Maximising a shared address on Abdullah Street, Transparent Coffee and Coley clock in and out at different times of the day.

From 8am till 5pm, the former is your go-to for caffeine and light bites. Taking the form of toast (served with seasalt; garlic; muscovado sugar; Marmite; Lotus Biscoff; or Nutella), tartines (topped with chicken liver pâté; strawberries; or mushrooms) or sandwiches (choose from three cheeses or chicken and aubergine), the home-baked sourdough here is crackly with a bit of tartness. Coley, crowned Bar of the Year by the Bar Awards for two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018, takes over from 5pm till late. Our suggested sundowner? The Peanut Butter & Jelly, always.

But back to the coffee: like many foods and drinks that have peaked in popularity, coffee is, more often than not, sold at the expense of its growers. Hence Transparent Coffee's goal: to uphold transparency in the coffee trade. Rest be assured that your brew is 'farm to cup.'

Transparent Coffee | Corner of Jalan Bangsar, 6-G, Jalan Abdullah, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur | 014-333 4521 | transparentcoffee.co@gmail.com

‘Barebones’ best describes this new brunch spot in ever-thriving Telawi. Specialising in all-day breakfasts, Urban Daybreak has already begun to reel in the crowd with familiar fare such as avocado toast, baked eggs, and chicken & waffles. "Boring," you might say, but the food is done very well; we've been twice already.

The Scramble Trouble (scrambled eggs, crispy bacon shaved mozzarella, feta cheese, and crispy shallots on toasted sourdough) is everything you want in a plateful of scrambled eggs — fluffy yet creamy and filling. Equally memorable, the Stout Pulled Pork with Poached Eggs might sound deceptively heavy, but each forkful was tender, lightly spiced, and devoid of stringy bits. View the full menu here.

Urban Daybreak | 11, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur | 03-2303 0172

Those prone to prowling the streets of Bangsar may have spotted this homey bakery next to Urban Daybreak. Established by a Mister Viscuso, who is also the head baker, the eponymous bakery carries breads and pastries with a Sicilian flair. Coffee and a small selection of hot dishes are available daily, but seating is limited, so you're better off getting your goodies to go.

If you must order just one thing, get the Macallè — a spiral-shaped pastry stuffed with fresh ricotta cream cheese and showered with sugar — which is usually displayed in a place of pride on the counter. We've also got our eyes on the cherry-studded cannolis, the layered apfelstrudel, and the rum baba, a sweet treat that's equal parts digestif and dessert.

Viscuso Artisan Bakery | 9, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur | 03-2202 3893 | sales@viscusohospitalitygroup.com 

What a pleasant surprise to walk up a nondescript stairway only to arrive in a little piece of paradise. Located on same row as Coley, Lisette's Café & Bakery, and Fierce Curry House, Zöe is cute but casual: perfect for dress down dates.

Helmed by Chef Zoe Rai, an alumnus of Le Cordon Bleu Australia, the restaurant is unusual in the sense that it serves Asian dishes (Thai, specifically) in the day and Western fare at night. Come during lunch to try the khai giao (fluffy thai omelette) with crab meat, pla haeng taengmo (watermelon with fish floss, fried shallots and mint) and som choon (a sweet and savoury dessert with fruits, shaved ice, pandan syrup and shallots!). Dinner fare that jumps out at us from the menu include the mushroom arancini, asparagus tagliatelle, and spinach & chestnut gnocchi. View the full menu here.

Zöe | 42A Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur | 012-708 8643