Sunnies, Solaris Dutamas

The sun might shy away this week, but Sunnies is set to shine in Solaris Dutamas.

Slated to soft-launch by this Saturday, Sunnies is the baby sister of Tanned in Publika, showcasing bright brunch highlights that span açai bowls to smoked duck waffles to tomato seafood rigatoni.

Cake enthusiasts will be walking on sunshine, courtesy of Sunnies’ irresistibly creamy raspberry dacquoise and carrot cake, crafted with top-notch care.

Matcha maniacs must not miss the Matchamissu and Matcha Brulee, whimsical beverages that blend a Japanese foundation with Italian and French flair.

Even on stormy evenings, Sunnies’ space is as spirit-lifting as its name suggests, its friendly homeliness enhanced by Frankie Valli singing on the speakers and vintage magazine covers of Donny and Marie Osmond on the shelves.

Chouchou Cocktail Bar, Tun Tan Cheng Lock Road

Chouchou is a shoo-in for downtown KL's most delicious new cocktail destination, pairing distinctive drinks with a dreamy dinner.

This is the friendly street-level sister bar of Pickle Dining, a narrow back-alley corridor for Chinatown-adjacent adventures, serving playful potions - absinthe with makgeolli, vodka, cantaloupe and cherry blossoms; saffron liqueur with snake fruit pickling juice; gin with Frangelico, hazelnuts and almonds; gin with olive oil, pear and shiso; red wine with bourbon, Cognac and mascarpone; and Calvados with sesame oil and sweet soy sauce. 

Each is elaborately persuasive, some delicate, others deep, all beguiling us to linger long into the night, with a snacking menu that makes for a full meal, emerging from Pickle's kitchen upstairs, including richly textured stuffed chicken wings with black cardamom jus, mangrove jack ceviche with coconut nuoc cham, and melt-in-the-mouth truffled pommes dauphine.

Tanaair, Taman Paramount

Taman Paramount’s new Tanaair honours a homeland’s heritage in a kampung-inspired space with a towering mangrove fan palm.

Recipes prove lovingly prepared - sumptuous spiced beef rendang tok with melting tenderness; fragrant, full-bodied ayam berempah, showered with shards of lemongrass-laced fried galangal; Muar marinated otak-otak with gorgeous green sambal; and much more.

Service is warm and welcoming; Saloma-era melodies set the mood for a marvellous Malaysian meal.

Hani Coffee & Roastery, Bangsar

After 11 weeks of refurbishment, Bangsar’s Hani Coffee is back, recharged with its own roaster and a revamped setting.

The walls have come down, freeing up Hani to be a more open, flexible space, flooded with natural light, equally enjoyable for everyday brunches or exclusive events.

Lucky Garden’s fortunate fix of French toast is found here, with a savoury and sweet selection that evokes the golden hour, extending to eggy ecstasy. Hani’s founders also recommend their pesto salmon pasta and an upcoming pesto katsu sando.

The house-baked pistachio burnt cheesecake is a must, luscious with soothing flavours and melt-in-the-mouth smoothness.

The filter coffee selection embraces origins from Ecuador to Ethiopia, embodying Hani’s effort to make coffee an inclusive experience for everyone. Beans are offered for retail purchase in thoughtful containers that can be reused and repurposed.

Even the coolers are meticulously made - Genki is a beautiful blend of fermented yellow watermelon with a citrusy fruitiness balanced by Hani’s own salted prune syrup.

Fun fact: Hani turned three years old recently; celebrations to mark its anniversary and relaunch are in the works.