Run by Leily Amini, her daughter Samira and niece Athirah, Nooshe Jan is Fari & Ali’s nighttime persona, serving Persian comfort fare. The concept grew from the family’s kitchen and personal recipes, making it an honest extension of their home. The food is hearty and flavourful, while the setting makes you feel like you’ve been invited to the family table.

If a pocket of France exists here, you’d find it within the walls of Bidou. This Bukit Damansara restaurant feels like a French apartment full of charm and wit. Its walls are dotted with humorous illustrations, including the Batman portraits and Michelin man cartoons, and even a framed menu from Paul Bocuse’s restaurant. The menu follows suit with elevated French classics that are prepared to make sure you don’t leave hungry.

Bella Pasta & Wine is exactly what you would imagine an intimiate Italian bistro to look and taste like. Tucked within TTDI, its warm lighting and vintage fixtures turn the restaurant into a cosy dining room, perfect for a girls night out or even first dates, complete with handmade pastas and an extensive wine list.

Esca KL’s open kitchen and laidback concept makes dinners here feel relaxed and more like an in-house hangout with friends rather than sitting in a formal restaurant. Brought to you by the team behind Terra Dining, this Chinatown restaurant brings together Malaysian flavours with influences from their travels and serves sharing plates meant to be enjoyed around the table.

At Kinfolk, the name (derived from ‘kinsfolk’) says quite a lot about the experience. Located at the ever bustling Sea Park, the restaurant is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Ken Goh and Carmen Tham. While Carmen runs the restaurant floor, Ken leads the kitchen, churning out meals that will hit all the right spots.

Having a meal at Locus feels like attending an intimate luncheon or dinner party. With just a handful of seats, the space feels personal and unhurried, while the kitchen serves a changing menu that reflects the chefs’ creativity and allows them to explore new ideas.