Ipoh

“Ipoh is undergoing a quiet renaissance. Until now, domestic tourists seldom lingered beyond a weekend sampling ayam tauge (chicken and beansprouts) and Ipoh’s famous white coffee.” — Lonely Planet

April Check Ins: From Penang’s Coastal Humidity to the Serene Hills of Ipoh

Nicholas Ng

April in Peninsular Malaysia rewards travellers who plan around the heat rather than against it. George Town walks well before 10am and after dusk, Ipoh asks for water and shade through the afternoon, and Kuala Lumpur’s 2pm to 4pm rain window structures dinner reservations and evening movement. The five hotels below address April’s climate not by insulating guests from it but by giving them a workable base within it, with positioning and programming that turn the middle of the day into the most interesting part of the stay.
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DC Restaurant x Jeff’s Cellar x Être Patisserie

Nicholas Ng
Gold Amur Caviar from Tanjung Malim, Crab Ice Cream, Young Local Bamboo Shoots | DC Restaurant x Jeff's Cellar x Être | Food For Thought

Darren Chin of DC Restaurant need no further introduction when it comes to the fine dining scene in Malaysia, and his latest collaboration sees six hands working together with Chef Lee Choon Boon of Jeff’s Cellar and Chef Ann Lee of Être Patisserie at the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat. This collaboration features a black box of local ingredients showcasing what modern Malaysian cuisine really is. From the local caviar served on crab ice cream to the local rabbit consommé, the cerebral approach to the dishes really make you think. Continue reading →

Ultimate Guide: Ipoh Street Food

Nicholas Ng
Ipoh Food | Ipoh Street Food | Food For Thought

Ipoh is home to one of the most picturesque towns in Malaysia, encapsulated by its infamous limestone hills. Located in the state of Perak, Ipoh is famous for its colonial past, as well as its significance in the growth of Malaya. The home to some of the best local fare from the Ipoh Bean Sprout Chicken Rice to the Sar Hor Fun, Ipoh food is known to locals as some of the cleanest and freshest there is. Recently named 6th of Best in Asia by Lonely Planet, the melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and European colonial cultures is apparent in the food that you hear about. From the arty revival of the Kong Heng block to the once famous Concubine Lane, we have a look at what they have to offer. Continue reading →

M Boutique Hotel Ipoh

Nicholas Ng
Exterior | M Boutique Hotel Ipoh | Food For Thought

Located in the historical tin mining town of Ipoh sits a unique boutique hotel that almost seems misplaced, the M Boutique Hotel Ipoh. This unique establishment is situated on Hala Datuk, not far from the Ipoh city centre, a city decided by Lonely Planet as one of the Best in Asia. This quaint little hotel is furnished with a fusion of contemporary design and colonial past, being dubbed “urban straits eclectic”. This hotel seeks to invoke a sense of throwback to a time where the straits settlements were in its infancy, but with a modern twist. Continue reading →