1. Olive Musicafe
@ntsha.zailani First Muslim owned cafe yang bertemakan music and ada live performance lagi tau setiap malam kecuali hari Khamis! 😍🎸 📍Olive Music Cafe, Nong Chik JB ⏰ Open everyday (12.00pm – 12.00am) Friday (5.00pm – 12.00am) ❌ Tuesday closed @Olive Musicafe #fyp #fypage #fypシ゚ #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #cafejb #jbcafe #jbcafehopping #jbcafehunting #myfoodie #makanlokal #johorfoodie #johorfood #aestheticcafejb #olivemusicafe #coffeejb #portlunchjb
TikTok: @ntsha.zailani
This new café combines the vibes of both a café and a jazz bar, and is also apparently JB’s first music-themed café! Olive Musicafe is located just ~10 minutes away from the checkpoint, and customers who’ve tried the place rave about the ambience, especially the live band and music performances that play while you dine.
Image Credit: Nurul Najiha
Live performances are on from Wednesdays to Mondays; and the space is also adorned in retro-inspired decor like vinyls and record players. The café offers mainly Western and Asian fusion cuisine, like Laksa Johor, Smokey Australian Beef Burger, Carbonara with Streaky Beef, Nasi Lemak Rendang Daging Dendeng and more.
Olive Musicafe
Address: Jalan Kolam Air 1, Kampung Nong Chik, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Saturday-Monday, 12pm-12am; Wednesday-Thursday, 12pm-12am; Friday, 5pm-12am
2. Haha Café & Gelato
Image Credit: Haha Café & Gelato
This chic, minimalist gelato café is one for all your photo ops and OOTDs—it’s got aesthetic industrial decor with textured concrete walls and pops of colour. Haha Café & Gelato is located just 10 minutes away from the checkpoint, with a vibe that’s reminiscent of an art gallery.
Image Credit: Haha Café & Gelato
They specialise in gelato, with scoops from just RM11 (~$3.30 SGD) per scoop, and flavours like Watermelon Lychee, Hazelnut Chocolate, Strawberry Milk, Passion Mango, Coffee Tiramisu, Lemon Lime Basil, Salted Pistachio and more. They’ve also got other menu items like waffles, affogato, matcha drinks, coffee and juices too.
Haha Café & Gelato
Address: 49, Jalan Sultanah Aminah, Taman Iskandar, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Monday, 12pm-8pm; Tuesday-Wednesday, 12pm-9pm; Friday-Sunday, 12pm-9pm
3. Attic by RAW
Image Credit: Racheal Yow
We do love a good standalone café, and Attic by RAW definitely checks all the boxes. Located in an industrial area about 25 minutes away from the checkpoint, the café occupies a sprawling glass house-like bungalow space, complete with ultra high ceilings, colonial-style brick architecture and vintage checkered flooring.
Image Credit: Annette
We reckon dining here to be pretty relaxing since tables are placed pretty far apart in the huge space. The menu is mostly Italian-influenced, with some Western fusion brunch as well. Some items to expect include Squid Ink Risotto (RM42), Chicken Sausage Ragu (RM30), Beefed-Up Shakshuka (RM36), Nasi Lemak Royale (RM30) and more.
Attic by RAW
Address: 1, Jalan Mutiara Emas 5/13, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-7pm
4. Alley & Daisy
Image Credit: Alley & Daisy
If you love the vintage aesthetic, you’ll definitely enjoy Alley & Daisy’s latest 2-storey café outlets, located less than 10 minutes away from the checkpoint. The space gives off a classic vintage feel, decked in dark brown woods, lace furnishings and warm lighting.
Image Credit: Jiawen Yap
Dishes are also beautifully plated and presented with quirky mismatched dishware. Some highlights from the menu include Green Curry Salmon (RM39), Creamy Pumpkin Farfalle (RM25), French Toast (RM22), Berries Open Toast (RM18) and more.
Alley & Daisy
Address: 128, Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru Town, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8.30am-5.30pm daily
5. Chew Chew Bagel
Image Credit: Geraldine Tay
JB is pretty well known for their popular bagel cafés; and if you love specialty chunky bagel sandos, Chew Chew Bagel is another bagel-centric café you can hit up. The café is located in the trendy Austin Heights area, about 25 minutes away from the checkpoint.
Image Credit: Chew Chew Bagel
The space boasts a vintage and rustic vibe, with dark wood furnishings and retro accents; and the ambience resembles that of a cottage. Bagels are freshly made in-house, with unique options that are stuffed, topped with sweet cotton candy or even lobster.
Chew Chew Bagel
Address: 12, Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Monday, 9am-10pm; Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-10pm
6. Bonfire Smoke & Grill
@nazmifarise 📍Bonfire Smoke & Grill, Gelang Patah, Johor
TikTok: @nazmifarise
Camping-themed food spots are always a vibe, and the new Bonfire Smoke & Grill is no different. The place is located less than 30 minutes away from the checkpoint, great for if you’re on the lookout for a hangout spot that’s a little away from the crowd.
Image Credit: fadzly saimi
The café is an outdoor concept, with camping-style chairs and tables set up over gravel floors, plus tents and string lights for extra vibes. They specialise in charcoal grilled meats and Western fare: like NZ Lamb Shoulder (RM43.90), Chicken Tacos (RM17.90), Duck Breast (RM27.90) and Soy Glazed Salmon (RM41.90), among others.
Bonfire Smoke & Grill
Address: 1, Jalan Nusa Perintis 1/1, Taman Nusa Perintis, 81550 Gelang Patah, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 5.30pm-12am daily
7. Sugar Lips
Image Credit: onni nail
Remember the viral alpaca café in JB? Well, there’s another alpaca café that has just opened in JB, and it’s even got a quirky rainbow theme! Sugar Lips is a dessert café located less than 20 minutes away from the checkpoint. The space sports a unique and quirky rainbow-themed interior with all-white walls, ceilings and furnishings that are all splashed with colourful paint splatters. You even get to play and interact with their friendly in-house alpacas!
Image Credit: Sugar Lips
The menu is also pretty whimsical, featuring vibrantly coloured rainbow dessert platters and rainbow layered cake slices. Some highlights from the menu include Rainbow Fantasy Dessert Platter (RM29.90), Tutti Fruity Ice Cream Bowl (RM24.90), Fried Eggy Golden Fish (RM26.90), Curry Seafood (RM26.90) and more.
Sugar Lips
Address: LG-14, Blok A, Permas City, Kawasan Perdagangan Permas Utara, Jalan Permas Utara, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12pm-11pm
8. Cool Coffee Project
IG: @coolcoffeeproject
Cool Coffee Project is perfect for coffee connoisseurs and adventurous coffee drinkers both, featuring a moody, industrial-esque interior that’s just oh-so-cool. The space is decked in mostly dark tones of black and dark brown, and feels like an intimate coffee bar.
IG: @coolcoffeeproject
Instead of the usual coffee drinking experience, they offer a more unique coffee tasting or omakase-style course where you get to try a variety of rare coffee brews you might not find elsewhere. Prices for coffee start from RM20, and you can also pair them with a selection of sweets like caneles, pudding and cheesecake.
Cool Coffee Project
Address: PTD52709 B, Jalan Ros Merah 2/2, Taman Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-7pm
9. The Early Bird
Image Credit: The Early Bird
Located near KSL is the Early Bird, an aesthetic industrial-inspired brunch café that’s decked in playful and whimsical furniture and striking decor, as well as lush greenery. They specialise in Japanese-style brunch items, and beautifully presented desserts and drinks.
Image Credit: The Early Bird
Some of the items to try include Signature Salted Egg Chicken Benedict (RM31), Prawn Salad (RM25), Truffle Chicken Mushroom Toast (RM25) and Cereal Prawn Pasta (RM29), just to name a couple. Their pretty desserts are also not to be missed out: like Souffle Strawberry (RM29), Basque Burnt Cheesecake (RM25), Tiramisu Waffle (RM25) and more.
The Early Bird
Address: 86, Jln Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am-10pm daily
10. Soeurs Coffee
Image Credit: Brandon Wong
This coffee and dessert spot boasts an artsy vibe, with raw, textured concrete walls and a moody industrial vibe. Soeurs Coffee is tucked away in the Skudai area, just 20 minutes away from the checkpoint. They specialise in artisanal coffee brews, brunch items and loaded croissant sandwiches.
Image Credit: yy
Most of the menu items and desserts feature a Japanese flair; and on the menu are the likes of Pesto Tuna Sandwich (RM18), Crunchy Peanut Banana (RM15), Torched Onigiri (RM18), Croissant Tiramisu (RM17), Pudding Affogato (RM16) and more.
Soeurs Coffee
Address: 54, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am-7pm daily
