1. YOUYOU Café
Image Credit: YOUYOU Café
Boasting a tranquil camping-inspired vibe, YOUYOU Café is a unique BBQ and dessert café in Taman Melodies, located just 15 minutes away from the checkpoint. The indoor area is decorated like a Japanese-style teahouse, while the outdoor area features camping tables and chairs.
Image Credit: YOUYOU Café
They specialise in traditional-style Chinese desserts, with trendy options like Happy Pistachio Paste (RM15.90); as well as classic desserts like Black Glutinous Red Bean (RM8.90), Stewed Pear with Fungus (RM8.90), Mango Cheong Fun (RM15.90), Egg Waffle (RM13.90) and more. They’ve also got a selection of mains and BBQ skewer platters if you’re craving something savoury/
YOUYOU Café
Address: 28, Jln Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12pm-12am daily (closed on Tuesday)
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2. ITE Coffee
TikTok: @johorfoodie
24-hour coffee spot? ITE Coffee is a rustic coffee spot serving up freshly brewed coffee drinks 24/7. It’s also located at an area that’s not so common, just 15 minutes away from the checkpoint, so you can consider stopping by if you’re looking for somewhere to hang out that’s away from the usual crowd.
IG: @itecoffee
The space is pretty modest, with modest and charming decor consisting of a counter, limited outdoor seating and lush plants. The menus are also handwritten, giving it a more quaint and old-school feel. Classic brews like Americano, Latte or Spanish Latte start from RM8, or you can get one of their specialty drinks like Matcha Mango (RM15) or Matcha Strawberry (RM15).
ITE Coffee
Address: 1, Jalan Merdeka, Kampung Melayu Majidee, 81900 Johor Bahru, Johor
Opening Hours: 24 Hours
3. Layer Bakehouse
Image Credit: Chew Yee Ping
If you love cakes and pastries, definitely check out Layer Bakehouse, located in the Skudai area, about 30 minutes away from the checkpoint. The café resembles Korean-style dessert spots, with a vintage-inspired Japanese vibe and a selection of fresh bakes displayed for you to choose from.
IG: @layerbakehouse
They serve savoury brunch items as well, but they’re most known for their cake slices that come in a variety of unique flavours, as well as freshly made yogurt bagels (from RM6). Cakes are available in options like Hojicha Kinako Burnt Cheesecake, Earl Grey White Peach Chiffon Cake, Earl Grey Tea Party Burnt Cheesecake, Thai Milk Tea Mille Crepe and more.
Layer Bakehouse
Address: 24, Jalan Bakti 65, Mutiara Rini, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9.30am-6.30pm
4. Kacani Sutera
Image Credit: Kacani Sutera
If you love glasshouse-style cafés Kacani Sutera is another scenic glasshouse café you’ll want to check out. The forest-inspired glasshouse café is located less than 20 minutes away from the checkpoint; featuring camping-style tables set up outdoors for a relaxing, chill vibe. The whole space is also decked out in lush plants and greenery, making it feel like you’re dining amongst a scenic forest or garden.
Image Credit: JB City Guide
To fit the camping vibes, they also have a DIY ramen bar at the café. You can grab your favourite ramen packets and cook them on the spot using portable gas stoves. Noodle packets average around RM12.90 each (~$3.90 SGD each), with noodles from Korea, Japan, Indonesia and more.
Kacani Sutera
Address: 2 Jalan Roda 2 Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 5pm-12am daily (closed on Wednesday)
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5. Latte Doh Café
Image Credit: Latte Doh Café
Say hello to the first-ever Harry Potter-inspired café in JB, with icy cold butter beers, House-themed desserts and IG-worthy decor. Latte Doh Cafe is located about 15 minutes away from the checkpoint, and sports Harry Potter-themed interiors including “bubbling” cauldrons filled with “magic potions”, “floating” books, a wizard’s hat and colourful doors representing the 4 Hogwarts houses.
Image Credit: Latte Doh Café
They’ve also got Harry Potter-themed food and drink items like Buttercreme Latte (RM15), Butter Drink (RM13), Polyjuice Potion (RM13), Kunafah Cookie (RM13.90), Gryffindor/Slytherin/Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff Cookie (RM13.90) and more.
Latte Doh Cafe
Address: 9-01, Jalan Aliff 6, Taman Damansara Aliff, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Monday, 11am-9pm; Wednesday, 11am-12am; Thursday-Sunday, 11am-9pm
6. Tea & Ember
Image Credit: Yee Chen Lim
Fancy a serene teatime session while you’re in JB? This vibey camping-inspired traditional Chinese-style teahouse and café is located about 30 minutes from the checkpoint, and it’s got tranquil vibes, theatrical drinks and unique DIY snacks! Tea & Ember is a unique tea parlour with classy “champagne tea” that comes served with some theatrics: smoke and tall champagne glasses.
IG: @candiceee.w
Each table also gets an individual grill where you can customise and brew your own milk tea, and grill up some pairing snacks as well. Tea sets come with various snack platters, and some highlights from the menu include Stove-iced Tea (from RM52.80), Roasted Rose Black Milk Tea (from RM 36.80), Claypot Iced Milk Tea (RM 23.80), Stove Boiled Tea (from RM33.80) and more
Tea & Ember
Address: 12, Jln Austin Heights 7/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am-9pm daily (closed on Wednesday)
7. Bearth
Image Credit: JB City Guide
This charming café is housed in a rustic cottage-style house, and the vintage elements shine through in the use of brick walls, checkered floors, wooden beams on the ceiling, textured paint, terracotta hues and earthen dishware.
Image Credit: JB City Guide
The aesthetic café is located less than 5 minutes away from the checkpoint, and they offer Western-style brunch, bakes and drinks. Some highlights to expect from the menu include Texas Style Fried Chicken Waffle, Signature Mound Bread, Creamy Durian & Dark Choco Swiss Roll, among others.
Bearth
Address: 7c, Jalan Tenteram, Tanjung Puteri, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9.30am-2pm & 3pm-6pm
8. PODD
Image Credit: Xin Rui Wong
Enjoy a slice of the slow life at PODD, a serene 2-storey Japanese-inspired dessert café or kissaten. The space is simple and minimalist, with wood furniture, concrete floors and stone countertops. There’s standing room at the bar where you can watch your drinks being prepared, and communal benchs or tables as well
IG: @podd_vb
PODD is located at Taman Austin Perdana, about 20 minutes away from the checkpoint. Aside from their matcha and coffee drinks, their desserts and sweets are definitely a highlight: especially their matcha tart, strawberry shortcake, charcoal waffles, chocolate bon bons and more.
PODD
Address: B03, LOT 120122, Jalan Austin Perdana 1, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Thursday-Monday, 11am-11pm
9. The Bagel Factory
TikTok: @dotdotofficial
Yet another bagel specialty café has popped up in JB, and this time it’s located just 5 minutes away from the checkpoint! Look out for their quirky and colourful wall mural and that’s where you’ll find The Bagel Factory, a cosy cottage core-inspired café spot for chunky bagels in a variety of flavours.
Image Credit: Xw Wei
Bagels are freshly made starting from RM7 each and aside from classic flavours, you can also get stuffed bagels in unconventional options including Pistachio Cheesecake, Taro-gao, All About Blueberries, The Kunafa, Green Onion and more. They also have unique drinks topped with mini bagels and an entire banana cake slice!
The Bagel Factory
Address: 28, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-6pm
10. Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie
Image Credit: Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie
Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie Is a popular café and patisserie chain, and they’ve just opened a new outlet that’s conveniently located at Komtar JBCC, just 10 minutes away from the checkpoint. The space has an elegant and class French-inspired ambience, with stunning textured ceiling fixtures and rattan furnishings.
Image Credit: Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie
On the menu, you’ll find a slew of brunch mains, pastries, cakes and bakes, such as: Signature Kaya Croissant (RM9.50), Poached Egg with Streaky Beef (RM23.90), Creamy Garlic Tuscan Salmon (RM49.80), Fluffy Pancakes with Caramel Banana (RM19.90) and more.
Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie
Address: Lot 05, 06, 07, Ground Floor, Komtar JBCC, City Centre, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm daily
