work will smaller suppliers. But I believe this will be the norm in the future.”
Loathe to roll out of bed on a Sunday morning? Book Retox At Dusk instead. While the former is best described as languorous, the latter is a springboard for a night on the town.
Dates
Sunday Retox Brunch: Every first & third Sunday of the month; Retox At Dusk: Every second & fourth Friday of the month.
Prices
With or without bottomless booze: Adults, RM298+ or 198+
Children, RM108+
2/13 Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Taking teetotalers into consideration, the Sunday Bubbly Brunch at Curate, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur puts a playful spin on the adjective 'bubbly' by offering bubble milk tea in addition to champagne; choose from 3 takes on Taiwan's 'natural beverage' — original tea, café latte or chocolate.
Homesick Brits who miss their Sunday roasts should seek out the carving station with its fluffy Yorkshire puds and mouthwatering meats. But it’s at the sublime seafood counter where you’ll catch us; what better to have with champagne than oysters? It's a natural pairing of aphrodisiacs.
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon-3pm.
Prices
Free flow champagne: RM488
Bottomless cocktails, wine & beer: RM348
Food only: Adults & Children above 5 years, RM210; Children 5 years and below: RM105.
3/13 Strato
Often ending in abbiocco (the Italian word for 'food coma'), Sunday brunch at Strato sees real Italian cuisine instead of false iterations. Rather than sulk in the absence of pasta carbonara or bolognese (many Malaysians are guilty of this), dare to sample something different; think cacio e pepe risotto, an equally delicious creamy main, or tripe ragu served on toasted sourdough. Check out the most recent menu change here.
Dates
Every first Sunday of the month from 12noon-3pm.
Price
RM120 per pax.
4/13 Cantaloupe
Spearheaded by Chef Christian Bauer, Cantaloupe may abide by traditional French cooking techniques, but doesn't box itself in where inspiration is concerned. A meal might begin with a freshly baked red bean twist, segue into roasted chicken with parsley and hazelnut butter, and end with coconut lamingtons. Monthly changes to the menu mean there will always be something new for returning customers. Check out Cantaloupe's upcoming offerings here.
Dates
Every last Sunday of the month from 12noon-3pm.
Prices
With or without free flow champagne: RM450 or RM150 per pax.
5/13 Mr Chew's Chino Latino Bar
Boasting an incredibly creative brunch menu, Mr Chew's Chino Latino Bar Menu traverses the globe in search of gustatory greatness. Good luck having just one steamed bun with crispy chicken! Success means having more space for more squid ink pancakes, key lime cheesecake, octopus tacos, and strawberry mojitos. View the complete menu here.
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon-3pm.
Price
RM140 per pax.
6/13 Nero Nero
While Gooddam focuses on Northern Italian dishes, Nero Nero in DC Mall celebrates the South! The once-a-month Grandmother’s Table is an excellent opportunity to sample the breadth of Nero Nero's menu. Presided over by the boisterous Chef Giuseppe Lioce, the jolly affair sees a steady flow of Prosecco and specialities from Puglia, a region renowned for burrata.
Dates
Every first Sunday of the month.
Prices
With or without free flow booze: RM298 or RM168.
7/13 Soleil
While an 'à la carte buffet' might sound like an oxymoron, what it really means is that à la carte dishes can be ordered in a never-ending flow. Kick-start your appetite with canapés crafted by Chef Evert Onderbeke before digging into a mishmash of European dishes, from French souffle to Italian carbonara. Oenophiles should take full advantage of the retail-priced wines.
Dates
Every last Sunday of the month excluding January 2020.
Prices
Adults: RM160+; Children between 6-12 years: RM80+; Children below 5: Free.
8/13 Hotel Stripes
Brasserie 25 at Hotel Stripes, one of our favourite boutique hotels for staycations, has recently revamped its Sizzling Sundays promo to include more good eats at lower prices. Prepared à la minute, main dishes include chicken brochette, rope sausages, short ribs, lamb shoulder, and Cajun chicken — this not counting a plethora of yummy sides, sauces and sweets. Think of it as attending a cookout sans the hassle of cooking or cleaning!
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon-3pm.
Price
RM100 for 2 pax.
9/13 Entier French Dining
Catering to true gourmets, brunch at Entier French Dining, one of T.Dining's Top 20 Restaurants in 2020, sees neither Eggs Benedict nor smoothie bowls.
The caviar and waffles special makes for one of the most exciting midday menus we've encountered in KL.
But for more bang for your buck, consider the weekend set menu. Studded with different dishes from their weekday executive lunch set, the 2- or 3-course meal comes with complimentary coffee or tea refills.
Dates
Every Saturday & Sunday from 12noon-4pm.
Prices
À la carte dishes range from RM28-390 whereas the set menus are RM78-98, excluding drinks.
10/13 The St Regis Kuala Lumpur
Sunday Jazz Brunch at The Brasserie pays homage to The St Regis' long-standing relationship with jazz. After all, it was at The St Regis New York where musicians congregated during the Jazz Age. Taking a page from the quaint markets of France, the set-up encourages diners to stroll from section to section; stop for Fine de Claire oysters before ending at the cheese aisle.
Dates
Jazz Brunch: Every Sunday from 12noon-3pm.
Prices
Jazz Brunch: With or without free flow wine and selected cocktails: RM455 or RM280.
11/13 El Cerdo
Providing porcine pleasures since 2005, El Cerdo has stood the test of time by catering to contemporary whims. During 'Brunch Bacon Booze,' small plates of the Spanish restaurant's specialities will float from table to table for 2.5 hours. Bottomless beer, wine and juice is included in the price.
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon until 2.30pm.
Price
With free flow booze: RM198+
12/13 ATAS Modern Malaysian Eatery, The RuMa Hotel & Residences
Previously taking place just once a month, brunch at ATAS Modern Malaysian Eatery at The RuMa Hotel and Residences used to be rather elusive; hence our elation upon learning that it would be a weekly occurrence from 2020 onwards.
Pickings include fresh pappardelle in a tomato and seafood ragout that's made to order, Sunday roast from the carving station, seabass in beurre blanc, beef goulash with potatoes and mire poix, and more dishes from different parts of the world. Definitely make room for the restaurant's stellar desserts, which include lightly smoking liquid nitrogen ice cream.
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon-3pm.
Prices
RM160 per pax.
13/13 Quan's Kitchen, Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur
This newly opened hotel in Chinatown (as of December 2019) launched The Joy Lok Club Sunday brunch buffet in February 2020, and we love the refreshing concept. Select as many skewers of meat and vegetables as you'd like and choose from three types of soups/sauces: gulai lemak (turmeric-scented coconut broth), curry laksa, or sweet-savoury peanut sauce.
Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur is, in many ways, a reflection of Chinatown. For instance, Quan's Kitchen is outfitted with ornate Chinese designs, and its buffet spread includes old-timey treats such as soft squares of Hainan toast and 'kopi' or 'teh' that's pulled before your eyes.
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon-2.30pm
Prices
RM118 nett
TATLER TIP: Tell the teh tarik man to go easy on the condensed milk if you like your drinks "kurang manis."