The most romantic restaurants in Kuala Lumpur

The vibe Osteria Gamberoni, an elegant Italian eatery in Chow Kit’s Yap Ah Shak House, is where you go when you want a romantic Italian experience. Inside, orb lights create a cosy atmosphere for date night, but we suggest you snag a table outdoors instead; Osteria Gamberoni’s location on Jalan Yap Ah Shak, in the heart of the city’s heritage centre, adds to the allure. 

The food Fresh pasta is made daily on-site, while pizza is thin-crust, Roman-style. The menu also includes free-range poultry and meat and locally sourced seafood cooked in the Italian tradition. If the date goes well, head upstairs to the rooftop for a cocktail or two at its sister bar Terrasse (also known as Terrazza). At night, the stunning views of the Kuala Lumpur Tower and the twins will win you points.

The vibe A lush respite about a 20-minute drive from the city, Potager at Bamboo Hills will immediately impress. On arrival, moving through the reception flanked by soft curves, the corridor reveals an enchanting courtyard with weeping willow trees, wild greens and limestones sourced from Perlis. The restaurant itself is now recognisable for its luxe interiors – think light timber notes and louvred panels, with artworks and dried floral arrangements woven throughout the dining rooms. 

The food We’ve come to expect culinary excellence from Masashi Horiuchi, the executive chef of Entier. His latest venture, Potager, celebrates craft and provenance experienced through multi-course menus marrying French elegance and Japanese precision. The humble corn from Cameron Highland is elevated to a star ingredient here, alongside cocoa beans grown by farmers in peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, locally harvested figs, sawara fish from the waters of Sabah, and even sweet basil plucked straight from the ‘potager’, French for kitchen garden.

The vibe Dewakan, with two MICHELIN stars to its name, will immediately impress. As the country’s first and only restaurant to be awarded the stars, it might be the most revered restaurant in all of Malaysia. A bustling open kitchen allows diners a peek into the detailed precision with which the team works; natural materials and a warm palette define Dewakan, and lest we forget the stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the city afforded by its perch on Naza Tower’s 48th floor. 

The food Chef-owner Darren Teoh is one of Kuala Lumpur’s finest. His interpretation of modern Malaysian cuisine centres on locally and sustainably sourced ingredients; even its dinnerware honours local artisans. There’s a tasting menu grounded in creative cooking, featuring an assortment of indigenous fruits and herbs and unique condiments such as umbut.

The vibe A glimpse of, and an homage to, Sri Lanka and South Indian culture set against sleek, sultry interiors. Bay windows framing the city skyline from its address on the seventh floor of the swanky Four Seasons Hotel complete the Nadodi experience.

The food This is Indian like you’ve never had before. From Kerala and Tamil Nadu to the shores of Sri Lanka, familiar flavours are transformed with modern techniques. For dinner, the degustation menu—named ‘Nomadic Trails’—pays tribute to the early settlers of Malaysia and the surrounding regions; heritage recipes such as biryani, fish head mappas, and uttapam are reimagined with utmost finesse. Time Out tip: For the meatless folk, there’s a vegetarian version of the main menu. A second tip: post-dinner, sojourn to Nadodi’s sister bar and lounge, Vér, for inventive craft cocktails with impeccable service.

The vibe Studio Restaurant, by the hospitality heavyweight duo chef Christian Recomio and restaurateur Jenifer Kuah, keeps the spirit of the now-closed Sitka Studio in Plaza Batai alive. It’s instantly clear that interiors are inspired too by Sitka Studio, if elevated: it’s decidedly romantic with a dimly-lit, intimate dining space that oozes sophistication. 

The food There are three tasting menus—six-, eight-, and ten-course—mainly focused on seafood, shellfish, and vegetables. Think flavour-forward cooking with a European sensibility and emphasis on technique and simplicity over pretty, fussy plates. One of the fish dishes appears in all three menus: threadfin served with a sauce made from chicken wings and morel mushrooms, black trompette, and a salsa of parsley, physalis, and caviar. Spring for the alcoholic drinks pairing. For the no-meat folks, opt for the eight-course vegetarian menu. Time Out tip: Though it’s only open by way of reservations on Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant is available for private bookings any day of the week for lunch and dinner, perfect for a romantic date with the entire place to yourselves. ‍

The vibe If you've got your finger on the pulse of Petaling Street’s dining scene, you'll be well aware of Pickle Dining. Housed in a hundred-year-old heritage shoplot, the restaurant is refurbished by architect and co-owner Shin Tseng, who kept the brick walls and flooring as a homage to the pre-war building’s architecture. Dining here feels like you’re eating in a friend’s kitchen: cosy and intimate, with a long dinner table salvaged from a warehouse and chairs crafted from recycled plastic. For conversation, there’s a shelf showcasing jars of pickles smack in the dining room, aptly named the Pickle Library.

The food Chef and co-owner Danial Thorlby embraces time-honoured techniques such as fermentation, dry-ageing, and wood-fire cooking. Here, it’s not just about pickling and fermentation; he also captures the essence of no-BS cooking with an open-fire kitchen, showcasing French-inspired and primitive cooking in a modern setting. Order the tasting menu, which includes a course of mangrove jack ceviche with coconut nuoc cham and a sirloin cut grilled to perfection, served with black garlic aioli. There’s also a vegetarian menu and a non-beef menu.

The vibe For “I know a great little place…” vibes, Leen’s is the one. The neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail has no shortage of foodie spots, sure, but Leen’s might be our favourite: the Middle East kitchen has been open since late 2022 and was honoured with a Michelin Bib Gourmand in the 2025 awards. There are cosy corners perfect for a romantic evening, though we prefer the chef’s counter for ringside seats closest to the action.

The food Syrian-born chef-owner Ameer Alzalek serves up crowd-pleasing Syrian comfort food. The menu is meant to be shared. Arabian bread, freshly baked, is the perfect accompaniment to any meal; pair it with Leen’s signature smoked hummus. There’s a spectacular short ribs dish served with artichoke purée and smoked beef vinaigrette, topped with red radish pickle. The baba ghanoush salad of fried eggplant, pomegranate yoghurt and walnuts is a no-skip.

The vibe It’s a handsome, striking space; the cavernous interiors are enveloped in earthy hues of red with terracotta stucco walls, and the spacious dining rooms offer plush sofa seats. Be sure to book a seat at the U-shaped counter, constructed from grey travertine. It accommodates up to 18 guests eager to engage with the chefs to witness the primordial-style woodfire cooking up close.

The food Well, it’s all in the name. Bar.Kar. is a play on the Malay word ‘bakar’, meaning the act of burning by fire. The brainchild of Lee Zhe Xi and Soh Yong Zhi, the duo behind Eat and Cook, Bar.Kar. is fully committed to charcoal open-flame dining, cooking only with rough wood. Signatures include 21-day dry-aged wagyu beef, truffle toast, and grilled squid served with kangkong and sweet peanut chilli.