There’s something about wooden furniture that makes it such a classic, timeless, and safe and reliable option. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are five wood-themed cafes in Malaysia that utilise the material to elevate their spaces.
1. Beanery
A new wood-themed cafe in Cheras, Beanery presents duality in its design, pairing cool, industrial concrete with the earthy wood tones—a contrasting combo that seems to be quite the popular look these days.
There’s no doubt, though, that wood is the starred material here.
We also adore the “paintings” here. Why limit yourself to using wood in a picture frame, when it can be the artwork, too?
Minimalistic but unique, the range of furniture here feels carefully curated.
Location: 74, Jalan Nadchatiram 1, Taman Taynton View, 56000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 011-6969 0920
2. Shan Mu
The name of this wood-themed cafe tells you what you need to know about the space.
Shan Mu essentially translates to mountain wood. Right from the entrance, you’ll notice driftwood being used as decor. Like Beanery, Shan Mu makes use of the grey concrete as a complementary material, leveraging the neutrality of it to help the wood stand out.
Based on their Instagram posts, Shan Mu is actually preparing a secondary location, which we can’t wait to check out.
Location: 28, Jalan Cerdik, Taman Connaught, 56000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 016-362 8266
3. Shikomi Coffee
A Japanese-inspired cafe, Shikomi is a quaint cafe in SS18. Unlike the other cafes on the list, Shikomi has more of a retro and vibrant aesthetic to it, filled with knick-knacks and coloured wooden panels.
The wood used here feels reclaimed and storied, as though it has journeyed through many past-lives before ending up here at this cafe.
There’s also a loft area here if you’re looking for a more intimate area to relax in.
Location: 5, Jalan SS 18/6, Ss18, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Contact: 03-5612 3180
4. Transparent Coffee
Raw and organic are two words we’d use to describe Transparent Coffee. Right from the exterior, there are pieces of deco that seem almost unfinished, coloured by age and the elements.
Once again, Transparent Coffee pairs wood up with concrete. It pairs exceptionally well with the raw appearance of the warm wooden pieces.
According to an Instagram post, it seems like much of these pieces may have been bespoke, customised to create the vision the team sought for.
One unique piece of furniture are the blocky wooden chairs with the metal backrests—while it admittedly doesn’t look like the most comfortable seats, there’s a captivating uniqueness to the design.
Location: Sam Mansion Flat, Jalan Tuba, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 014-333 4521
5. Tomo Tomo
Visit PARC in Subang and you’ll notice a striking wooden structure tucked away in a back corner of the building.
This is Tomo Tomo, a tranquil Japanese-inspired two-storey cafe.
More than the interior, it’s the exterior facade that particularly stands out with this cafe.
The structure mainly comprises dark-toned wood, though with the right lighting, it appears red and warm.
The windows here are clad with wooden fences, allowing light to dapple through.
Inside, there’s a double-volume ceiling right after the entrance that provides views of the loft space above as well as a skylight.
Location: Lot/Unit 5, PARC Hub, Taman Subang Ria, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Wood you tap into these designs?
We love how these cafes have incorporated wood in their spaces in their own interpretation.
More than just a place to eat and drink, these cafes leverage thoughtful design to evoke a welcoming ambience.
More than that, it’s also reinvigorating to work in these beautiful spaces—I personally really enjoyed a quiet afternoon session at Shikomi Coffee. Plus, if you’re looking to deck out your own space, be it a home or a store, these are great places to gain inspiration.
Of course, beyond these wood-centric coffee shops, there are a lot more uniquely designed eateries and commercial spaces to be found in Malaysia. We’ll be keeping an eye out for these design stories, so keep yours on us.
Also Read: Inside: PARC, the sustainable and inclusive community hub project in Subang