From petting dogs to DIY toasts — check out these cool and relatively new cafes in JB with your family and friends!
Update: 22 Feb 2024
We love heading over to Johor Bahru (JB) for a quick weekend getaway to shop, eat and cafe-hop to our heart’s content — it’s basically our second home.
But sadly, some of our favourite JB cafes have closed down for good during the pandemic. So instead, here are 13 new and unique ones to check out if you’re thinking of where to go on your next JB trip!
1) Chill ‘N Chow Cafe
Opened in July 2023, Chill ‘N Chow Cafe by Ng Kitchen is every dog lover’s dream. It’s home to four five Chow Chows puppies — Waffle, Mochi, Pudding, Donut, and its most recent addition, Latte!
For RM18/RM22, you get 1 hour of playtime and a cup of coconut ice cream. The staff even gave us dog treats for free!
The owner of the cafe, Angie, mentioned that she loves Chow Chows so much that she decided to open this cafe to share her love (which we’re all thankful for 💖).
Entrance fee: RM18/pax (~S$5) (Tue – Thu), RM22/pax (~S$6) (Fri – Sun)
Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM, closed on Mon
Address: 16-01, Jalan Austin Heights 8/4, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
2) Shi Ba Cafe
Malaysia now has its very first shiba inu dog cafe in Johor Bahru 🐕.
Launched in February 2022, Shi Ba Cafe is home to 10 adorable shiba inus. The cafe is located on the second storey of a shophouse, with plans to turn the third storey into a pet hotel in the future.
In the meantime, pet lovers are welcome to bring their own fur babies too. Aside from the shibas, we got to pet and play with other breeds like German Shepard, Alaskan Malamute, and my personal favourite — Corgi!
*Pro-tip: Purchase some dog treats for RM2 per packet and you are guaranteed to attract their attention.
Like most animal cafes, you’ll need to pay an entry fee before you can cuddle these furry creatures. You’ll be given a complimentary coca-cola drink but the cafe also serves dishes like Japanese curry rice and saba fish to fill your tummies while you’re there 😋.
*Note: Reserve at least one day in advance as cafe time slots fill up quickly.
Entrance fee: RM32/pax (~S$9) (Weekdays), RM38/pax (~S$11) (Weekends) — 1hr slot incl. free refillable soft drink
Opening hours: 10AM – 3PM, 4PM – 8PM
Address: 12-01, Jalan Austin Heights 8/4, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
3) Outline Cafe
Go glamping at Outline Cafe — you’re guaranteed a great view of the moon 🌑
The cafe has a really cool camping concept, with gravel flooring and tents (minus the mosquitos)! Menu-wise, there’s the Crunchy Caramel Latte (RM16.90) and Hot Yuri Matcha (RM14.90) for drinks and the Ham & Cheese Croissant (RM17.90) for small bites.
Opening hours: 11:30AM – 10PM, closed on Wed
Address: 22, Jalan Austin Height 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
4) Meow Me Cat House
If you’re not a dog-lover, there are plenty of adorable cats at MeowMe Cat House! FYI, this isn’t a pet cafe but a cat-friendly cafe so yes you can bring your own fur pets 🐈
You don’t have to pay an entrance fee but we encourage you to order some drinks and pastries while relaxing among these furry felines. When we visited, we also met four resident cats roaming about and of course, gave them loads of pets! Do take note that feeding and carrying is not allowed.
Some kitties are also up for adoption if you’re thinking of giving one a forever home 😻
*Pro-tip: Avoid visiting in the afternoon as that’s usually their nap time 😴
Opening hours: 12PM – 9PM, closed on Wed
Address: 28-01, Jalan Austin Height 7/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
5) Cafe Eden by Wizards
Also newly opened in 2023, Eden by Wizards is an aesthetic and IG-worthy cafe in Mount Austin. You’ll feel like you’re taking a stroll in the garden with plant decor scattered all over 🌿
It specialises in fusion dishes — specifically Western and Southeast Asian flavours — like Siamese Prawn Spaghettini (RM35) and Green Curry Soft Shell Crab Pasta (RM35) which we tried. Verdict: It was surprisingly flavourful and balanced!
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM (last order at 5:30PM)
Address: 19, Jln Tiong Emas, Kawasan Perindustrian Tiong Nam Tebrau 3, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
*Pro-tip: Make a reservation in advance as it gets crowded during the weekends.
6) Forever Twenty Cafe
Show off your creative side at Forever Twenty Cafe, where the main highlight is its DIY concept. For a fee, you can opt for toast painting with colourful edible “paint” (AKA yogurt) and then eat it after!
Don’t worry if you can’t paint, they serve other food like pizza and croffles too.
Besides toast painting, you can also customise an item of your choice by decorating it with charms and buttercream.
There are a couple of different set options to choose from but we went for set C, which gave us 13 charms and two different coloured “buttercreams” to decorate items such as phone casings, water bottles, and photo frames.
Ultimately, we decided on a soap dispenser so we could display it in our office 😂.
Cost for toast painting: From RM18 (~S$5) — book a day in advance
Cost for DIY set: From RM26 (~S$7)
Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM, closed on Wed
Address: 51-02 Jalan Jaya Putra 7/6, Bandar Jaya Putra 81100, Johor
7) Soil
Don’t let its looks fool you — Soil might look like a rustic home covered in overgrown vines, but that’s all part of its charm.
Located in Spring Labs, this charming JB cafe serves freshly baked pastries and cakes from The Atlas Bakery. Our favourite picks are the croissant aux amandes, creme brulee tart, and the chocolate raspberry entremet.
The cafe also serves coffee and tea, plus other specialty drinks like houji yuzu latte, matcha latte, and mint chocolate!
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM, last order at 5:30PM
Address: Unit SL009, Spring Lab, Lot A GF, Jalan Ekoflora Utama, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Read also: Cafe hopping in Thailand — 5 Cafes Surrounded by Nature
8) Keijometo
Photo credit: @keijometo via Instagram
With an industrial, factory-like exterior, it’s easy to miss Keijometo’s entrance.
Once you’re inside though, you’ll be greeted with concrete tables, leather sofas, and even an old television box — recreating a cosy, industrial home.
Photo credit: @kllyhsu via Instagram
On top of its intriguing design, Keijometo is also known for its Japanese dishes and specialty matcha drinks. We’d recommend trying the mentaiko tamagoyaki (Japanese-style sandwiches) and watermelon or lychee matcha drinks for tea-lovers.
The best part is that the cafe is only a 10-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint!
Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM (last order at 6PM), closed on Mon
Address: 3, Jalan Chengai, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor
9) Offee Cafe
Yes, that’s coffee without the “c”.
Recommended by a local, we came across this hidden gem in JB named Offee Cafe. Apart from the usual espressos and lattes, the cafe serves up interesting flavours like coffee coconut and coconut matcha.
There are also carrot cakes, lemon cakes and chocolate chip cookies for a quick snack!
Psst, while the physical store closes at 12AM, it’s available on Grab Food Delivery 24/7 😉
Opening hours: 8AM – 12AM
Address: 30, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor
10) Ukiyo
Photo credit: @ukiyocafe.my via Instagram
Decked in pink decor and fitted with terrazzo tables, Ukiyo gives off a very stylish and trendy setting — perfect for a day out with the girls.
This pretty cafe specialises in French-Japanese handcrafted desserts which come in various shapes, colours, and flavours such as passion fruit jelly and pistachio lavender mousse.
Photo credit: @ukiyocafe.my via Instagram
There’s also tiramisu coffee and rose-flavoured latte up on the menu if you’re looking for something different to add to your afternoon tea ☕.
Opening hours: 12PM – 7PM, closed on Mon
Address: 17-02, Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
11) The FOUNDERS Cafe
The FOUNDERS Cafe is founded by the same people behind the popular (but now defunct) Melbourne-inspired JB cafe, People and Places.
The first thing you’ll notice is the high archway ceiling and shower curtains in the middle of the cafe — resembling a cascading waterfall.
For your meal, we recommend getting the juicy Aussie Beef Bagel (RM38.90) and the Shakshouka Pizza (RM43.50) — it has a runny egg yolk in the middle! Yumz.
Opening hours: 9AM – 10PM (last order at 9PM)
Address: 45, Jalan Tiong Emas, Tiong Nam Tebrau, Kawasan Perindustrian Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
12) Commune by The Creators
Photo credit: @communebythecreators via Instagram
Opened while borders were closed in 2021, Commune by The Creators rose to fame for its white interior which exudes a sleek and minimalistic look.
Don’t be shy to snap some OOTD photos here against the clean, white background and also taste some of its unique dishes like miso alfredo udon and yogurt chicken leg!
Photo credit: @communebythecreators via Instagram
If you prefer something less adventurous, there are the usual brunch items of eggs benedict croissant and avocado toast too 🥑.
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM (last order at 5:30PM)
Address: 228 & 230, Jalan Adda 7, Taman Adda Heights, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Bonus: 13) Origin Cafe Kulai
Photo credit: @origincafe.kulai via Instagram
It’s around an hour’s drive from the JB checkpoint but if you’re thinking of heading to Kulai for a day trip, don’t forget to check out Origin Cafe Kulai!
It’s recognised for its Japanese-inspired layouts such as circular cut-out doorway frames and rattan seats. Although the interior looks simple, it sets a relaxing and zen mood for those desiring a peaceful environment away from the bustling city.
Photo credit: @origincafe.kulai via Instagram
It also has a wide variety of food options from braised meat rice to chicken katsu curry rice and satay burger. End the day with a soothing cup of rose herbs, ginger jujube or fig mulberry leaf tea 🍵
Opening hours: 11AM – 8PM, closed on Mon
Address: 41, Lorong Ismail, Taman Kulai, 81000 Kulai, Johor
Read also: Cafe-hopping in Singapore — 11 Instagrammable Cafes with Overseas Vibes
Tips for Planning a Cafe-hopping Day in JB
We really enjoyed discovering new cafes and trying our hand at new experiences like toast painting 🖌️ — so here are some tips for planning a memorable cafe-hopping day in JB!
1) Take the train to JB instead of the bus — it only costs RM5 (~S$1.40) one way there and you won’t have to squeeze with the morning crowd in a tight space
2) Ask locals for recommendations — after all, they would know what’s new in town
3) Travel around JB by Grab — it’s faster and not too expensive (a ride to nearby places can cost around RM10 (~S$3))
4) Make reservations in advance — some popular cafes may be fully booked if you walk in
5) Bring sufficient cash — not all places may accept credit cards so it’s good to be prepared
For other JB guides and itineraries:
– JB Day Trip Itinerary — Where to Eat, Play and Shop Under S$70
– 3D2N JB Itinerary — Mount Austin, Kulai, JB Sentral
– Mount Austin Guide — 13 Things to Do in JB’s Trendiest Neighbourhood
– 12 Best JB Hotels Near Sentral, Mt Austin Other Popular Areas Best for Shopping, Cafe-hopping
– 12 Cosy JB Accommodations near Popular Malls from S$18/night — City Square, KSL, Paradigm
Know of any other new cafes in JB? Share with us in the comments below!
