11 Best JB Cafes Worth Crossing the Causeway For—We Tried Them All

Johor Bahru (JB) is brimming with brunch and coffee spots, so much so that we’ve already put together a compilation of the best cafes in JB. Having visited most of them, I’ve gone a step further to highlight the 11 best JB cafes that are actually worth crossing the causeway for—perfect for those short on time and seeking only the cream of the crop.

The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.32 as of 9 April 2026.

• 1. OTTO cafe

The Taman Melodies neighbourhood in JB isn’t where you’d think you’d find a cafe that looks straight outta Bali’s Canggu, but OTTO cafe is there to prove you wrong. With its warm terracotta and cream foundation and photogenic light-filled mid-century interiors, this laidback joint easily earns a spot on your JB cafe-hopping list. Founded by a chef, OTTO beckons diners to come in and unwind over good food and coffee, especially welcome after long waits to cross the Causeway.

The menu sees European classics reinvented with playful Asian twists. For example, their signature Mom’s Aglio Olio (RM38) dials up the spice with familiar flavours of confit garlic and ginger flower.

Your classic eggs-on-toast offering gets a bold remix in OTTO’s Soft Shell Crab Toast (RM35), topped with crispy deep-fried soft-shell crab and a creamy curry mayo. At lunchtime, expect protein-forward fusion mains, like the Golden Salmon Fillet (RM38), served in a bed of spicy coconut tom kha, with a zesty papaya salad on the side.

When it comes to drinks, OTTO cafe is a haven for coffee purists and matcha lovers alike, with drinks starting from just RM9. Their Strawberry Matcha (RM20) pairs premium matcha with a house-made strawberry compote, while the Dirty Latte (RM12) is the best of both worlds: matcha and a nutty, fruity espresso, swirled in cold creamy milk.

Bonus: OTTO cafe is just a 30-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint, located near hotspots like KSL City Mall and Mid Valley Southkey, so it’s the ideal pitstop to recharge before a long day of shopping. Address: 81 Jalan Chengai 80250 Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 6pm

Tel: +60 11-2808 6971

Website

OTTO cafe is a halal-certified eatery.

• 2. Sunday Morning Coffee Shop

It only takes a quick 10-minute drive from the customs to get to Sunday Morning Coffee Shop, a Japanese-esque cafe adorned with warm, wooden accents. This cafe is my go-to for decent drip coffee, which happens to be the cafe’s specialty.

Speaking of drip coffee, there are both Hand Drip Hot Black Coffee (from RM13) and Cold Drip Iced Black Coffee (RM16) to choose from. While sipping your cup of joe, tuck into the crowd-favourite Japanese-style Curry Rice (RM24), featuring a warm bed of rice paired with house-made Japanese curry. We also enjoyed the Banana Brownies (RM17), topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, making for a decadent treat to end your meal with.

Read our Sunday Morning Coffee Shop feature. Address: 124, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 9am to 5pm Tel: +60 14-914 8198

Website

Sunday Morning Coffee Shop is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 3. Cheevit Cheeva

Dessert fans, remember the name Cheevit Cheeva. This popular dessert chain in JB hails from Thailand, and they currently have several outlets in Malaysia at the time of writing.

I always recommend Cheevit Cheeva to fans of shaved ice desserts, and to anyone who wants to try something different from the usual cakes or ice cream with waffles. Go straight for the Royal Thai Tea Bingsu (from RM24), a tea-infused dessert topped with shokupan bits.

This dessert is rich and sweet, so it’s best to share it in a group of three or four. Worry not if Thai-infused treats aren’t your thing, as there are plenty of other flavours to choose from, such as the Salty Egg Yolk Bua-Loi Bingsu (RM25) and Chocolate Lava Bingsu (RM22).

Read our Cheevit Cheeva feature.

Website | Full list of outlets

Cheevit Cheeva is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 4. Hiritsu Coffee Roastery

If you love coffee as much as I do, save Hiritsu Coffee Roastery for your next trip to JB. My favourite part about the cafe was the hand-brewed bar, where you can watch baristas make each drink right in front of you.

There’s also fun in deciding what to get, as there are plenty of interesting concoctions to choose from. For something light yet fragrant, I recommend the Shaddock Gathered Coffee (RM18+).

This stunning drink features cold brew coffee, tonic water, and pomelo, finished with a thick cream. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this if orange Americano is your thing!

The cafe does desserts too, and the popular Bring Me Go Croffle (RM20+) was the most memorable. It’s essentially a crispy, chewy croffle topped with vanilla ice cream and a ladyfinger biscuit, paired with a bittersweet chocolate drizzle.

Read our Hiritsu Coffee Roastery feature. Address: 89, Jalan Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm Tel: +60 11-6135 5658

Website

Hiritsu Coffee Roastery is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 5. The Blue Door Coffee House

I still think about the drinks and desserts from The Blue Door Coffee House from time to time, as the cafe doles out creations you won’t easily find in Singapore. Everything is affordably priced, too, so drop by if you’re visiting Mount Austin during your JB trip.

If I had to pick a favourite item, the Matchamisu (RM24) comes to mind first. Made with Niko Neko matcha powder, this creamy treat stars coffee-soaked ladyfingers with bittersweet matcha and mascarpone cream.

Non-matcha fans, consider the Pistachio Cookies Mochi Croissant (RM18), an indulgent pastry packed with chewy mochi within, and finished with sweet pistachio cream. Read our The Blue Door Coffee House feature.

Address: 36A, Jalan Austin Height 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 10pm, Fri 11am to 12am, Sat 10:30am to 12am, Sun 10:30am to 11pm

Website

The Blue Door Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 6. Slow Day Cafe

Slow Day Cafe is for those who take their matcha very seriously. What I particularly liked is that the menu goes beyond matcha, letting you indulge in hojicha- and genmaicha-infused treats as well.

Between the Strawberry Matcha (RM17.90) and Cold Matcha Espresso (RM17.90), I preferred the latter, as the earthy matcha blended well with the espresso shot, whereas the former was slightly too milky and sweet for my liking. But the real star was their Genmaicha Nama Gateau Cake (RM28): a rich, dense gateau cake with a good balance of nutty and roasted flavours.

Read our Slow Day Cafe feature. Address: No. 2-01, (1st Floor Only, Jalan Austin Heights 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Opening hours: Mon 12pm to 5:30pm, Tue-Thurs 12pm to 6:30pm, Fri-Sun 12pm to 10pm Tel: +60 14-615 7395

Website

Slow Day Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 7. D’ Cafe

Another cafe near the JB customs is D’ Cafe, where you can enjoy a hearty brunch under $10. This is the only glasshouse cafe on the list, with plenty of natural sunlight that reminded me of the cafes in Bali.

The menu sees familiar brunch favourites, such as Pulled Benny (RM30+) and Pot-a-tato Rosti (RM32+). If you really want to fill yourself up for the day, go for the Pulled Benny, which packs tender pulled chicken, poached egg, sweet-tangy pickled cabbage, hollandaise, and hummus on a slice of toast.

D’ Cafe is also known for their fruitades, and so I ordered the Pomegranate Breeze (RM15+) and Pinky Grapefruit (RM15+) to beat the heat after a long day of walking around. Read our D’ Cafe feature.

Address: 9, Jalan Kelewang, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm

Tel: +60 7-332 3311

Website

D’ Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 8. Brooos & Co by JWC

Frankly, Brooos & Co by JWC doesn’t have the best drinks or food, but it more than makes up for it with its unique vibe and ambience. This office-themed cafe is filled with lots of cool furniture, and the interior alone makes it memorable enough.

You’ll spot many diners with a cup of Please Chill (RM18++), a sweet and nutty drink that combines milky white chocolate with espresso, matcha, and pistachio paste. The crushed pistachio bits on the cup’s rim are a highlight, giving a satisfying, gritty bite with every sip.

I also got the Tacos (RM50++ for three) to share with my friend. Each order comes with three variations: Smoked Salmon (RM20++), Pulled Chicken (RM17++), and Smoked Duck (RM17++).

Read our Brooos & Co by JWC feature. Address: 18, Jalan Sri Pelangi 4, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 12am Tel: +60 12-240 6442

Website

Brooos & Co by JWC is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 9. Keijometo

Keijometo needs no introduction. The industrial cafe is so popular that it probably doesn’t need another shoutout, but I had to include it on this list as it’s one of the most well-loved cafes in JB.

At first blush, it might seem like the cool, industrial space is the highlight of this cafe, but you’ll know that their drinks and dishes are actually the real scene-stealers. Start with the unique Watermelon Matcha Latte (RM17+), which combines matcha powder, milk, and refreshing watermelon juice.

This drink pairs best with The Salmon Ochazuke (RM30+), comprising sushi rice and grilled salmon paired with a warm, comforting matcha-based soup. Read our Keijometo feature.

Address: 3, Jalan Chengai, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 7pm

Tel: +60 7-331 1825

Website

Keijometo is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 10. Little Bun Cafe

I’m a huge fan of buns and breads, and I’ll always end my trips by visiting a JB bakery to bring back some goodies for my family. Little Bun Cafe gives you both a cafe and bakery experience, serving fresh, steamed buns packed with all kinds of delicious fillings.

The cafe specialises in fluffy brioche buns, available in five different flavours: Original (RM22+), Pandan (RM23+), Matcha (RM26+), and Ham & Cheese (RM26+). You can also choose two sauces to dip your bread in, including Nutella, Yuzu, Honey Kaya and more. Read our Little Bun Cafe feature.

Address: G-08 , Eco Nest Apartment Jalan Eko Botanic 3/5, Taman, Persiaran Eko Botani, 79100, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 9:30pm

Tel: +60 16-763 2623

Website

Little Bun Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 11. Meow Me Cat House

Meow Me Cat House is not exactly a pet cafe, as you don’t pay an entrance fee; instead, you just have to spend at least RM10 to get a seat. I liked that the cats were generally well taken care of, and bonus points were given for the delicious selection of drinks.

I enjoyed both the Fizzy Orange Americano (RM17) and Tiramisu Latte (RM17) for different reasons. The former is the perfect quencher on a hot day, while the latter is great if you want something a little sweet while getting your caffeine fix.

Do note that there are desserts too, but the lineup changes regularly, so I encourage you to check their Instagram page for the latest updates. Read our Meow Me Cat House feature.

Address: 28-01, Jalan Austin Height 7/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 12pm to 9pm

Tel: +60 10-291 9707

Website

Meow Me Cat House is not a halal-certified eatery.

Best JB cafes that are worth your time and travel

Now that you know which cafes in Johor Bahru to go to, continue planning your itinerary with our full JB food guide for the best cafes, restaurants, and hawker stalls.

We also have a guide to the best JB breakfast spots, if you’re travelling early! This article contains partial partnership content.

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