You know a place is trendy when Instagrammers take selfies with the ugly concrete stairs to the cafe. The Backroom fancies itself as more than a coffee shop, it’s a coffee destination. A peaceful refuge where guests can escape their stresses and indulge in speciality coffee.
Ambience & Amenities
The Backroom looks like a gallery space. Nothing blends in. Everything is very bold and demands attention, from the boxy booths to the literal cubes acting as chairs and tables. The monochromatic colour scheme extends to the barista staff, who only wore black and white.
The toilets are behind a curtain next to the coffee counter. There are two stalls with toilet paper, with more at the sink. The soap was more water than anything, but there were paper towels to dry my hands.
Menu at The Backroom Coffee
The Backroom’s menu is a QR code on every table because paper menus are soooo uncool. There’s not much in the way of food. It’s mostly rice or noodle bowls, breakfast, and a handful of pastries. The real draw is The Backroom’s seasonal coffee and curated drinks. Filtered water is free – there are self-serve jugs and glasses at the front counter.
Click on menu pictures to enlarge
Food at The Backroom Coffee
I love me a grilled cheese. Although most of The Backroom’s menu is more interesting, I couldn’t help ordering the Grilled Cheese Sourdough (RM24). It’s classic comfort food with two kinds of basic cheese on crunchy buttered sourdough. A healthy helping of mozzarella gave a nice, stringy pull when biting into the sandwich.
The Teriyaki Prawn with Tomato Confit Sourdough (RM28) is a pretty open-faced sandwich garnished with edible flowers. Big, juicy bouncy prawns lie comfortably on top of fluffy scrambled eggs. Curiously, the homemade teriyaki sauce is cream-coloured instead of dark, but the flavour is there.
I got their Apple Oolong Matcha (RM17). It’s a pleasantly sweeter take on the usual matcha tea, and less silty than I’m used to. The Summer’s Breath (RM17) has a complicated flavour profile where the ingredients shine through at different times. For me, the fruits were first, then the bitterness of the coffee, finishing with the spicy ginger. The only downside is that the cafe neglected the rosemary sprig, which would’ve added a welcome herbaceous element.
Saturday Worthy?
As someone who doesn’t drink coffee, The Backroom isn’t really for me. Our meals were fine, but the dishes lacked the innovative fusions of the drinks. The food isn’t the main appeal anyway, it’s something to fill your hunger after hanging out here for hours. If you like coffee and want to try something different, whether it’s the rotating bean selection or a creative beverage, then The Backroom should move to your forefront.
Price for 2 Pax: RM86.00
Grilled Cheese Sourdough: RM24.00
Teriyaki Prawn Sourdough: RM28.00
Apple Oolong Matcha: RM17.00
Summer’s Breath: RM17.00
The Backroom.Coffee
Address: Lot 34A, 36A and 38A, First Floor, The Row KL (Asian Heritage Row), Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm Daily
Alcohol Served: No
