Johor Bahru Old Town is home to many old and new cafes offering a wide range of foodie experiences to visitors. I stayed at Z Hotel in Old Town City Center in July 2022 and explored the area extensively. This historical part of the town has museums, Hindu Temples and Sikh Gurdwaras, which make it the centre of activity all throughout the week. If you are looking for some interesting places to visit Johor Bahru, JB Old Town must be on your list for this year.
During my first day in the city, I decided to explore the famous Meldrum Walk which was located two blocks from my hotel. Meldrum Walk is a popular Johor Bahru Tourist place. The back alleys of this area have a number of old hotels, restaurants and food stalls that offers a mix of local (halal & non-halal) dishes.
The best time to visit Meldrum markets is the weekend nights which brings plenty of visitors to this part of the town. I tasted oyster eggs and curry puffs. I could see the chef making the oyster eggs with such precision and patience to get the perfect taste and texture. The egg is served with spicy sauce.
Cafes in Meldrum Walk Johor Bahru
The next thing on the line was beef broth served with some very tender parts of the beef and bones containing bone marrow. This stall is managed by a Muslim family who has been running the business for over 20 years.
A little walk down the road takes you to the night markets which are open till late hours of the night. I strolled through the streets of old town checking out some hats, local clothes and bric a brac. Some stalls sell local art and souvenirs.
I decided to visit this area in the morning for breakfast as there were plenty of cafes and restaurants whose door fronts were occupied by stalls or market vendors.
Exploring the Old Town Johor Bahru for breakfast
The area is packed with hundreds of people who like to enjoy breakfast at Kopitiam, some modern cafes and coffee shops. There are over 40 cafes lined along the side streets serving a mix of local Malay & Chinese-styled dishes. Hainanese Breakfast seems to be a popular choice in many cafes serving kaya toast, coffee and egg noodles with half-boiled eggs.
Cafes in Old Town Johor Bahru
The coffee shop specializes in serving large blends of local coffee that are freshly ground and prepared.
Hiap Joo Bakery is popular for serving banana bread and other bakery products since 1919 and attracts large crowds. The queue of customers in front of the bakery waiting for their turn.
Roast & Coffee in Johor Bahru
I decided to walk to enjoy some local otak otak and mee rebus .Coffee & Roast located across from Hiap Joo Cafe. The cafe was packed with regulars who start their day with a fresh serving of food and coffee. The food is very reasonably priced and makes these venues every kind of cafe.
Walking down the street, I decided to enjoy a full-fledged English breakfast at "The Replacement" as I read many impressive reviews about this cafe. The decor and atmosphere are definitely enjoyable and immaculate.
The Replacement Cafe in Johor Bahru Old Town
I order poached eggs with mushrooms and vegetarian sausages. The presentation was great and the food tasted amazing. I loved the barista coffee that reminded me of Australia where is a massive barista culture.
The breakfast fast the Replacement Johor Bahru
Salahuddin Bakery is one of the oldest bakeries in the neighbourhood still baking bread in a traditional wood-fired oven. The bakery is quite popular with regular customers who pop in early in the morning to buy freshly baked bread.
Salahuddin Bakery Johor Bahru
I bought some puff pastries with chicken and beef filling and cream rolls for my road trip to Desarua.
As I walked around the streets I short-listed a few more cafes for exploring during my next two days in Johor Bahru.
At night time the area next to Chaiwalla Container Cafe turns into a night food market with live music and entertainment till midnight. Visitors to the night markets enjoy this live entertainment and food served in the area.
Old Town Johor Bahru is definitely a great location for foodie adventures and tasting amazing varieties of local food.
 Shouket is a passionate foodie and traveller who is continuous on a hunt for new and amazing destinations in south-east Asia. Shaukat loves exploring Malaysian & Nyonya food, reviewing restaurants and trying out new recipes. Follow: ozasiatraveller |
