In April, my family and I needed to depart from the island. We were flying with a small three-year-old child, so we chose Malaysia due to affordable airfares and a short flight.
Usually, I prepare in advance for trips, and during the journey, I always have a whole list of marked places in Google Maps: places for leisure with a child, cafes with European menus, coffee shops with charming interiors, and landmarks.
Cafe
VCR
The perfect delicious place for breakfast. The average cost for breakfast at the cafe is $15 with a drink.
The menu includes the familiar avocado toast, suitable for children, waffles, kombucha, various types of coffee, waffles with different fillings, and a European breakfast. A highchair is available, but there's no children's menu.
Tapestry
A charming café with a cool interior.
Average bill - $16 with a drink.
The menu is very tasty. The café is quite crowded, so it's better to reserve a table in advance after lunch. We enjoyed the coffee, desserts, and smoothie bowls. The staff is very friendly. A feeding highchair is available, and various toys in the café's interior can be used as entertainment for children. There is no children's menu, but you can order familiar items or get food in its pure form (smoothies, plain pasta, eggs, fish, etc.).
PAUL Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
One of the trendiest cafés to visit in Malaysia.
Average bill - $13.
Everyone loves PAUL. It's delicious and beautiful: dishes for breakfast or lunch, aromatic coffee, fresh baked goods. This café is located in a major shopping center with brands, so I recommend combining pleasure with practicality. The café is more for parents, there are no highchairs or children's menus.
The Hungry Tapir
One of the few vegetarian establishments in Kuala Lumpur.
Average bill - $16. It's better to reserve a table in advance - the place is popular among locals and tourists. My recommendation is the beetroot patty burger.
The café provides a highchair, offers a kids' menu, and coloring activities upon request.
Flaaah The Bakery
It's worth stopping by here for delicious fresh pastries and great coffee.
Average bill for pastries and a drink - $14.
The menu includes sweet dessert options, and you can also grab a sandwich-croissant with a filling. The bakery-café doesn't have designated children's areas, highchairs, or entertainment.
Ra-Ft Café / Bistro Binjai 8 | Coffee Roasters
Here you can try fluffy pancakes for breakfast and delicious pad Thai for lunch.
Average bill per person - $10. The café is located near the Liham Gallery, making it a great choice for lunch or breakfast after viewing exhibitions. The café offers a kids' menu and has a highchair.
Coffee shops
103 Coffee - Chow Kit
I learned about this place while already in Kuala Lumpur; it wasn't on my list of favorite spots.
Average bill - $11.
We were lucky because our apartment was nearby. The café falls under the category of specialty cafés: they brew coffee from pure light-roast Arabica, their baristas compete in coffee championships, and they make delicious desserts. The café itself is bright and perfect for having breakfast or lunch, or grabbing a coffee to go.
Mirage Coffee - Bukit Bintang
The café is located on the 25th floor of a business center. Can you imagine the view from there? Aromatic coffee and baked goods are available. You can also stay and work.
Average bill for coffee - $4.
{ X } COFFEE - Q Sentral
Delicious coffee, they brew V60 pour-overs and milk-based drinks. Great service and views from above of the central part of the city.
Average cost of a coffee cup with a croissant - $8.
Niko Neko Matcha 2.0 - Chinatown
This place turned out to be completely new to me - they brew ONLY matcha here! And it's of premium quality. They offer a choice of three types of matcha and several signature desserts. We really enjoyed the cheesecake and roll cake.
The line of people forms quickly, many people take their drinks to go. The concept of the place is: eat and leave - you can sit for a maximum of an hour, and working on a computer isn't possible.
Watching the barista is a pleasure: each worker is focused on their task, everything is precise. The minimalist white interior and modern equipment stand out.
A cup of premium matcha - $3, dessert $3-4.
WU DI Cafe
An Instagram-worthy interior. The summer terrace is perfect for a cup of coffee with dessert, and the rooftop is great for dinner with a glass of kombucha.
Coffee cup - $4.
Entertainment and Leisure with Children
Petrosains, The Discovery Centre
A scientific museum with a large number of interactive exhibits. A fantastic place to visit with children. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $4.5 for children (ages 3-12).
There are numerous different machines here that explain complex phenomena in simple language. You can play with an excavator, climb onto an oil platform, and see how people work in space. Curiosity and interest will arise in both young children and adults, so you'll forget about time here and spend more than two hours.
Aquaria KLCC
An oceanarium in the center of Kuala Lumpur.
Adult ticket cost is $16, children's ticket (ages 3-12) is $14.
An excellent place to visit with family or alone. The spectacle is beautiful and meditative. I liked the oceanarium in Bangkok more than in Malaysia, but this one is also not lacking in diversity among the showcased aquatic creatures.
KLCC Swimming Pool
A beautiful green park with a huge playground and an open swimming pool. Kuala Lumpur is a metropolis with a tropical climate, so cooling off with a child in such heat is pure delight.
The park is located right behind the Petronas Towers in the heart of KL.
In the evening after sunset, you can move to the dancing fountain with colorful lighting. The fountain show starts daily around 9:00 PM.
Berjaya Times Square
A hotel, entertainment, and shopping center all in one place.
Roller coasters right inside the shopping center. The mall itself doesn't quite reach the level of a high-quality mall and in some places, it resembles the atmosphere of a Chinese market, so you won't get a substantial shopping experience here. However, you can have plenty of fun on the attractions and delight children with the gaming arcade.
National Art Gallery
A highly progressive art gallery with interesting exhibitions and a very friendly staff. The average duration of a visit to an exhibition is two hours. Notably, entry to the gallery is free, you just need to register on their website.
Behind the art gallery, there's a great park with a playground and an area with an open swimming pool.
KL Tower Mini Zoo
A cozy zoo located in the city center, in the park near the telecommunications tower. Here, there's a petting zoo where you can touch and feed many animals: birds, monkeys, turtles, parrots, and alpacas.
This zoo might not be a must-visit in Kuala Lumpur, but it's suitable for spending quality time with a child.
Ilham Gallery
Another contemporary art gallery. The entry is also free, but there might be a chance of a queue. The exhibition halls themselves are small; the average visit duration is about an hour.
KL Bird Park
Another activity with children - the bird park. A great variety of feathered creatures. They have parrot shows and bird feedings on a schedule (subject to cancellation due to rain).
The area is large, mostly open-air. There's a net above, but you hardly notice it. The majority of birds roam freely within the park's grounds.
Please note that if you purchase tickets online, you can only use them 24 hours after the purchase. Therefore, you can comfortably buy tickets at the counter. There are fewer visitors on weekends.
The price of a child's ticket (2-12 years) is $15, while an adult ticket costs $30.
Tian Hou Temple
A Chinese temple with a magnificent view of Kuala Lumpur. It's located 15 minutes from the city center, and it's best to take a taxi to get there. Admission is free. There can be many visitors, especially during wedding ceremonies. Chinese temples are very beautiful, so I recommend visiting to gain a new experience. For a small donation, you can receive a personal prediction. And if you come in the evening, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Kuala Lumpur and the sunset.
Saloma Bridge
Here, you'll spend a maximum of 20 minutes of your time, but it's worth it. In the evening, the bridge offers a beautiful view of the city lights and you can see the Petronas Towers. Come after 6:00 PM and capture vibrant photos of the nighttime city for Instagram.
National Zoo of Malaysia
The zoo is large but a bit outdated. It's located a 20-minute taxi ride from the city center. Many come here to observe the pandas. Additionally, you'll find monkeys, kangaroos, hippos, zebras, tigers, and more in the zoo.
Every purchased ticket contributes to animal care, which is greatly needed for this zoo given its condition.
Within the park grounds, you can find places to eat and purchase souvenirs.
The entrance ticket price for tourists of any age is $20.
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