Tasted and tested: 8 Editor-approved date night spots in KL & PJ to add to your radar
Love at first bite
Our lifestyle editor introduces you to her favourite date night spots in KL and PJ that check all the right boxes and are actually worth your time.
These days, social media and the Internet in general are flooded with restaurant recommendations, claiming to be the latest or greatest in town. This rings especially true for places that want to be your next date night destination. But let’s be real. Dim lighting, floral decor, candles on the table, and a bottle of wine doesn’t always equate to an all-around memorable time for you and your dining partner. The food needs to be good enough to gush over with your date and reliable enough so you won’t have to worry about them not liking it.
Whether you’re planning date night with your other half, bestie, or even your favourite sibling, choosing the right restaurant can make or break your experience. So, to make things easier for you, I—Amanda Fung, lifestyle editor at BURO Malaysia—have compiled an honest list of my tried and tested date night spots in KL and PJ that I think you will love. Plus, I also tell you what my favourite dishes were, so you spend less time deciding what to order and more time making meaningful conversation (or staring into each other’s eyes).
*Menu items are subject to change and were included based on availability during visits. Contact and opening hours are also correct at time of publication.
UNWINED PLUS
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Over in the Telawi area, Unwined Plus is an old reliable for comfortable and delicious nights out with my favourite people. Especially great if you’re a fan of natural wine, this little hideout is intimate and laidback with food that almost never flops. Despite changing every day, the menu always includes crowd favourite dishes that are perfect for sharing over a bottle (or two) of your chosen vino.
Not to mention, the staff here are extremely approachable and treat you like one of their own! So, don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations and get a conversation going about your next pour or plate. Also, do keep a lookout for one of its kitchen takeovers, winemaker visits, or collaborations with other chefs from around the region. You’re bound to discover some new pours, bites, and people to get acquainted with!
Favourites on the menu: Crispy pot of rice, brussels sprouts, seasonal crudo, aged duck, grilled tiger prawns, cold inaniwa udon, dumplings
Address: 7, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 5.30pm to 12am (Wednesday to Monday)
Contact: +6012 387 7161
STUDIO RESTAURANT
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If you’re feeling a little fancy and want to treat your date to something truly special, get a table for two at Studio Restaurant. Perched above the busy Jalan Kemuja in Bangsar, this moody and modern eatery is home to some of the city’s most technically sound food. With chef Christian Recomio leading the kitchen brigade and Jenifer Kuah taking care of service, you’re guaranteed a good time from the time you walk through the front door to the minute you unbutton your pants after ten courses of indulgence.
Recomio brings with him a palpable love for his native Scotland’s ingredients and flavours, which he marries with the bright produce of Malaysia. Expect your conversations to flow over tastefully plated dishes and expertly selected wines. Better yet, don’t spend time deciding on a bottle to split. Instead, splurge a little on the restaurant’s excellent pairings—thank us later!
Favourites on the menu: only tasting menus available—trust the team!
Address: 38-1, Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 7pm to 12am (Friday and Saturday)
Contact: +6016 425 0773
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PICKLE DINING
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Another one for those who appreciate a little creativity, served with a side of open fire: Pickle Dining. No prizes for guessing what they do best here. The answer is pickling. On the menu are dishes that star staple Asian ingredients like coconut milk and yuzu kosho, served with a youthful touch of modernity.
While the menu changes every now and then, here’s a little taster of what the team is capable of based on my own visit: stuffed chicken wings with black cardamom jus, mangrove jack ceviche with coconut nuoc cham, and grilled sirloin with black garlic aioli. True to its name, each dish contains an element that has been pickled, which brings dimension to every bite. Its open kitchen also provides for entertainment that will enamour any foodie.
Favourites on the menu: only tasting menus available—trust the team!
Address: 23, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 6.30pm to 11.30pm (Thursday to Monday)
Contact: +60 14 797 7631
OTOBA
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If you and your dining companion can’t get enough of izakaya food but want to spice things up a little, book your next meal together at Otoba. While it is great for groups of four to five, the eatery still earns its title as one of my top date night spots in KL with its drool-worthy dishes, upbeat playlist, and cosy setting. With an open kitchen and a couple of large tables, you can always count on the energy being at a high here.
The menu is neither big nor small, which makes your decision-making a lot easier, spanning skewers, salads, mini rice bowls, and other grilled specials. Its selection of sake also adds to its allure alongside a curated list of highballs, sours, and beers. I suggest building an appetite prior to your meal here, so you can really get in on its grub. Just about everything will hit the spot. If possible, try to request a table by the stairs or away from the door or communal tables for some added intimacy.
Favourites on the menu: Teba (chicken wing) skewer, lamb skewer, beef skewer, corn ribs, spicy karaage, grilled avocado, yuzu sour
Address: E-2-03, Block E, The Five KPD, Jalan Dungun, Bukit Damansara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 5pm to 11pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
Contact: +6012 388 6031
FIFTY TALES
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Over in the Sea Park neighbourhood is a restaurant that is no stranger to foodies around the city. Home to modern Malaysian-Chinese fare and BURO’s Chef of the Year 2024, Fifty Tales is the place to be for some of the city’s most soulful plates. The team here is young, so you can bet on your dishes and service to come with some personality. But this doesn’t mean that they’ll skimp on making sure you have a seamless experience here! While it’s always great to visit with a group for the sake of sampling more on the menu, it can quickly become one of the most reliable date night spots around KL/PJ once you get familiar with its food.
While this may be a list of date night spots in KL and PJ to consider, Fifty Tales is definitely a reliable option for your date days out too. It’s open for both lunch and dinner with a different menu being served at each respective service. Go during the afternoons for some casual noodle and rice bowls that will turn up the indulgence factor for your day. At night, the restaurant turns into a bustling spot for some creative Chinese fare made to share. Pro tip: unless you have supreme luck with parking, get a Grab to save yourself the stress. Also, do note that the menu gets a makeover every couple of months here, so be ready to sample new dishes with each visit.
Favourites on the menu: Nyonya laksa, OG Style Noodles, Rice Please, Ren Li Mian, pork lard rice, corn-fed chicken, mochi taco
Address: 19, Jalan 21/11B, Seapark, Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: 12pm to 3.30pm | 5.30pm to 10pm (Thursday to Monday)
Contact: +6012 249 2697
OLEA
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I can say with utmost certainty that finding a restaurant that is consistent with its food and service in KL is not an easy task. However, consistency is exactly why Olea—and the other restaurants on this list—has climbed the ranks to become one of my favourite date night spots (and restaurants as a whole) in KL. I can always rely on this Mediterranean eatery for a meal with good food, good service, and a good environment. The menu isn’t necessarily extensive but details everything you need to have a meal that nourishes you. Its drinks menu is also carefully selected so as to pair with your bites, whether you’re going for a more seafood-forward or meat-centric meal.
My foodie advice: get two (or three if you’re really hungry) starters, two mains, and a dessert to share if you’re dining in a pair. I always have trouble deciding between its appetisers, so just treat yourself to multiple plates. A non-negotiable is its deep-fried whitebait. You also can’t go wrong with most of its mains here, especially its iconic seafood orzo and relatively new leek orecchiette. The only setback here is that parking can be a little scarce, but if you’re planning on drinking, we’d hope you won’t be getting behind the wheel anyways!
Favourites on the menu: whipped feta dip, grilled halloumi, deep-fried whitebait, grilled aubergine, chargrilled octopus, leek orecchiette, seafood orzo, lamb chops, custard pie
Address: 32, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 6pm to 10.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12pm to 2.30pm | 6pm to 10.30pm
Contact: +603 2202 7858
BOTTEGA
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If your date night itinerary calls for some cold cuts, pasta, pizza, or panuozzo, make Bottega your destination. A well-known name in the Italian restaurant sphere, the brand boasts two locations around the Klang Valley: one along KL’s Jalan Ceylon and another in Taman Megah. It is a great spot for the nights were you want nothing more than a comforting plate of freshly made pasta, some fresh rocket leaves with a creamy burrata, and a crisp, cold Italian beer.
While I never fail to have my go-to dishes in mind, the menu is diverse enough, so there’s always something for every craving. Both locations have cosy spaces that you can spend hours in and service you can always rely on. A major plus point here (besides the food) is that you don’t have to leave your furkids behind to get some time together.
Favourites on the menu: Gambas al ajillo, cozze (mussels in white wine), bikini Catalana, burratina, zuppetta, fumé-speck-scamorza pizza, Her “Carbonara”, Lo Scoglio, The Master
Address:
- Bottega KL: 1A, Jalan Ceylon, Bukit Ceylon, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
- Bottega PJ: 15, Jalan SS 24/8, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya
Opening hours:
- Bottega KL: 11.15am to 11pm (Monday to Saturday) | 11am to 11pm (Sunday)
- Bottega PJ: 11am to 11pm (daily)
Contact:
ENISHI
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Worth braving the Mont Kiara traffic for, Enishi has recently become my go-to for ramen. However, don’t expect long, thin noodles here. Its thicker, bouncy strands are what sets this place apart, alongside its incredibly light and clear broths. Especially great for the post-workday evenings that leave you wanting to sink into some comfort food, Enishi is the prime spot for a casual date.
On the menu are a handful of broth options, including a unique yuzu broth. You can choose between a basic, regular, or special bowl, depending on how many toppings you need to fill yourself up. I personally always go for the regular, which comes with one slice of chashu, two slices of smoked duck, and a gooey soy-marinated egg. If you’re not in the mood for soup, Enishi also has a range of dry dan-dan noodles, brimming with toppings and flavour. Once you’re done with your noodles (both soup and dry), you can ask for a mini serving of rice to soak up the last of that broth or dressing. As for seating, there are both counter and table seats available.
Favourites on the menu: Medium spicy dan-dan noodles, scallop stock shoyu ramen, yuzu shio ramen
Address: 15-0-1 Shoplex, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11am to 3pm | 6pm to 9pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 9pm
Contact: +603 2011 0922
For more BURO-approved eats, click here.
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