Top 10 Hidden Gems in Kuala Lumpur Only Locals Know About (2025 Guide)
KL is definitely a city that is worth exploring. But beneath all the high rises, and edgy, cool looking towers and buildings, it has so much more to offer.
For those of you who live and work in the city, the fast pace can sometimes be overwhelming. Sure, you can take a little vacation out of the city or country but did you know that the city has so much more to offer beyond its concrete jungle?
Secret cafes, nostalgic eateries and creative hubs are just the beginning – it even has its own waterfalls.
In this guide, we’re about to spill the 10 hidden gems in KL that will show you a different side of Kuala Lumpur. Now, you really don’t have to ‘escape’ the city at all!
Hidden Cafés & Chill Spots
1. VCR Café (Pudu)
Walk through the streets of Jalan Galloway to find VCR Pudu running in a cosy home back from 1927! This third wave coffee cafe offers various blends of beans, sure to wake you right up.
Fun fact: This secret spot in Kuala Lumpur used to serve as the house that wardens from the old Pudu Jail used to stay in!
What to try: You will be spoilt for choice but if you love brunch classics then go for their french toast that is served with a huge dollop of espresso ice-cream and fresh berry compote. For coffee, try their filter coffee to really appreciate the variety of beans that they have.
2. JWC Cabinet 8 KL (Jalan Sultan, inside The Neighbourhood Club)
Your nights in KL don’t have to be danced away, thanks to this hidden gem in KL. JWC Cabinet 8 KL is a speakeasy that is behind a neighbourhood cafe, only accessible through a wooden cabinet door.
What makes this place like no other bar you might go is their carefully curated menu that is full of ingredients sourced locally. They’ve also designed the menu to fit all types of drinkers – from the ones seeking a light drink to the ones who can handle their alcohol.
What to try: Their beautiful Paloma cocktail is one that is made with guavas instead of the traditional grapefruit. Try this to start with something fresh but if you want to play around with their menu, pick your own tea base and combinations from the Tea section of the menu.
Secret Foodie Havens
3. Sek Yuen Restaurant (Pudu)
Round tables with red cloths, wooden chairs, classic red lanterns hanging from the ceiling. We’re not sure if you can find these kinds of hidden gems in KL or not but Sek Yuen is one from the 1940s that is still using charcoal stoves to deliver some scrumptious food.
What to try: They didn’t make the Michelin’s Bib Gourmand Guide for nothing. Rather,it’s probably their famous roasted duck that earned them the spot. Perfectly cooked on the inside, crispy skin on the outside, this one is a must try. Other menu items worth mentioning are their stuffed crab, roasted crispy suckling pig. There are a number of items which require a 2 day pre-order. View their menu here.
4. Nasi Lemak Tanglin (Lake Gardens)
Nasi lemak with a side of history? Yes, please! Nasi Lemak Tanglin is indeed a hidden place in KL that has been dishing out piping hot nasi lemak for the past 70 years.
Don’t expect anything fancy – the age does show on the outlet but it really is a simple joint that is often visited by locals to get their morning fix or some lunch too.
What to try: There’s mixed feelings about their fried chicken with some saying its good and others spoilt by the larger more famous joint’s fried chicken. But something you must try here is their Sambal paru (beef lung). They also have some good old sambal sotong if you want seafood instead of meat.
Arts & Culture Corners
5. REXKL (Petaling Street)
Within the concrete jungle lies this cultural hub that used to be a cinema. Today, REXKL at Petaling Street is a multistorey building boasting art, indie bookstores, vintage shops and of course some quirky eateries too.
Built in 1947, this former cinema also has a large exhibition venue that you can check out. Beautiful digital art experiences are usually part of the exhibition shown here.
What to look out for: Though it boasts many shops and exhibition space you can walk through, it’s probably really known for the multi-storey BookXcess. Designed truly like a maze, getting lost is not a problem at all, with many secret corners to explore. This is also a highly instagrammable spot you cannot miss.
6. The Zhongshan Building (Kampung Attap)
Dubbed as the creative haven for the arts community, the Zhongshan building at Kampung Attap is definitely an alternative thing to do if you find yourself in KL.
Waltz through vinyl shops, art galleries and even karaoke cafes within this 1950s commercial block. Certain corners are also graced with colourful wall murals and do keep an eye out for their weekend events.
What to look out for: This hidden gem in KL often hosts local art shows and live music nights if you’d like to groove to some music in an open creative space instead of clubs.
Nature & Quiet Escapes
7. Bukit Kiara Trails (TTDI)
If nature is what you seek, nature is what we give. Beneath all the apartments and offices, there’s a beautiful trail you can quietly escape to at Bukit Kiara Trails, TTDI.
Don’t be fooled by what you see especially if you enter the park near the school – the park is 400 hectares of green lung right smack amongst housing developments, giving the locals a chance for urban hiking, biking and giving them a gorgeous canopy view.
What to look out for: There’s something for everyone – take the shaded trails which are popular for morning hikes and slow paced walks around the park. You can also do a simple picnic but beware of the monkeys if you’re bringing food.
8. Kanching Falls (Rawang)
For those seeking something more than just hiking, this hidden gem in KL is sure to knock your socks off. The Kanching Falls located in Rawang is a multi-tiered waterfall in Kanching Eco Forest Park, just 30 minutes away from the city.
The seven tiers that make up this waterfall gets increasingly difficult to hike but for those who want to just soak in the water and nature without getting too exhausted, going up to level 2 or 3 should suffice.
What to look out for: Of course for those who love hiking and climbing, you can explore all seven of the waterfall tiers. But Kanching is also filled with natural pools. So, if you are thinking of a picnic, this is the perfect place for it. Though you have to beware of monkeys near picnic areas.
Unique Local Hangouts
9. The Campus (Ampang)
If nature is not your jam and you rather immerse yourself and be like a local, then fret not, this hidden gem in Kuala Lumpur is just the place for you.
The Campus Ampang is a restored old school that was recently turned into a creative lifestyle hub that combines event spaces, workshops and plenty of cafes. It even houses yoga studios and a swim school!
What to look out for: The hub definitely comes to life on the weekends with plenty of pop-up markets hosted in its main halls. It also houses many famous cafes like Universal Bakehouse and Fowlboys Diner to name a few.
10. Pingmin Hub (Petaling Street)
Like many tourists, if you have ended up staying in the heart of KL like in the Bukit Bintang or TRX area, then one hidden gem that you must go to is Pingmin Hub.
Market goers can rejoice as the hub combines artisanal shops, food stalls as well as indie events all in a trendy lifestyle space, perfect for you to take a stroll and get your souvenirs. We recommend that you go slightly later as that’s when the market becomes livelier.
What to look out for: Weekend pop-ups are the most happening ones with local brands and music and sometimes even promotional events hosted by brands like Disney or Mini Cooper.
Conclusion
KL is probably quite underrated as a city. Surely, you’ve got your large shopping malls filled with international and expensive brands as well as a few skyscrapers that you can visit while you’re here, but there’s so much more hidden gems within the city that is waiting to be explored,
Whether its age-old eateries like Sek Yuen to modern speakeasy bars like JWC Cabinet 8, and natural escapes like Kanching Falls, these hidden gems show the city’s true character.
Secret spots in Kuala Lumpur are plentiful, waiting to be explored, showing a side that only locals truly appreciate.