Cafeography
Kuala Lumpur · Jalan TAR & Chow Kit

Cafés in Jalan TAR & Chow Kit

Heritage Row cafés on Jalan Doraisamy and old coffee shops along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

Photo: Munzir, Pexels License

Chow Kit is named after Loke Chow Kit, a miner, municipal councilor and the first local owner of a department store. It lies between two parallel streets, Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and holds Bazaar Baru Chow Kit, the largest wet market in Kuala Lumpur; a large Indonesian community has earned it the nickname Little Jakarta.1

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, known as Jalan TAR and formerly Batu Road, is named after the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (king) and runs one way for about 1.9 km past preserved pre-war buildings.2 Its oldest cafés date from the colonial years, and the newer ones are round the corner on Jalan Doraisamy.3

Local tip: Pair the Saturday night market on Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman (17:00–22:00) with a stop at Coliseum Cafe at no. 98, which closes at 22:00.

At a glance

45Cafés listed
4With opening hours
07:00Earliest opening
00:00Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Kafe Sarawak Johor, from 07:00 (Daily 07:00–00:00).
  • Closes latest: ACE Corner, until 00:00 (Daily 12:00–00:00).
  • Most listed streets: Jalan Doraisamy (5), Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (3), Jalan Raja Abdullah (2).
  • Most common features: open late (7%), outdoor seating (4%), card payment (2%).

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Coffee chains in Jalan TAR & Chow Kit

Getting to Chow Kit by monorail and LRT

The monorail has two stops on the corridor, Medan Tuanku and Chow Kit.2 Chow Kit station is best for the market and the streets around it, while Bandaraya on the LRT is closer to the middle of Jalan TAR.3 PWTC LRT and Hospital Kuala Lumpur MRT stations are also nearby.1

Bazaar Baru Chow Kit, at 469–473 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, trades 09:00–17:00 and is known for its fish and seafood.31

Heritage Row on Jalan Doraisamy

Jalan Doraisamy is nicknamed Heritage Row: restaurants and clubs have taken over its old terraced houses, and it is the area's nightlife hub.3 By day it is a coffee street. Common Grind, at no. 42, opens daily 09:00–17:30; in December 2024 a flat white cost RM11, and it had Wi-Fi and power points.4

Cheevit Cheeva is at no. 40 and Kwong Cheung Loong at no. 34, and Common Grind takes cards, so a morning on the street can cover three stops.

Old cafés on Jalan TAR

Coliseum Cafe and Bar, at 98 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, is a colonial-style room that has kept its look, and by one account its staff, for more than 90 years; it opens daily 10:00–22:00. Capital Cafe, at no. 213, dates from the 1940s and is one of the oldest cafés on the road.3

Off the main road at 1 Jalan Kamunting, Yut Kee is a Chinese coffee shop known for its Hainanese-style chicken chop, open 07:30–15:00.3 On Saturdays from 17:00 to 22:00, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman closes to traffic for a night market of fabrics, clothing, household goods and food.2

Late coffee in Chow Kit

This corner of the city runs later than the old center. Kafe Sarawak Johor opens 07:00–00:00 every day and has outdoor seating, and ACE Corner serves from 12:00 to midnight. Gavel Coffee Kitchen Craft beers, at 20 Jalan Yap Ah Shak, pairs coffee with beer, with Wi-Fi and outdoor tables, 12:00–22:00 from Tuesday to Saturday and until 18:00 on Sunday.

103 Coffee, which has hand-roasted its own beans in Sri Petaling since 2014, also runs an outpost in Chow Kit.5 Nosh, Tipple & Brew is on Jalan Ampang, and TWT Coffee on Jalan Munshi Abdullah.

Sources

  1. Chow Kit, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  2. Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  3. Kuala Lumpur/North of City Centre, Wikivoyage, accessed October 2026
  4. 10 Best Work-Friendly Cafes In Kuala Lumpur, Eatbook (Zura Yusof, December 23, 2024), accessed October 2026
  5. The best cafés in Kuala Lumpur, Time Out Kuala Lumpur (Ng Su Ann, December 26, 2024), accessed October 2026
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In Jalan TAR & Chow Kit, also browse: Open late Outdoor seating Wi-Fi Bakery cafés

FAQ

Jalan TAR & Chow Kit cafés: questions

How do you get to Chow Kit and Jalan TAR in Kuala Lumpur?

Two KL Monorail stations serve Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman: Medan Tuanku and Chow Kit. Chow Kit station is closest to Bazaar Baru Chow Kit, the city's largest wet market. Bandaraya LRT station is nearer the middle of Jalan TAR, and PWTC LRT and Hospital Kuala Lumpur MRT stations are also close by.

What is Heritage Row on Jalan Doraisamy in Kuala Lumpur?

Heritage Row is the nickname of Jalan Doraisamy, off Jalan TAR in Kuala Lumpur, where restaurants and clubs fill old terraced houses. It is the area's nightlife hub. In daytime Common Grind at no. 42 serves coffee 09:00–17:30; in December 2024 a flat white cost RM11, with Wi-Fi and power points.

Which old cafés are on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur?

Coliseum Cafe and Bar at 98 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman has kept its colonial-style look for more than 90 years and opens 10:00–22:00. Capital Cafe at no. 213 dates from the 1940s. Nearby, Yut Kee at 1 Jalan Kamunting is a Chinese coffee shop known for Hainanese-style chicken chop, open 07:30–15:00.

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