Hartamas area guide

Discover the best restaurants, shops, bars and cafés in the areas of Hartamas, Mont Kiara and Solaris Dutamas

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp

Advertising

Populated by expatriates and upper middle class families, Hartamas is fancy – even its name says so (‘harta’, treasure; ‘mas’, gold). This isn’t saying that the area is inaccessible for us 'mere mortals' – in fact, it’s quite the opposite now. With many cafés and eateries opening up around the 'hood, plenty of non-Hartamas residents flock here, and not just for the lineup of Japanese restaurants. By the way, we're also including the best places to eat and visit in neighbouring areas Mont Kiara and Solaris Dutamas.

Fun fact: The area was the premise of a local TV show titled (surprise, surprise) ‘Hartamas’ starring Ida Nerina and Rashidi Ishak.

Best things to do in Hartamas

Sport and fitness

Hot Yo Studio

This yoga studio does hot yoga classes and also sells yoga apparel and cold-pressed juices in a minimalist, black-and-white space. Call beforehand to check on...

Art

MAP @ Publika

Set up as a nucleus for all art activities in the Hartamas area, MAP consists of two spaces, White Box (an exhibition space) and Black Box (a new media space)....

Theatre

Theatre Lounge Café

An arts space that serves as a venue for events, seminars, talks, meetings, rehearsals and other arts-related activities. Various gigs, musicals, plays and...

Things to do

Hammam Publika

I’ve never thought of myself as a particularly dirty person. I shower with appropriate regularity, exfoliating once a week and sometimes extending to dry body...

Things to do

The Harp Academy

Get your facts right: A harp isn’t some type of lyre you see angels play on a Christmas card. This string instrument – also available in various forms such as...

Sport and fitness

Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

Besides providing a sprawling golf course, the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) also offers yoga, aerobics, line dancing, kickboxing, tennis,...

Shopping

Borneo Ink

Home to siblings Eddie David, Simon David and Lina David, as well as apprentice-turned-artist Russell Lloyd, the award-winning Borneo Ink opened its doors in...

Sport and fitness

Blade Fencing Kuala Lumpur

Tracing back hundreds of years, fencing was one of the few sports at the first Olympic Games. It’s often referred to as fast-paced physical chess, and is...

Nightlife

URBAN Concept KTV

Best for birthday celebrations and long singing hours, Urban Concept KTV has a pretty impressive song selection and karaoke system. Morning prices here are at...

Kids

JKids Publika

A playground in a shopping mall is nothing new, but Jkids Malaysia is uniquely designed in the sense of movable toys such as Spinning Palm Trees and Dancing...

Shopping

TTP.my

During his many years in the advertising and printing industry, co-founder Ee Han Ong noticed that customers at digital printing shops often had to go to...

Restaurants

CuBs & CuPs

Owned by Korean partners David Son and Liz Kim, CuBs & CuPs in Desa Sri Hartamas attracts a good crowd of pet owners and those eager to hug resident dogs...

Best shops in Hartamas

Shopping

Arcadia

Though they specialise in vintage furniture and homeware, Arcadia stocks a whole load of paraphernalia unrelated except that they’re all cool. Limited...

Shopping

Ales & Lagers

Away from the harrying corridors of Publika is our pick for best bottle shop in KL. Obscured behind espressolab on a lonely Solaris Dutamas lane, Ales & Lagers...

Shopping

Bang Bang Geng

Bang Bang Geng is not a camera shop. Owner Chin Koon Yik enshrines his impressive camera collection (there’s a Kodak Autograph 3A made in 1914) on shelves and...

Restaurants

Ben's Independent Grocer

We’ve heard of people driving across the city to do their weekly shop in BIG, and we don’t blame them. It has everything you need in a supermarket: excellent...

Shopping

Century Fiesta Desa Sri Hartamas

With over 3,000 costumes available, Century Fiesta should be your choice if you don’t fancy heading into the city to pick out an outfit. We were impressed by...

Shopping

White Elephant

The charity arm of British India is now open and it’s perfect for bargain hunters who like the same design aesthetics of its mother store. The store stocks an...

Shopping

Whimsigirl

This local children's label mixes textures and colours in a subdued, classy way. The tiny traditional-wear-inspired outfits are made in about 20 pieces each,...

Shopping

Island & Republik

If ubiquitous IKEA furniture and household items are too passé for your liking, then Island & Republik should be your next port of call. Featuring...

Health and beauty

number76

Tumbling waves, pink-tinged tips and braided updos are the name of the game at number76, the city’s latest Japanese import. The brainchild of a KL-based...

Best art galleries in Hartamas

Art

Dumpster

Owned by former ad man Romaizie Mustapha, also known as Rom, the idea behind Dumpster is to make sure local artistic talents don’t go to waste by...

Art

Galeri Chandan Publika

Located within the enclaves of the ultra-hip Publika, Galeri Chandan is a unique multi-disciplinary art, design and project management group. Apart from...

Art

Artemis Art

Located at Solaris Dutamas, Artemis Art specialises in contemporary works from up-and-coming artists. The art gallery aims to share the stories of talented...

Art

The Edge Galerie

The Edge Galerie aims to promote local and regional art. Besides exhibiting works by both upcoming and seasoned artists, the gallery also organises auctions to...

Art

Segaris Art Centre

Segaris Art Centre aims to represent the best of modern and contemporary Malaysian art. Not only is the gallery used to display artwork but also to organise...

Art

Galeri Titikmerah

Galeri Titikmerah is a pop up gallery by artists from Studio Rumah Terang.

Best restaurants in Hartamas

Restaurants

Sala

This vegan joint serves up a list of local and Mexican-inspired dishes in a no-frills and cosy setting. Despite lacking any form of meat in its dishes, Sala...

Restaurants

The Cafe Chicken

While there’s no guarantee of finding your oppa here at The Cafe Chicken in Hartamas, at least you’ll have good Korean fried chicken. The menu can...

Restaurants

Deuce

When Coquo – one of our Best New Openings in the Time Out KL Food & Drink Awards 2016 – closed in October with Chef Toni Valero moving to Singapore, it felt as...

Restaurants

Marta's Kitchen

price 2 of 4

The Spanish restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas whips up authentic tapas, paella and churros, but the classic tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) is a...

Book online

Restaurants

Benbino

With stroller parking, an ample number of highchairs and a cute kids' playground adjoining, Benbino is a welcome addition to KL's selection of family-friendly...

Restaurants

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison

Founded in Nagoya, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison is known for serving up hire (fillet) and rosu (loin) breaded deep-fried pork cutlets. Signature meat aging and...

Restaurants

Naughty Nuri’s

3 out of 5 stars
price 2 of 4

Some people say a trip to Ubud doesn’t count without a meal at Naughty Nuri’s. One must drop everything for pork ribs and martinis, and one must take photos of...

Restaurants

Ante

3 out of 5 stars
price 3 of 4

January 2013 Settling on a restaurant in Solaris Dutamas is quickly becoming one of the city’s biggest culinary conundrums, with many Publika-goers...

Restaurants

Real Food

Not only does the first KL outpost of Real Food from Singapore source its ingredients directly from farmers, the founders also visited the farms personally to...

Restaurants

Steaks & Lobsters

price 2 of 4

You're obviously here for the steaks and lobsters, and the Sri Hartamas restaurant doesn't disappoint. Have the signature flaming live American lobster grilled...

Restaurants

The Bee

price 2 of 4

The Bee is a buzzing neighbourhood food and drink joint that serves fuss-free food and quality coffee. The cosy place fills up during brunch hour serving...

Restaurants

Naughty Babe Dirty Duck

3 out of 5 stars
price 3 of 4

Naughty Babe Dirty Duck is the kind of restaurant you want more of in the city. Interior-wise, it has the trappings of a hip café – salvaged wood...

Best Japanese restaurants in Hartamas

Restaurants

Uokatsu

4 out of 5 stars

The monarchs of Japanese dining in KL – haughtily led by the likes of Kame Sushi – may never go out of fashion but sometimes we’re allowed to...

Restaurants

Kushiyaki Kuni

This yakitori bar may be under-the-radar, but its handwritten menu packs a punch. We swear by the grilled kawa (chicken skin), pork with mentaiko and ox...

Restaurants

Hamasho

3 out of 5 stars
price 3 of 4

Tokyo’s Kaisen Sumibiyaki Hamasho sees its first international outlet and it’s only right that Hartamas is the suburb of choice. On a Tuesday...

Restaurants

Toridoki

The team behind Toridoki only skewers the chicken or vegetables over the fire. At this yakitori bar, the chefs combine the different parts of the chicken on...

Restaurants

Yakitori Dining Fukuda

No stranger to the Japanese food scene, the people behind Kurata in PARKROYAL add another restaurant to their list with Yakitori Dining Fukuda by Torifuku, a...

Restaurants

Kame Sushi

4 out of 5 stars
price 4 of 4

July 2013 When you eat out as often as I do, it’s a rare experience to stumble across a great restaurant, and rarer still to encounter food that’s...

Best cafés in Hartamas

Restaurants

Tray Café

Taking over the impressive Haute Food Co, Tray Cafe is following its former tenant's footsteps in masterful dessert-making. The cakes and tarts at Tray are...

Restaurants

BreadFruits Café

price 2 of 4

This café in Hartamas offers well-executed brunch fare, some of which feature their signature ingredient – wild honey. Owner KK and his uncle...

Restaurants

CuBs & CuPs

Owned by Korean partners David Son and Liz Kim, CuBs & CuPs in Desa Sri Hartamas attracts a good crowd of pet owners and those eager to hug resident dogs...

Restaurants

First Step Coffee

First Step’s house-roasted beans are the coffee of choice for Mont Kiara residents in the know; here you’ll find none of the pretension and heaps...

Restaurants

Rubberduck

Finding this pâtisserie-café can be a chore as it’s hidden in a less trodden corner of the confusing labyrinth that is Plaza Damas. But...

Restaurants

DOMA Modern Korean

price 2 of 4

A Korean eatery that goes beyond kimchi, Doma serves up contemporary Korean cuisine with a sense of imaginative playfulness that’s uncommon among the...

Restaurants

The Red Beanbag

The Red Beanbag is a modern Australian inspired café serving up hearty portions of eggs Benedicts, burgers and French toasts among other brunch...

Restaurants

The Prep Room

Previously of Penang’s Coffee Elements, Akmal Zaki is now at The Prep Room. The menu – a labour of love, quirkily hand-illustrated – features...

Best coffee shops in Hartamas

Restaurants

Redemption Espresso Bar

A cool minimal espresso bar in Plaza Damas offering an equally focused menu – coffee from BluKettle roasters plus cakes and pastries from home-bakers....

Restaurants

CoffeeSociété

price 2 of 4

The ambiance is cool and cosy, and their double espresso is beautifully pulled with its thick layer of crema on top.

Restaurants

Coffee Stain by Joseph

price 2 of 4

We like Coffee Stain’s medium body espresso; its intense, long finish is a result of a delicate blend of beans from Papua New Guinea (for the smooth...

Best places for dessert in Hartamas

Restaurants

The Ice Cream Bar

The Ice Cream Bar is the latest venture by the same people behind your favourite ice cream parlour, Inside Scoop. Things are done differently here as this bar...

Restaurants

Whimsical Gelateria & Caffe by Cielo Dolci

price 2 of 4

The good folks behind Cielo Dolci are behind Publika’s newest ice cream addition – a twee space that appropriately brings its name to life. After...

Restaurants

Ben's Bake Shop

price 1 of 4

The Big Group has a sweet new addition – Ben’s Bake Shop that sells nothing but the sugary, caramelised and everything nice. Located within...

Restaurants

Swich Café

price 2 of 4

Some of the best cakes in the city have come out of the ovens at Swich. Owner Cheng uses seasonal fruits to come up with masterful surprises like the now...

Shopping

Salon Du Chocolat

Chocolatier Salon du Chocolat serves a short list of chocolate staples – brownies, hot chocolate and waffles – but shame on anyone who skips the...

Best bars and pubs in Hartamas

Bars and pubs

The Vault

There’s no screaming sign here, but in-the-know patrons walk up a stairway (hint: look for The Prep Room) to gain entry via a vault door – hence,...

Shopping

Ales & Lagers

Away from the harrying corridors of Publika is our pick for best bottle shop in KL. Hidden along a lonely Solaris Dutamas lane, Ales & Lagers doesn’t share the...

Bars and pubs

P&C Cocktail Bar

price 3 of 4

This closet of a space is accessible via a discreet door behind Naughty Nuri’s, the beloved Balinese pork ribs house that racks up a full house nightly. At...

Bars and pubs

Barfly

Barfly takes the crown for the cheapest beers in town. How does RM12 nett for a pint of Tiger and RM14 nett for Guinness sound? Like a party. The crowd of...

Bars and pubs

Bricks & Barrels

3 out of 5 stars

We’ve made a couple of cloak-and-dagger visits to this corner-lot bar in Desa Sri Hartamas, and on most occasions, have been greeted by generous crowds...

Restaurants

SOULed Out Sri Hartamas

price 3 of 4

A steady fixture in the KL night scene for over ten years now, Souled Out remains a popular hangout spot, especially among the city’s youths. The extensive...

See more area guides

Things to do

Bangsar

Bangsar has gone through many phases – unobtrusive residential area, clubbing haven, arts and culture quarter, and now, café district. From the...

Things to do

Hartamas

Populated by expatriates and upper middle class families, Hartamas is fancy – even its name says so (‘harta’, treasure; ‘mas’,...

Things to do

Damansara

The wide land that is Damansara has the privilege of being both KL and Selangor. It can be confusing – Bukit Damansara for example, is not exactly near...

Things to do

KL City

Your cheat sheet to all the best restaurants, shops and things to do in the main areas of the city centre including Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and Pudu.

Things to do

Damansara Utama

Damansara Utama is home to Damansara Uptown, the land of hard-to-find parking spots and more cafés than you can shake a stick at. We say park in the new...

Things to do

Sunway

Let’s not mask the fact that Sunway is an area dominated by students, which isn’t saying that it’s a bad thing. If you need help getting...

Things to do

Sri Petaling

Sri Petaling is a mixed bag of old eating establishments, massage parlours and cafés. You can get around most of the Jalan Radins by foot, although...

Things to do

Petaling Jaya

To say that Petaling Jaya (aka PJ) is huge is an understatement. Divided into several areas and neighbourhoods (better known as 'seksyen'), there are your...