If you already paid Johor Bahru’s famous Mount Austin or even the lesser-known Bukit Indah a visit, consider heading to Eco Botanic for your next cafe-hopping or foodie adventure! This part of town is slowly evolving into the next hip area, brimming with cute coffee cafes and old-school eateries serving great local food—so quickly visit and gatekeep this place while you can!
The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.30 as of 20 March 2025.
OFFFFive Coffee is a trendy China-born coffee chain that has outlets all across Malaysia, including one in the Eco Botanic area of JB. This particular outlet is also known as Lavida Coffee. The cafe’s interior is super Instagram-worthy, decked out in an all-white look with neon splashes of colour.
This ranges from the typical Matcha Latte (RM13.80), to the Donut Matcha Latte (RM13.80) and Matcha Strawberry (RM12.80). We especially enjoyed the Donut Matcha Latte which had a nice toastiness from the torched matcha foam.
They also have the viral blackout croissant pastry with matcha lava, inspired by the viral pastry sold at Nudake in Korea! Though it seems like the pastry is only available on a seasonal basis, as it was not there during our visit.
Address: 48 Jalan Eko Botani, 3/3 Taman Eko Botanic, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 9pm
Tel: +60 7-458 5337
Website
OFFFFive Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Eco Botanic area is an up and coming area in JB, with a lot of new cafes springing up—one of them is Off Day Cafe. This minimalistic and relatively spacious cafe is a great spot to study, do work or enjoy a casual brunch with friends.
Popular picks include the Classic French Toast (RM23+), Avocado Bagel (RM29+), and Salmon Egg Benedict (RM33+). The french toast is said to be fluffy and light, pairing perfectly with the streaks of beef bacon and drizzle of maple syrup.
If you are not feeling brunch but are in the mood for matcha, get the Matcha Basque Cheesecake (RM21+) alongside a Matcha Latte or Hojicha Latte (RM13/14+ each) instead. The cheesecake boasts a rich and earthy flavour sure to satisfy any matcha lover!
Address: 57 Jalan Eko Botani 3/7, 79100 Gelang Patah, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 10am to 6pm, Fri-Sun 9am to 7pm
Tel: +60 7-585 9539
Website
Off Day Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
For a solid cup of matcha or coffee and the most gorgeous cakes and pastries, head to Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie. If you’re feeling slightly more peckish, they also have several mains to choose from as well. Plus, there are several outlets dotted across the island with thousands of Google reviews, and a 4-star and above rating for each of them!
If you’re looking to share a slice of cake with your companion, the Earl Grey Red Velvet Mousse Cake (RM16++) or Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake (RM13.80++) are good choices. The former consists of an earthy and creamy Earl Grey mouse, while the latter consists of layers of bittersweet chocolate cream and dark chocolate sponge cake. Not only are these cakes delicious, but also pretty to look at!
Address: 1 Jalan Eco Botanic 3/4, Taman Eco Botanic, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 19-772 0754
Website
Manzanita Patisserie & Boulangerie is not halal-certified eatery.
Maco Cafe is another one for the books, especially if you are a big enthusiast of the multi-layered Mille Crepe Cakes (price TBD). They have over 30 specialty flavours, including lesser-seen ones such as Pandan Kaya, Caramel Almond, Mocha, French Chestnut, Matcha Azuki, Musang Durian, Oolong Peach Tea, and Rum & Raisin.
Pair your slice of cake with their adorable iced drinks that come with a teddy bear-shaped ice block plopped right on top! These line of ice-blended drinks, called the Little Bear on Shakerato, come in both coffee-based and non-coffee variations such as Oreo Vanilla (price TBD), Hazelnut (price TBD), and Caramel (price TBD).
Address: 65 Jalan Eco Botani 3/7, Taman Eko Botani Iskandar, 79100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: +60 19-753 3366
Website
Maco Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Gather Pizza is a relatively hidden joint, tucked on the second floor of an apartment building. They specialise in a variety of sourdough pizzas and handmade pastas, including some local-infused flavours.
If you are opting for a classic pizza flavour, order the Hawaiian Sunshine (price TBD), the Classic Margherita (price TBD), or the Four Cheese Pizza (price TBD). Else, there’s the unique Nasi Lemak Pizza (price TBD) or the Korean Kimchi Beef (price TBD). The former has a sambal base, topped with ikan bilis, peanuts, and a sous vide egg, while the latter is a tomato-based pie laden with kimchi, USA beef, jalapeno, kimchi, and pineapples.
Address: G08-01, Eco Nest Apartments, Jalan Eko Botanic 3/5, Taman Persiaran Eko Botani, Johor Bahru, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 6pm to 9:30pm, Fri-Sun 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 9:30pm
Website
Gather Pizza is not a halal-certified eatery.
Restoran Hua Mui has been serving old-school local favourites since 1946, and has several outlets dotted around JB. If there’s one thing you must get here, which also happens to be what they are known for, it has to be their Hainanese Fried Chicken Chop (RM20.90)
Their fried chicken is battered with crushed biscuits the traditional way, sure to earn you the perfect crisp you are looking for. This dish also comes with a serving of potato wedges and coleslaw, as well as a gravy to douse everything in.
If local Western food isn’t your thing, you can also expect the likes of other local dishes such as Nasi Lemak with Chicken Chop (price TBD), Hainan Chicken Curry with Rice (price TBD), and Fried Carrot Cake (price TBD).
Check out our Restoran Hua Mui JB feature!
Address: 131 Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
Tel: +60 7-224 7364
Website
Restoran Hua Mui is not a halal-certified eatery.
Stepping into Sek Bao will make you feel like you stepped into an old-school Hong Kong teahouse, with vintage movie posters plastered all over the walls and an old-timey jukebox sitting on the ground. Aside from the super cool setting, Sek Bao also happens to be a spot where you can get a good dim sum spread.
Some of their most popular offerings include: Black Truffle Char Siew Bun (RM13.80 for two), Emerald Salted Egg Lava Bun (RM12 for two), Siu Mai (12.20), Braised Chicken Feet (RM11). Then, you can further substantiate your meal with dishes such as Wanton Mee (RM16.90) and Lemon Pork Chop Rice (RM23).
Address: 14A Jalan Eko Botani 3/2, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
Tel: +60 10-905 7660
Website
Sek Bao is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you are a strong believer that bread is the superior carb, you might want to bookmark Little Bun Cafe for the next time you visit JB. The cosy cafe specialises in the steamed brioche bread famous in Korea and Thailand. FYI, their Steam Brioches are said to be much more soft and fluffy than your typical oven-baked bread.
There’s three flavours of brioche here: Original (RM22+), Pandan (RM23+), and Walnut & Raisin (RM26+). We recommend going for their Original as it pairs best with the variety of sauces and spreads they offer. During our team’s visit, we tried their Original brioche paired with Yuzu Sauce and Honey Kaya, which made for a super delicious combination!
Check out our Little Bun Cafe feature.
Address: G-08 , Eco Nest Apartment Jalan Eko Botanic 3/5, Taman, Persiaran Eko Botani, 79100, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 9:30am to 6pm, Fri-Sun 9:30am to 8:30pm
Website
Little Bun Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
MokMok is a popular JB cafe that boasts over 900 reviews and a 4.8-star rating on Google. They have an extensive Japanese-Western menu which includes the likes of pasta, sandos, donburi, and several types of sushi! Kickstart your meal with plates of Salmon (RM25) and Unagi (RM18) sushi.
Whether you’re leaning towards the Western items on the menu or the Japanese stuff, the fare here is said to be pretty solid all around. Their Chilli Crab Pasta (RM32), which features a whole soft shell crab sitting atop the pasta, is said to be both deliciously creamy and spicy. The Ebi Pumpkin Risotto (RM32) that comes with huge, juicy prawns is also another crowd-favourite.
Address: 23, Jalan Eko Botani 3/7, taman eko botani, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
MokMok is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
If your idea of a perfect brunch includes pretty and flaky pastries or loaded and hearty breakfast platters, consider paying Seven Oaks Bakery Cafe a visit—their offerings are just as delicious as they are pleasing to the eye. If you’re a fan of matcha, a must get is their Matcha Lava Croissant (price TBD) which sports a gooey matcha centre.
But if you are feeling peckish, there’s the Hot & Sour Chazuke (RM39) which sees pan-seared barramundi, salted vegetables, and rice sitting in a fish-infused broth seasoned with ginger and Sichuan peppercorns. They also do a good variety of local fare such as Ayam Geprek (RM22) and Chilli Pan Mee (RM20) if that’s more up your alley.
Address: 134, Jalan Serampang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 10pm
Website
Seven Oaks Bakery Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
If you’re a coffee enthusiast looking for a more elevated cuppa than what most of the other cafes have to offer, consider visiting Tom & Danny! The chain is quickly evolving into one of the most popular specialty coffee chains in Johor Bahru with several outlets across the town, including one in the famous Eco Botanic area.
Aside from the typical Americano (RM11) and Latte (RM14) they have here, there are also things like the Lychee Americano (RM17.50) and the Cookies Cup (RM16.50). The former is a concoction of bitter coffee and sweet lychee juice, while the latter is essentially a piccolo latte served in a crunchy cookie-shaped cup with a chocolate rim. Else, their Signature Iced Coffee (RM 17.50) also hits the spot: the iced latte is topped with a cream foam and is dusted with plenty of cocoa powder!
Address: 72A & 72B, Jalan Eko Botani 3/6, Taman Eko Botani, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Website
Tom & Danny is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
If you haven’t, check out our updated list of the best Johor Bahru cafes—there’s forty in this list to cater to every craving under the sun from sweet to savoury. Else, if you are big on matcha and have already tried every good matcha latte in Singapore, check out our list of the best JB matcha cafes!