As the beverage scene evolves, we round up the newest bars, cafés, and menus to have on your radar.

Welcome back to Thirst Traps, a series dedicated to exploring Klang Valley’s newest bars and cafés in the name of research—so you’re in safe, if slightly buzzed, hands. This round, we bring you a wave of fresh openings worth your attention. Here are the newest bars, cafés, and menus making their mark across the city.

New openings

Bar Vetro KL

Part retro 80s fever dream, part sci-fi fantasy, Bar Vetro brings a little time travel to Cheras. By day, it’s an artisan coffee shop; come night, the lights go down and the cocktails come out, with electronic music setting the pace. Two moods, one address.

IG: @barvetrokl

Bar None

Tucked along Jalan Kemuja, Bar None keeps things small, intimate, and very serious about its cocktails. The 40-seater is the work of industry veteran Arsenio ‘Ash’ Mariano Jr. and head bartender Raz Ng, who have turned this Bangsar address into a bar worth knowing.

IG: @barnone.my

The Riff District

Cocktails, food, and music come together at The Riff District, a contemporary bar and kitchen on Jalan Maarof. Founded by lawyer-turned-mixologist John Lim, the space takes its cues from rhythm and sound, giving the drinks menu a little more groove than your average night out.

IG: @theriffdistrict

The Break House Cafe

Titiwangsa gets a new coffee stop with The Break House Cafe, serving the usual caffeine fixes alongside Spanish lattes, dirty matcha, and mango matcha. And because coffee is rarely better without something to eat, there are nasi lemak packets too. Simple, familiar, and very Malaysian.

IG: @thebreakhouse.kl

E.T.A Cafe

Head to Cybersouth Clubhouse for E.T.A Cafe, a new neighbourhood hangout with a menu that goes well beyond your standard latte. Start with its signature E.T.A No. 1, then work your way through Berry-Dirty, Choco Luxe, Midnight Bloom, and Butter-Brew.

IG: @eta.escapetheordinary

Volume KL

Coffee and vinyl make a pretty good pairing at Volume KL. Tucked inside The Arch Galeries on Jalan Tun Razak, this vintage-inspired café and lounge surrounds its slow-coffee setup with nearly 400 records and a soundtrack of smooth R&B. Come for the coffee, stay to browse the collection.

IG: @volume_kl

New menu

Nobu Kuala Lumpur

This September, Hokusetsu Sake joins forces with Nobu Kuala Lumpur for an omakase pairing that puts premium sake alongside the restaurant’s Peruvian-Japanese signatures. Expect pours including Ongakushu Koshu, Ginjo Nigori, and Junmai Daiginjo TK 40, paired with sushi, Chilean seabass and A5 wagyu. The difficult part? Deciding which pairing wins.

Website: noburestaurants.com
IG: @nobu_kualalumpur

Opening image is courtesy of Nobu Kuala Lumpur