One of Downtown Kuala Lumpur’s (DTKL) best-kept secrets is a street laced with charm and character, with history woven into each crack and seam of its pre-war shophouses. Let’s not leave out the scents of baked goods that will take you back to grandma’s kitchen.
Lorong Panggung brings together old and new in a perfect marriage where art meets heritage, and soul remains the foundation for every delightful thing you’ll find here. So, if you’re looking to explore our city’s latest happening street, then this guide will be useful.
Places to explore
Kwai Chai Hong
This once-neglected alleyway has been transformed to house cafes, restaurants, and bars in old pre-war shophouses. It’s hard to miss the vibrant yellow walls, teal doors, and windows that front restaurants and cafes.
The alleyway often plays host to a variety of interactive visual exhibits, with their most recent one being an installation to celebrate the premiere of Netflix’s fourth season of Stranger Things.
Address: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6012 316 6212
Where To Eat And Drink
Luckin Kopi
A contemporary restaurant with a menu that celebrates traditional Malaysian kopitiam food, Luckin Kopi is a great spot for a good cup of coffee and a bite to eat. It has a warm, cosy interior, rattan furnishing, and bespoke floral installations.
Order plates of nasi lemak, kaya toast, and Indomie served in high fashion or give their Signature 5 States Coffee a try. If you fancy getting something for your home or a loved one, a florist resides upstairs of the building.
Address: 14 Jalan Panggong, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6012 610 8856
Pandan Republic
The Pandan Republic is a Chinese dessert shop in Kwai Chai Hong, and it’s a family-run business that serves up classic Malaysian desserts, dishes, and drinks. The menu encompasses traditional dishes like their Hakka Lei Cha as well as some fresh ideas with familiar flavours such as the Pandan Softserve and Gula Melaka Cheesecake. There is also a drinks menu for artisanal coffee and teas.
Address: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6010 221 7296
Beryl’s Chocolate & Cafe @ Lot 18
If Willy Wonka could pick his favourite spot in town, we imagine this would be it. This homegrown chocolate brand’s boutique cafe in Lot 18 sells and serves a variety of chocolatey treats.
Cakes, mousses, chocolate drinks, and Beryl’s chocolate bars fill this refurbished shophouse with chocolate’s sweet and delicious scent.
Address: Lot 18, Jalan Panggong, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +603 2022 0713
Bunn Choon Restaurant
Having been around since 1893, Bunn Choon has stood the test of time for a reason – they make great food that has loyal customers coming back for more. Holding fast to recipes passed down from generations, they remain a favourite destination among those local to the area and foodies from all over the country.
Their menu offers a selection of dim sum dishes and mooncakes, with their egg tart being the star of the show. So, be sure to get some for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Address: 8 Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6016 228 7625
Art and music
Moutou
Hidden in the back alleys of Lorong Panggung is a rooftop garden and community-run space for artists and musicians. Moutou’s independent space hosts regular events ranging from live music to activism, sustainability conversations, and occasional barbecue grill nights. Go for the music, stay for the drinks!
Address: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Findars
On Jalan Panggung, up on the fourth floor, Findars is an art gallery acting as a hub for anything from improv music sessions to indie film screenings. They also host the occasional art exhibitions and audio-visual displays in a cafe, drawing many local and foreign art enthusiasts.
Address: 4th Floor, 8, Jalan Panggung, City Centre, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6012 350 1844
Lostgens’
Stop by a local art centre – a contemporary art space providing a platform for local artists, activists, community leaders and youth groups to host a variety of creative and social-based conversations.
Some of their projects include art exhibitions, historical tours, art festivals, social engagement events and film screenings. Contact them to find out what new ideas they are working on.
Address: 8 Jalan Panggong, City Centre, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6019 683 8397
Visit ‘The GOLDSMITH’
A mural that stands two stories tall on the side wall of the shophouses in Jalan Panggung, ‘The GOLDSMITH’ was painted back in 2016 by Russian artist Julia Volchkova. Having previously done some street art in Penang, she beautifully depicts an elderly goldsmith hard at work.
Address: 15-1, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Late night drinks
Baijiu
Residing in the shops of Kwai Chai Hong, Baiju serves oriental-style cocktails and a bar snack selection of dim sum in their dreamy backlit bar, perfect for those Instagram shots. The bar has a unique appearance, retaining much of the street’s historical art and interior influence, and the setting has a warm and inviting appeal to it.
Address: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6010 266 6093
Panggung Kuala Lumpur
Lights, camera, action! Panggung brings the roaring 20s back to life with its Hollywood theatre-themed bar featuring cocktails inspired by films. You’ll feel like a movie star in this restaurant that does not shy away from grandiose interiors.
Fancy a glass of peanut butter-infused Jameson whiskey called the Harry Potter or a piña colada called the Pineapple Express? There is also a tray of six shooters known as The Purge, but we’ll let you discover that drink on your own. Pair your drinks with meat skewers and an assortment of pates.
Address: 3 Jalan Balai Polis, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6010 943 6228
Concubine
Concubine is a contemporary restaurant and bar. A place where high-quality drinks and good food are the foundations for this menu, Concubine celebrates the modern woman in what used to be a risque part of town.
Striking paintings of women and a neon installation lead you into a space both old and new. With much of the building’s original structure in place, it is an urban reinterpretation of Chinatown.
Order a glass of one of their handcrafted cocktails or opt for an Earl Grey Gin and Tonic and pair it with juicy burgers, tuna tostada, or spicy Korean chicken wings. You might even want to take home a canned or bottled cocktail.
Address: Lot 2, Jalan Panggong, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6014 711 2185
