From a diverse dining scene featuring global cuisines to a burgeoning appreciation for fine wines and cocktails, Kuala Lumpur’s culinary and beverage culture is thriving. Here’s how this dynamic city is embracing international flavours, Michelin-starred excellence, and creative mixology.

Surely one of the best things about Kuala Lumpur is the sheer variety of cuisine available here. And bolstering the wide range of scrumptious local and regional food on offer – often at all hours of the day or night – the international dining scene has really taken significant strides forward in recent years, too.

In December 2022, Michelin’s world-famous guidebook awarded four restaurants in Malaysia a coveted star for its 2023 Guide, and listed numerous others. For 2024, Michelin named Malaysia’s first two-star restaurant. And for 2025, the constellation of Michelin stars grew once again, with KL and Penang collectively boasting six restaurants with one star, along with one KL restaurant with two stars. Well before Michelin and its stars, though, Malaysia was famous among foodies.

In KL, some of the longest-running international restaurants are, unsurprisingly, American fast food chains, and places like McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, and Subway are never too hard to find. Even Taco Bell started operations in Malaysia a few years ago! Pizza is another near-universal favourite, and though often sporting menus adapted to suit local palates, American pizza chains such as Domino’s and Pizza Hut. There’s also a chain called U.S. Pizza, but this is really just a local appropriation, not a true American chain.

America’s influence on KL’s dining scene doesn’t stop with just fast food, either. Casual dining chain restaurants like Chili’s, TGI Friday’s, Five Guys, and Tony Roma’s have all been popular in KL, and other chains like Bubba Gump, Red Lobster, and Longhorn Steakhouse have come and gone onto the scene here, too.

A GLOBAL TASTE

Apart from the admittedly waistline-challenging casual American fare, KL is home to almost any cuisine that might strike your fancy. Italian, of course, is globally beloved and here in KL, quite a few Italian chefs are serving up authentic and delicious fare. Sassoroso, Marini’s on 57, Michelangelo’s, Via Pre, and Zenzero are just a handful of venues where diners can nosh on delicious Italian dishes. Want Indian? German? Arabic? Thai? Latin American? Spanish? All this, and much more, is available.

With significant expat populations from Japan and South Korea living in KL, it’s no surprise that plenty of restaurants catering to them have popped up, serving authentic versions of the cuisines of those countries. If you want sushi, teppanyaki, or Korean BBQ, you are actually a bit spoiled for choice in KL, as good Japanese and Korean restaurants are tracked down with no problem. Finding Brazilian, Sri Lankan, French, or Nepalese food, though – among plenty of others – is more of a revelation, and again, Malaysia’s capital city does not disappoint.

Upscale dining has evolved dramatically in KL in the last decade, and the city is now attracting talented chefs from all over the world, bringing their innovative skills and eclectic culinary backgrounds to Malaysia. And when dining takes an upward tick, it seems inevitable that a love of some of life’s other fine indulgences gets swept along for the ascent. And accordingly, just in the last few years, Greater KL has seen remarkable growth in wine bars, whisky clubs, cigar lounges, and more – all signs of an increasing appreciation of the finer things in life.

A COMPLEMENT OF WINE

Good food is made even better by the presence of good wine, and much like the dining scene itself, the wine scene in KL has steadily improved over the years, too, though of course it’s not been without its share of struggles. Malaysia has no traditional wine culture of its own, nor is the climate at all suitable for production. Consequently, every bottle of wine sold, opened, and consumed in Malaysia has been imported.

Even today, the wine market in Malaysia is still young enough to be more of a growth prospect than a well-seasoned establishment, but there are signs that an evolution is underway, albeit a slow one, not unlike most such changes. Part of this shift is engendered by the country’s increasing affluence. As more Malaysians increase their earning power and enter the middle class, wine becomes more affordable relative to income.

Another factor in the country’s evolving appreciation of wine is linked to its rising affluence, and that is that more and more Malaysians are well-travelled and are increasingly visiting and being exposed to other countries which do have a well-established wine culture. Someone who may have never thought of buying a bottle of wine here may have spent a holiday in France, where wine is inextricably intertwined with its history and culture, and returned to Malaysia with a fresh new desire to pick up a bottle at the market. Similarly, young Malaysians who have gone overseas to study in Western countries often return having adopted some of those countries’ cultural practices.

These two factors – increasing affluence and a more global attitude – are, as much as anything, what’s behind Malaysia’s steadily emerging wine culture. That’s not to say there will ever be a strong and abiding love of wine here. Indeed, just over half the population is barred from drinking alcohol in accordance with religious laws. And whereas even the smallest towns in France and Spain will be amply stocked with various wines for purchase, there are plenty of towns in Malaysia where you’d be hard-pressed to find a single bottle.

And yet, wine lovers in Greater KL (and Penang) have seen a significant growth in restaurant wine lists, supermarket wine departments, even dedicated wine lounges and retail stores. As more Western-style restaurants open, and more international cuisine becomes available, wine is more readily offered as a complement.

COCKTAIL CULTURE

One area which has seen a significant surge in recent years is the craft cocktail scene. Specialized bars have made their mark in Kuala Lumpur, with speakeasy-style bars having led the way. The city is gaining regional attention, too, with bartending competitions and ‘bar takeovers’ with guest mixologists now a staple in the city. Upscale bars like Vertigo at Banyan Tree, Wet Deck at W, Vér at Nadodi, and Blue at EQ attract a lively mix of locals and tourists.

A growing handful of cocktail bars have really made a splash in the last few years, and in doing so, have elevated this particular scene in KL tremendously, with several bars – JungleBird, Bar Trigona, Reka:Bar, Three X Co, and Coley – landing on the list of Asia’s top bars in recent years. Other top-flight bars like Mizakumi, Bar Terumi, Hyde, Pahit, The Locker & Loft, 61 Monarchy, Frank’s Bar, and Director’s Cut (the little sibling of The Whisky Bar, arguably the champ for whisky lovers) have all taken the culture and appreciation for mixology and creative cocktails to heights unimaginable in KL just a few short years ago.

Whisky and cigar lounges are also on the increase in KL, so if this is an indulgence you enjoy, you’ll find plenty of places to visit. The country’s largest whisky and spirits tasting event, WhiskyPLUS, is also held annually now, attracting hundreds of enthusiasts keen to enjoy samples from dozens of brands.

So raise your glass! The culture of good dining, fine wines, and creative cocktails has come of age in the Malaysian capital – and we are looking forward to its continuing growth and evolution.