Growing up in Malaysia, we’re accustomed to our daily dose of carbohydrate-heavy diet especially in the form of breads. Over the past few years, urban appetites have begun to slowly shift. With more European bakeries springing up all over the Klang Valley, Malaysian taste buds have grown in sophistication – favouring bread with fancy toppings or fillings as well as delightful treats such as cakes, pastries, tarts, and pies.
From freshly baked European breads to Western-style desserts, here are some of the best bakeries found within the vicinity of Klang Valley for you to explore.
1. The Carpenter’s Daughter
The self-proclaimed carpenter’s daughter decided to turn her hobby for baking into a full time job in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since. Originally a bread supplier organic shop around the Klang Valley, Jin Ling has been the owner of a full-fledged bakery since 2011. Completely organic with no preservatives, the breads here are crisp but pleasantly chewy in the middle.
For starters, order the Bread Platter, which comes in various types including tomato, 7-grain, cranberry and ciabatta, truffle butter, walnuts and a vine of delicious and seedless grapes.
- Address: No 46G, Jalan USJ 10/1E, 47620 UEP Subang Jaya
- Opening Hours: Weekdays, 8:30am – 9:30pm; Weekends, 8:30am – 10pm
- Tel: 03-80811218
2. Levain Boulangerie Patisserie
This bakery and restaurant stands out because of its colonial-style bungalow located near the KL city centre. With over 60 varieties of breads and pastries to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The founders of Levain are also proud to proclaim that all baked goods are produced by a traditional stone oven (imported from Spain) that nurture the natural yeasts to rise, ensuring that their breads have a softer texture.
- Address: 7, Jalan Delima, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: Daily, 7:30am – 9pm
- Tel: 03-2142 6611
- Facebook / Website
3. Der Backmeister
Since debuting in July last year, Der Backmeister (which means The Bakemaster in english) has been a breath of fresh air for the neighbourhood in TTDI. Run by a Malaysian and German duo, the German bread and pastry hut specialises in using rye in the bread-making process. Try their signature masterpiece OppaKlaus has 80% rye content and is just tasty on its own, thanks to its natural ingredients with no preservatives.
If you want a bit of everything, opt for the bread sampler pack, which contains the bakery’s most distinct breads. Also look out for their selection of German pastries and cakes. The apple strudels usually sells out within 1 hour during weekends.
- Address: 40, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 8am – 9pm
- Tel: 03-2856 0613
- Facebook / Website
4. Tommy Le Baker
With 10 years of experience in France under his belt, Tommy uses the pre-ferment and long fermentation process as the base for his breads. The result? Fresh smelling nutritional bread that will call you from afar to its bakery. Called Tommy Le Baker, this hidden gem is situated behind Viva Residency on the ground floor of a condominium block.
If France isn’t on your travelling list, then visit Tommy Le Baker for a baguette or 2. We heard great things about the carved roast beef sandwich (RM10), which is served with beef, fresh tomato slices, pickle slices, mix with whole grain mustard and cheese. There are also French sweets and desserts in the forms of tarts and pies.
- Address: Unit B-0-7, Viva Residency, 378 Jalan Ipoh, 51200 Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 8am – 6pm
- Tel: 03-40432546
5. The Bread Shop
Inspired by her trip to Melbourne last year, The Bread Shop’s founder Peng Merican returned to KL and introduced her new hybrid pastry – the cruffin (a cross between a croissant and muffin). The Bread Shop has 5 flavours – salted caramel, chocolate, and peanut caramel (for those with sweet tooth), as well as lemon and cherry. You probably won’t be satisfied with just 1 cruffin, so bring along your friends and bite into this sinful delight.
- Address:11, Jalan Setiakasih 5, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 7:30pm; Saturday, 8am – 5pm. Closed on Sunday
- Tel: 03-2093 8734
6. Kenny Hills Bakers
Founded by Malaysian filmmaker Au Tai Hon, Kenny Hills Bakers smells of irresistible fragrance of fresh baked goods when you walk into the bakery only to be greeted by shelves of hand-crafted sourdough loaves, ciabatta bread, and baguettes made with stone-ground organic flour.
If the breads at Kenny Hills Bakers reminds you of the now-closed German bakery Craft Bakers, that’s because head baker Johnny Kyaw was hired to bring his recipes to Bukit Tunku. Be sure to also snap up some croissants, cinnamon Danish pastries, and gluten-free buns when you’re in the neighbourhood.
- Address: I-1B, Taman Tunku, Off Langgak Tunku, Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 7pm
- Tel: 03-6206 4111
7. Tous Les Jours
Bringing together the best of 2 worlds, Tous Les Jours (pronounced as Too-Leh-Joo, which means “Everyday”) is a French bakery that first started in Korea. The freshly-baked loaves, pastries, and cakes are neatly arranged on the wooden blocks, but none look more appetising than their classic buttery pastries – Dark Cherry Danish, Peach Danish, and Tomato Pastry .
- Address: 4 outlets – Bangsar, Empire Damansara, WOLO Bukit Bintang, and Subang’s Empire Shopping Gallery
- Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 11pm
- Facebook / Website
Note: Tous Les Jours Malaysia closed down on 25th May 2017.
8. Thyme Bakery & Cafe
Walk into Thyme Bakery & Cafe and you’ll be drawn to their wide array of cakes and unique breads. The Ying Yong Butterfly bread, for example, combines 2 beloved Asian flavours (red bean and green tea lotus), making it a must-try delicious combo. According to Thyme, their blueberry cheese tart is the best seller. But why settle for 1 when you can bite into other equally tasty options – Lemon meringue, fruit, and banoffee tarts.
- Address: D 39-G Jalan PJU 1/45, Aman Suria, Petaling Jaya
- Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 9pm
- Tel: 03-7803 8798
9. Le Pont Boulangerie
This 3-level European inspired bakery and cafe is best known for pairing their flakey and fragrant croissants with our favourite dessert – ice cream! Le Pont’s croissant ice cream sandwich comes with 3 scoops of yummylicious ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, and pistachio), together with fresh whipped cream and crunchy crystallised pistachio as toppings.
- Address: 2 outlets – Old Klang Road and Sri Petaling
- Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 12am
- Facebook / Website
10. Grind 22 Cafe
Tucked away beside Lorong Maarof’s Twenty2 fashion boutique, Grind 22 Cafe – managed by Firdaus, Fikri, and Fendi – promises “coffee and everything nice”. With shady trees providing a cool shelter, this trendy shop offers homemade lamb puff served with their signature sauce. But it is their delicious mini frozen cheesecakes (mango, durian, strawberry, peach, blueberry, Toblerone, and Oreo) that have diners coming back for more.
- Address: 22, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar Park, 59000 Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm; Friday – Saturday, 12pm – 1am
- Tel: 03- 2202 0422
- Facebook/Website
Did we miss out on any crazy-good bakeries around town? Do share some recommendations and we’ll be happy to check ’em out 😉
Sources: Poskod MY, Time Out KL, Open Rice, Hungry Go Where, Eat Drink, MMO, Finding Fats.
