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 editor-my@asiatatler.com.
Pictured above: Curate's Bubbly Brunch at The Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur.
1/16W Kuala Lumpur
Inspiring our Meet The Makers documentary series, the #RETOX Brunch at Flock, W Kuala Lumpur has our full support for its commendable efforts in food sustainability. Locally made/grown produce and products are sourced from Milky Whey Cheese, Chocolate Concierge and Weeds & More under Chef Richard Miller's lead.
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.”
Dates
Every first & third Sunday of the month.
Prices
With or without bottomless booze: Adults, RM298 or 198; Children, RM108.
Our Favourite Bites
Foie gras sushi; Spring onion croissant; Goat cheese crusted with Sarawak black pepper; Dim sum-shaped chocolate truffles complete with edible chopsticks.
2/16Four 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.
Our Favourite Bites
Freshly shucked oysters; Chef Junious's signature Eggs Benedict Chicken & Waffles.
3/16Strato
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.
4/16Cantaloupe
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.
5/16Mr 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.
6/16Gooddam
Put off by the bustle of crowded cafés? This is the brunch for you, then. Housed within the Hub SS2, Gooddam rolls out themed brunches once a month. Previous concepts include an Afternoon Tea brunch, a Piadina (Italian-style wrap) Brunch, and a Pasta Brunch. "As usual, we will put our own twists on classic Italian dishes. All our food tastes as pretty as it looks!" commented co-founder Miki Lie.
Dates
Sunday, midmonth. Check the latest schedule.
Price
RM75 per pax.
See also: Gooddam Carries The Spirit Of Invention & An Awareness Of Ingredients
7/16Nero 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.
8/16Soleil
While an 'à la carte buffet' might sound by antithetical, 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 (with occasional changes to coincide with celebrations such as Father's Day).
Prices
Adults: RM160; Children between 6-12 years: RM80; Children below 5: Free.
*Group bookings of 5 pax and more are entitled to 5% off the total bill.
9/16Hotel 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.
10/16Drift Dining & Bar
Drift Dining & Bar is responsible for reviving our love of the Bloody Mary, which flows copiously if you opt for bottomless cocktails. Good eats exist by way of conchiglie pasta with bacon and cream, poached prawns with Thousand Island dressing, beetroot and goats cheese salad, spiced-rubbed spring chicken with anchovy butter, and more.
Dates
Every first Sunday of the month from 12noon-4pm.
Prices
Free flow champagne: RM570
Free flow sparkling wine: RM350
Bottomless cocktails, wine & beer: RM250
Food only: RM120.
11/16Drift And Flow
Sister restaurant to Drift Dining & Bar, Drift And Flow is a rare example of a restaurant that offers Saturday brunches, giving you all of Sunday to recover from your hangover! Serving a similar menu as Drift, the Levant-inspired modern Australian restaurant also stages the occasional belly dancing performance.
Dates
Every last Saturday of the month from 12noon-4pm.
Prices
With free flow beer, wine or Champagne: From RM250-RM570; Food only: RM120.
12/16Entier
Catering to true gourmets, brunch at Entier sees neither Eggs Benedict nor smoothie bowls. Expect encounters with duck head pâté, salt crusted Anxin chicken, Maine lobster with Japanese rice risotto and Josper-grilled highland cauliflower sourced from Weeds & More. The casual but classy restaurant on the 41st floor of Alila Bangsar proves time and again to be one of the best restaurants in KL, especially under Chef Masashi Horiuchi's stewardship.
Dates
Every Saturday & Sunday from 12noon-4pm.
Prices
À la carte dishes range from RM28-390.
13/16The St Regis Kuala Lumpur
If someone suggests sharing a meal at The St Regis Kuala Lumpur, you know you've been good; the only other time we're as excited to get out of bed is on Christmas morning. 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, 'shopping' for fresh seafood from Fine de Claire oysters to house cured salmon.
Dates
Jazz Brunch: Every Sunday from 12noon-3pm.
Prices
Jazz Brunch: With or without free flow booze: RM430 or RM280.
14/16Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar
Come brunch hour, the Mont Kiara branch of Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar becomes the buzziest tavern in town. Complete with live DJs sets and crowds that spill out onto the sidewalk, the festive feasts are well-attended by the Spanish expat crowd. Dishes served depend on the theme of the month; paella cookouts revolve around giant vats of the Valencian rice dish whereas calçotada season will see grilled spring onions paired with cava.
Dates
One Sunday a month. The fastest way to stay informed is to follow them on Facebook.
Prices
Varies, but children aged 10 and below always eat for free.
15/16El Cerdo
A provider of 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. Likewise, wine, beer and juice will flow freely for a fixed time.
Dates
Every Sunday from 12noon onwards (each session lasts 2.5 hours).
Price
With free flow booze: RM198.
16/16ATAS Modern Malaysian Restaurant
Tuck into a hearty spread of bao, chicken rice, spring rolls and satay at ATAS Modern Malaysian Eatery — just don't expect the dishes to be replicas of what you know. Executive chef Tyson Gee keeps things interesting by stuffing egg roll wrappers with beef brisket, skewering sea bass onto satay sticks, and replacing apples with jackfruit in tarte tatins.
Dates
Every second Sunday of the month from 12noon-3pm.
Prices
RM160 per pax.