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Mei by Fat Spoon
Photo: Hizwan HamidMei by Fat Spoon

Hartamas area guide

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

Written by
Time Out KL editors
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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

Hot Yo Studio

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...

MAP @ Publika

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 Lounge Café

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...

Hammam Publika

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...

The Harp Academy

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...

Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

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,...

Borneo Ink

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...

Blade Fencing Kuala Lumpur

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...

URBAN Concept KTV

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...

JKids Publika

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...

TTP.my

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...

CuBs & CuPs

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

Arcadia

Arcadia

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

Ales & Lagers

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...

Bang Bang Geng

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...

Ben's Independent Grocer

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...

Century Fiesta Desa Sri Hartamas

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...

White Elephant

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...

Whimsigirl

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,...

Island & Republik

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...

number76

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

Dumpster

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...

Galeri Chandan Publika

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...

Artemis 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...

The Edge Galerie

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...

Segaris Art Centre

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...

Galeri Titikmerah

Galeri Titikmerah

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

Best restaurants in Hartamas

Sala

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...

The Cafe Chicken

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...

Deuce

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...

Marta's Kitchen

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...

Benbino

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...

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison

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...

Naughty Nuri’s

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...

Ante

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...

Real Food

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...

Steaks & Lobsters

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...

The Bee

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...

Naughty Babe Dirty Duck

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

Uokatsu

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...

Kushiyaki Kuni

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...

Hamasho

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...

Toridoki

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...

Yakitori Dining Fukuda

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...

Kame Sushi

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

Tray Café

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...

BreadFruits Café

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...

CuBs & CuPs

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...

First Step Coffee

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...

Rubberduck

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...

DOMA Modern Korean

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...

The Red Beanbag

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...

The Prep Room

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

Redemption Espresso Bar

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....

CoffeeSociété

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.

Coffee Stain by Joseph

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

The Ice Cream Bar

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...

Ben's Bake Shop

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...

Swich Café

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...

Salon Du Chocolat

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

The Vault

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,...

Ales & Lagers

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...

P&C Cocktail Bar

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...

Barfly

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...

Bricks & Barrels

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...

SOULed Out Sri Hartamas

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...

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