Affordable cafes in JB
Singapore isn’t short on brunch fare – almost every cafe menu is sure to feature classics like avo smash or eggs benny. Big-name cafes like Tiong Bahru Bakery and Atlas Coffeehouse? They make up the bulk of our tried-and-tested weekend routine.
But if you’re looking for new coffee joints to try, there are plenty waiting for you on the other side of the causeway. JB’s just an easy train or bus ride away, S$1 is worth more than RM3, and all cafes are ridiculously photogenic. It almost sounds too good to be true, but take all that and throw in a 1-for-1 promo.
Here are 7 cafes in JB where you can save plenty with 1-for-1 dining promotions using the ENTERTAINER 2019 – you can get $10 off the app here!
1. The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen
Image credit: Eatbook
When you’re looking for a cafe type of cafe – those with minimalist decor and the occasional plant – The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen fits the bill perfectly.
They’ve got brunch dishes like Eggs Benny (RM26.90, ~S$8.80), The Breakfast Platter (RM30.9, ~S$10.20), and Berries Compote French Toast (RM24.9, ~S$8.20).
We tried the Poke Bowl and Eggs Benny with Portobello Mushrooms – kudos to the runny egg yolk.
If breakfast fare at 3PM isn’t your ideal pick-me-up, they also offer dishes like Poke Bowl (RM27.9, ~S$9.20) which come with cured salmon and white tuna, along with a mixture of avocado, walnuts, and mentaiko sauce.
Coffee starts from RM8 (~S$2.60) for an Espresso. They also have a selection of Cocktails (starting from RM24.9 (~S$8.20) for Summer Punch) and Beers (starting from RM18 (~S$5.90) for Somersby Cider).
ENTERTAINER offer: 1-for-1 mains
Total saved: ~RM26.9 (~S$8.80)
Address: 33, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru 30000
Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 10AM-6PM, Fri to Sun: 9AM-11PM
Telephone: +60 12 547 7885
2. Shakespeare Milkshakes
It’s sugar overload here at Shakespeare Milkshakes, but heck, you know you deserve this massive concoction. Sipping on the Avocado Power (RM18, ~S$5.90) is nothing like your neighbourhood $2.50 avocado juice – it was frothy with vanilla ice cream and had a subtle hint of gula melaka.
For a more traditional take on milkshakes, the Kinder Bueno (RM18, ~S$5.90) was thoroughly blended with crushed kinder buenos, salted cookies, and silky-smooth dark chocolate ice cream.
You’d think we had enough but nope, we also shared 2 waffles between us – the Chocolate Banana Waffle (RM18, ~S$5.90) came freshly made with dark chocolate soft serve and caramelised banana.
Head down early – it’s a small space and it gets crowded fast.
ENTERTAINER offer: 1-for-1 waffles, 1-for-1 milkshakes
Total saved: ~RM36, (~S$11.80)
Address: 9, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru 80000
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 12PM-11PM, Sat to Sun: 12PM-12AM
Telephone: +60 16 421 8530
3. CATS Cafe – At Their Cats Sanctuary
Cat cafe? Absolutely, 100% yes. And that’s coming from a dog person, like me. You’ll see all sorts of breeds at CATS Cafe – At Their Cats Sanctuary, from those of flat-faced variety to those with long swishy tails. But before you go all gaga over them, it’s also worth ordering up a meal.
From Crusted Salmon (RM39.90, ~S$13.10 with side of aglio olio) to Salted Egg Yolk Prawn Pasta (RM26.90, ~S$8.80), this cafe offers up delish food that almost distracts us from the cats. They also have a full drinks menu: Coffee (starting from RM9.90, ~S$3.30), Milkshakes (starting from RM16.90, ~S$5.60) and Fizzy Sodas (RM13.9, ~S$4.60).
ENTERTAINER offer: 1-for-1 mains
Total saved: ~RM26.90 (~S$8.80)
Address: 31A, Lorong 2C, Kampung Bahru, Johor Bahru 80100
Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 12:30PM-9PM, Fri to Sun: 1PM-9:30PM (Closed on Wednesdays)
Telephone: +60 7 207 0399
4. Faculty of Caffeine
Faculty of Caffeine is one joint that has a good selection of brunch dishes, sharing plates, and desserts. We went with the savoury Fried Chicken Sandwich (RM18.90, ~S$6.20) and Breakfast Platter (RM25.90, ~S$8.50) – both came oversized, the former with huge chunks of fried chicken and the latter with a generous spill of scrambled eggs.
It’s unlikely you’ll be peckish after, but if you are, they’ve got desserts like Madam Lim’s Homemade Brownies (RM17.9, ~S$5.90) and Chocolate Fudge Pie (RM15.9, ~S$5.20).
As far as cafes go, this was one with a moody ambience – think exposed lightbulbs and teal green walls.
ENTERTAINER offer: 1-for-1 mains
Total saved: ~RM18.9 (~S$6.20)
Address: 106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru 80000
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 9AM-5:30PM
Telephone: +60 12 547 7885
5. Miyakori Coffee
Right at JB City Square Mall – heads up, that’s the shopping centre right next to immigration – Miyakori Coffee is one of those chill coffee places you should save as your last stop. They’ve got a solid selection of hearty mains like Salted Egg Yolk Pasta (RM25, ~S$8.20) and Miyakori Big Breakfast (RM25, ~S$8.20), but really, what we were interested in were their waffles.
Their waffles had a good mix of sweet and savoury flavours like Berry-Berry Good Waffle (RM21.5, ~S$7.10) or Cheddar Cheese (RM21.5, ~S$7.10). And surprise, surprise: of course we tried both. Both came stacked and layered with cream – respectively, fresh cream and cream cheese.
These waffles were huge – we recommend sharing with at least one other.
ENTERTAINER Offer: 1-for-1 mains, 1-for-1 beverage
Total saved: ~RM21.50 (~S$7.10)
Address: 106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru 80000
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 9AM-5:30PM
Telephone: +60 12 547 7885
6. Kolla Coffee
Although it’s slightly further out, Kolla Coffee is one of our favourites on this list, partially for its relaxed ambience but mainly for its delish food – italicised for emphasis.
We ordered basics here, and found that everything was done superbly well. The Healthy Bowl (RM13, S$4.30) was a nourishing bowl of milk-soaked oats, filled with a mix of strawberries, blueberries, almonds, and raisins.
If you want something that mixes savoury and sweet, their Eggstra Special (RM18, ~S$5.90) dishes out a full tray of breakfast goodies – Garlic N Herbs Bread, Soft Boiled Eggs, Yoghurt with Strawberries, and even Oats with Honey.
We couldn’t resist helping ourselves to their signature hot chocolate too, aptly named Pleasure Of The Taste (RM15, ~S$4.90). This came with an intricate setup of a dome-shaped chocolate ice cube – similar to those used for Old Fashioneds – and a thick hot chocolate pour.
ENTERTAINER offer: 1-for-1 mains, 1-for-1 beverage
Total saved: ~RM28 (~S$9.20)
Address: Jalan Permas Utara, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Masai 81750
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 12PM-10PM, Sat to Sun: 9AM-10PM
Telephone: +60 16 755 7318
7. Tropique
Image credit: @gnohznaij
As another JB cafe, Tropique is as usual, done up in minimalist decor with sleek finishings. But the food here is what caught our eye. It’s by the same folks behind The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and Faculty of Caffeine, so there’s bound to be some overlap in the menu. But of course, each place has their own specialty dishes.
Image credit: @entertainersg
Dig into hearty brunch dishes like Croque Madame (RM26.90, ~S$8.80) which is essentially a loaded sandwich with smoked ham and emmental cheddar, or B&B French Toast (RM24.90, ~S$8.20) that mixes crispy beef bacon with bruleed banana.
ENTERTAINER offers: 1-for-1 mains
Total saved: ~RM24.90 (~S$8.20)
Address: Lot D, Jalan Ekoflora 1, Taman Ekoflora, Johor Bahru 81100
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-10PM
Telephone: +60 12 547 7886
Cafe-hopping in JB with the Entertainer App – 1-for-1 dining deals
JB cafes are already ridiculously affordable – a typical main menu item is roughly less than S$10! – but they can be even cheaper with the ENTERTAINER. As a dining and lifestyle app, the ENTERTAINER includes over 1,700 1-for-1 deals and discount offers that can be used in both Singapore and Johor Bahru.
From cafes like Kolla Coffee to milkshake joints like Shakespeare Milkshakes, the ENTERTAINER 2019 has deals like 1-for-1 mains or 1-for-1 beverage that’ll save you the big bucks on your next visit to JB. Exclusively for TSL Readers, the ENTERTAINER is offering a special discount – $10 off Singapore and Johor Bahru’s the ENTERTAINER. Click here to get this discount right away and save even more.
For easy tips on getting to JB, check out our JB Transport Guide.
Find out more about the ENTERTAINER 2019 here!
This post was brought to you by the ENTERTAINER. Photography by Pepita Wauran.