As opposed to how the city is perceived, Kuching is not just an ordinary, small city anymore. Over the past years, the locals in this city have been opening businesses and following the trends of the bigger cities. There are a lot of growing businesses and rising infrastructure to check out in the area.
A lot of tourists, when they visit Kuching, tend to look for famous restaurants and coffee shops such as Starbucks, completely missing out on the amazing cafes this city has to offer. There are a lot of up and coming coffee shops in every corner and many of them have such an amazing theme and chill ambience. Visiting the nice, hipster cafes in Kuching is one of the things you definitely should do the next time you are in the city.
Here are the top 10 best places in Kuching:
- Destino De Espresso
Recognized by its name, Destino Espresso is a Spanish-themed cafe. This cafe is very romantic because the owner himself named his coffee shop after the english word “destiny”. If you believe in fate and destiny, and how it would bring two lovely souls together, this cafe is a must-visit for you.
Enjoy the warm, cozy ambiance inside the shop as you sip a hot cup of coffee. Their specialty is their house salad with mixed vegetables, smoked salmon, crabsticks and sesame sauce. The savory salad is perfect with their famous bittersweet espresso.
Location: G62, City One Megamall, No. 1, Jalan Song, Taman Phoning, 93350 Kuching
- Earthlings Coffee Workshop
If you are a die-hard coffee lover, this humble cafe will be perfect for you. With cakes that will go with your coffee, your sweet tooth will be satisfied. This coffee shop is one of the best in the city because they roast their own coffee beans. They want their coffee to be as fresh and aromatic as possible. If you decide to drop by, remember to try out their famous home blends.
Location: Lot 45, CityOne Megamall No. 1, Jalan Song, 93350 Kuching
- Sukha Café
For those of you who grew up watching 90’s sitcoms, Sukha cafe will be like a dream come true. With their 90’s themed setting and decorations, you will be taken back from when the technology was still advancing and the world was simple.
Enjoy the retro vibe with your coffee that you can order with waffles or fried chicken. Satisfy both your sweet and savory cravings with their back in the days menu.
Location: Ground Floor, Lot 11963, Block 16 Brighton Square, Jalan Song, 93350 Kuching
- Clans One Café
Perfect for your gamer friends, Clans One cafe is named and designed after the Clash of Clans mobile game. As you enter the door, you will be amazed by how they designed the inside to look like the virtual gaming world of COC. Its futuristic design and wallpapers really look like the mobile game many of us learned to love.
Known for their delicious Wester dishes, this cafe is famous for young people who love to drink coffee while playing or talking about COC. Enjoy a game with your friends while eating a delicious steak or sipping a perfect cup of coffee.
Location: 381, Jalan Seng Goon Garden, Taman Seng Goon, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak,
- Boardriders Café
With much creativity and imagination, some of the business owners really think outside the box to come up with the perfect theme for their coffeeshop. Boardriders cafe is one of those places. With this surfing themed cafe, you will feel the energetic and chill vibe of the sea. The yellow lighting encourages the sunny beach ambiance that we are all familiar with.
You would want to take a vacation after going to this coffee shop for sure, because along with their perfect theme, they serve sandwiches, fries, and beverages we usually order on a vacation.
Location: 88, Plaza Merdeka, Pearl Street, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Indah House Kuching
Calling all the artists and art lovers out there, this humble cafe in Kuching will be like a paradise. Prepare to fall in love and appreciate the beauty of art pieces displayed on the upper level of the cafe. You can also buy some handmade jewelry from their gift shop.
You can walk around the art gallery or just chill and be laid back with your coffee and a slice of some homebaked, delicious cake.
Location: 38 Upper China Street, 93000 Kuching
- The Coffee Factory
Famous for its delicious coffee, many locals go as far as this coffee shop in the far corners of Kuching. It has a calming ambience that invites any visitor to have a nice cup of coffee on a beautiful afternoon. It has a very homey vibe with its recycled wood floors, soft lighting, and smell of freshly brewed coffee. You can hangout and have a lazy day as you drink your coffee and eat Asian and Western cuisines in their menu.
Location: JT Building, 7th Mile, Kuching-Serian Road, 93250 Kuching
- Black Bean Coffee & Tea Company
The name of the cafe may sound foreign to other customers, but locals are very familiar with it. Started out their business way back 2011, this cafe is one of the first ones to grow. This humble shop serves delicious freshly roasted coffee. You can drink classic brews such as Arabica, Robusta, and many more. You can also enjoy green teas from Taiwan and just relax.
Location: 87, Ewe Hai Street (Carpenter St.), 93000 Kuching.
- The Museum Café & Shop
If you think the art gallery coffee shop was a great place to spend time in, check out this Museum Cafe & Shop. Know the culture of the city and look at all the beautiful handicrafts and artifacts made by locals. If you want something to take home with you, you can always buy souvenirs from their gift shop such as orangutan plushies. You can now enjoy a nice cup of coffee and learn all about the city’s culture all in the same spot.
Located: No 96, Jalan Main Bazaar, 93000 Kuching.
- Mk Classico Caffé
A little different from any of the cafes in Kuching, you can order your coffee on the ground floor and chill on the first floor of the building. It resembles underground bars from action movies and makes the customers feel cool and hip at the same time.
You can hangout with your friends and enjoy the cool interior of the cafe with wall paintings and lazy yellow lighting that complements each other. Enjoy a cup of coffee together with a mouthwatering steak and have a cool night hanging out.
Location: 31, Jalan Tabuan, 93100 Kuching.
Conclusion
Although deemed as being the simple city by other folks, Kuching has developed and changed into a big, growing city, following the steps of the big cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. All of the cafes listed above are recommended to anyone who wants to experience the best of the city while exploring the different themes of each one.
Enjoy your favorite coffee and have a fun time in the best places in Kuching, Sarawak!