Shah Alam’s Knotted Cafe is a cosy, family-friendly space built around the idea of ikatan, or the ties that bind. Run by a husband-and-wife team, the cafe pairs low seats and board games with crowd-pleasing dishes such as creamy tomyum prawn pasta, house-made tiramisu and cheesecakes from a neighbourhood baker, alongside Indonesian-roasted coffee inspired by Bali.

Made by three brothers, Papagi Handmade Pasta is the kind of neighbourhood spot that keeps things close to the kitchen. Its fresh pasta is handmade using a blend of semolina and double-zero flour, with the rotating selection covering fettuccine, pappardelle, garganelli and farfalle. Creations include a bright bunga telang-tinted fettuccine paired with sauces such as Gorgonzola cream.

For when you want a meal to share with your favourite people, Mezze Mazi brings Mediterranean and Levantine flavours to the table under the expertise of Chef Joel Kirkyk. Expect a menu built around generous plates of hummus, za’atar, labneh and other mezze-style dishes designed for passing around,

Currently operating as a takeout stand ahead of its full bakery-cafe opening, Hahasard is already making a case for adding more shiopan and bagels to your carb intake. The shiopan comes in a classic style or filled with options such as scallion cream cheese, yuzu cream cheese and red bean paste. Meanwhile, its bagel combinations including tomato pesto cheese, matcha mochi red bean and mentaiko crispy rice.

Unstable Concoction is taking the cafe formula into more experimental territory, pairing caffeinated drinks with spice, savoury flavours and plenty of controlled chaos. Try La Reina, which layers cacao nib tea with strawberry, chilli cheong and cili padi, or the TBD, a tropical combination of espresso, coconut water and house-made kaya — with polo buns and kaya on the side.

Your hotpot cravings have a new destination to hit up this month with the opening of Tomtom Club. Perfect for solo dates or even smaller scale hangouts, the space specialises in individual hotpot sets. There are three broth options available: a Guizhou red sour soup, Cantonese white braised broth, and Guizhou spicy bean broth. All you have to do is choose your broth and ingredients before you’re all set for your meal. Note: Tomtom Club is currently in its soft launch phase until 1 October.

Renowned coffee hangout Bean Brothers has introduced their latest location in Setia Alam, overlooking foliage and its surrounding neighbourhood. The sprawling space is airy and its range of seating options is great news for those who plan to stay a while with their cuppa and perhaps a book or some work. There are both small bites and bigger plates on the food menu too, so you won’t go hungry no matter the size of your appetite.

After moving from Kota Damansara, Vintage Kissa has found a new home in Sungei Wang Plaza, bringing its vinyl nostalgia into a more immersive listening-room setting. Expect decades-old speakers, jazz and blues played with analogue depth, plus creamy scoops such as Iranian pistachio and duck egg vanilla gelato for a suitably old-school afternoon.

Three Guys Cafe’s latest branch in USJ Taipan feels more like a personal library than your typical neighbourhood cafe, with warm timber, hundreds of books and playful touches ranging from Tintin posters to retro prints. Its Japanese-inspired rice bowls remain the main draw, with 15 options to choose from, including the signature ATM Don.

Perched above Raja Chulan, Safehouse is Sky Society’s colourful new rooftop cafe, bringing a playful drinks menu to its fourth-floor space. Look out for Mont Blanc cold brews, matcha coconut coolers and chocolate peanut butter beverages inspired by a Snickers bar, all served against the lively backdrop of the rooftop venue.

Designed with remote workers in mind, Plugs Cafe is Petaling Jaya's work-friendly cafe, where productivity comes with, well, plenty of plugs. The SS4 space will be ready to serve all sorts of simple and comforting plates from kimchi chicken bibimbap and salmon rice bowls to penne carbonara. To keep the mood bright and and airy as you tackle your to-do lists, it’s got bright interiors punctuated by red conduits, sockets and switches for a little personality.