Malaysia is an absolute food haven (don’t believe me? check out my top Malaysian food you must try) and so of course I was so excited to explore the island’s food and beverage offering. After much trial and error, I have put together a list of 12 must try places to eat and drink in Langkawi.
You may not think Langkawi was a food haven, not compared to somewhere like Penang. But you know what, I was surprised the array of food and drink options that was really good and worth sharing. So if you’re not hungry yet, get ready because it is a delicious range of places that you must try when visiting the wonderful island of Langkawi. Let’s dig in!
Table of Contents
Best for Sunset Drinks
Yellow Beach Café
Best for: Sunset drinks, and chilled out beachfront dining
The Yellow Beach Café in Langkawi is absolutely beach front, and offers a great chilled out atmosphere to enjoy the views of Cenang Beach, while eating a great meal. If you want to sink your feet into the sand while sipping on a cold beer, you can most definitely do that at the Yellow Beach Café. The café offers a range of seating styles from your normal restaurant seating to bean bags on the beach, to chair swings. The food is Western style, so expect pizzas, pastas, and grilled meats.
To Visit:
Address: Jalan Pantai Tengah, Pantai Tengah
Telephone: +6012 459 3190
Hours: Open every day except Tuesday from 12:00pm to 1:00am
The Cliff Restaurant & Bar
Best for: Sunset drinks, and formal dining
If you are looking for something that has amazing views over Cenang Beach, then The Cliff Restaurant & Bar is the spot for you. And best of all, they have some of the best seats in town at sunset. Then after sunset, head to the main restaurant area for a seafood dinner. The drinks are pricier then places along Cenang Beach, however the Cliff Bar is much less hustle then Cenang Beach and is a more peaceful spot to watch the sunset.
To Visit:
Address: Lot 63 & 40, Cenang, Mukim Kedawang, Lebuh Pantai
Telephone: +60 4-953 3228
Hours: Open every day from 12:00pm to 11:00pm
The Nest Rooftop
Best for: Sunset drinks (Mocktails) + BYO Drinks
Great music, with great views over Penang Beach in Langkawi…this is a hidden gem located on the rooftop of the Royal Agate Beach Resort. Nest doesn’t serve any alcohol; however you are allowed to bring your own beer and wine (best of all, it is duty free in Langkawi). And if you don’t mind going for a mocktail – they do make some lovely jugs of mocktails.
To Visit:
Address: Royal Agate Beach Resort, 1659, Jalan Pantai Chenang,
Telephone: +6017 229 1063
Hours: Open every day except Mondays from 5:00pm-12:00am
Best for Dessert
MY French Factory
Best for: the Ohhhh the delicious crepes. I still dream of these crepes
There is a reason this is listed very highly on review sites such as TripAdvisor, because truly they serve some of the best crepes I have ever tasted. And best of all – the portions are generous, and the price point is affordable. The café is small so there is a chance you may have to wait to get a seat, but trust me when I say that it is worth the wait. Hubby and I loved it so much that we had crepes every day that we were in Langkawi – just so yum!
To Visit:
Address: Jalan Pantai Cenang on the ground floor of the Langgura BARON Resort
Telephone: +604 955 5196
Hours: Open every day except Fridays from 11:00am – 11:00pm
Donuts Terhangat
Best for: Uhhhh the best donuts on the island!
If I told you that you could get a delicious donut for RM1 would you believe me? Well in Langkawi that is totally the case, and don’t say I “donut” tell you.
The donuts here are fresh (most of the time still warm), delicious, and best of all affordable. For a plain sugar donut it is RM1 (A$0.32 / U$0.24), a chocolate donut is RM2 (A$0.64 / U$0.48), and for 10 x bite sized donuts it is RM2 (A$0.64 / U$0.48).
The donuts are so good here and it is so popular with the locals that there is usually a line up and they do mostly run out by the late afternoons. So what are you waiting for? Hop into the car and head over to Donuts Terhangat, one of Langkawi’s best kept donut secret.
To Visit:
Address: Jalan Kedawang, across from the Petronas Petrol Station
Hours: Open every day from 7:00am till sold out!
Best for Beach Views
Scarborough Fish & Chips – Tanjung Rhu
Best for: Amazing beach views with a cold iced beer in hand
This restaurant is hidden away in the northern part of Langkawi, where it is a little more secluded and has some of the best beaches in Langkawi. Scarborough Fish & Chips sits right on the beach, and offers amazing views of the beaches, while being peaceful and away from all the hustle and bustle of Cenang Beach. The setup is quite simple – it is set in a small blue house with wooden furniture, but it’s simplicity is made up by the great views. The food is quite good, and I would recommend one of their grilled and fried fish dishes, which pairs perfectly with a cold beer or fresh watermelon juice.
To Visit:
Address: Lot 1388, Jalan Tanjung Rhu, Mukim Air Hangat,
Telephone: +6012 352 2236
Hours: Open every day from 10:00am to 10:00pm
Best for Western Food
The Fat Frog
Best for: Great views & great food
We stumbled upon The Fat Frog by accident.
While driving along Jalan Padang Matsirat, we say a sign that said “The Fat Frog, Restaurant & Shop.” The name alone got me intrigued and so we decided to stop in…and we’re so happy we did.
The Fat Frog is a quaint restaurant which overlooks an unopened golf course – so expect rolling hills and lush greenery. The menu itself offers an excellent variety of mainly western style dishes, with plenty of vegetarian options.
The dishes are delicious – they’re full of wholesome goodness and full of heart. Each dish has been freshly prepared using the freshest of ingredients. And the price point is extremely reasonable considering the great views and delicious food.
The Spicy Orange & Ginger Wings and the Mexican Burger were both winners in my book.
To Visit:
Address: 99 East Estate, Jalan Padang Matsirat, Mk Ulu Melaka
Telephone: +604 955 1153
Hours: Open every day except Mondays from 12pm-5pm & 6pm-9:30pm
Mangoes Bar & Grill
Best for: Great atmosphere, delicious Pavlova & a beautiful sunset
Surrounded by lush greenery, with ocean views in the distant, the Mangoes Bar & Grill is the perfect hideaway for expats and visitors alike. The restaurant is non-halal and does get busy most days… plus I have heard that the sunsets here are gorgeous.
Owned by expat couple, Michelle & Lutz, the food at Mangoes Bar & Grill is a labour of love. I mean heck, the Pavlova totally blew me away and it is the best I have had in a restaurant since leaving Australia. Michelle has put all her personal touches to all the food prepared here, that you can expect hearty home cooking from the heart.
The menu is filled with western style cooking, with daily specials available – so the hardest decision you will have to make it whether to go with the Pavlova or the Rum & Mango Crepes…or maybe both?
To Visit:
Address: 1, Jalan Kuala Teriang
Telephone: +6017 589 8117
Hours: Open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5pm – 10pm & Sunday from 11am-10pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays.
Best for Local Eats
Nasi Dagang Pak Malau
Best for: A super local breakfast with fantastic rice paddy views
Nasi Dagang is a specialty of the Kedah region, and the best spot on Langkawi to try this special Malaysian delicacy is at Pak Malau’s. For this local breakfast, the rice is specially steamed with coconut milk to give it a lovely fragrance. Then it is served with your choice of chicken, beef or fish. I tried the beef rendang, while hubby had the chicken curry. Both were delicious, and I could have easily gone for more.
What makes breakfast at Pak Malau’s all the more special is the lovely rice paddy views. Plus it is a real ‘kampung’ style experience, which is a great way to experience local life in Langkawi. A plate of Nasi Dagang costs between RM 8 – 15 depending on your choice of meat.
Hot tip – do go earlier in the morning on the weekends, because it can get busy!
To Visit:
Nasi Dagang Pak Malau
Address: Jalan Makam Mahsuri, Kampung Mawar
Telephone: +6012 271 1977
Hours: Open every day except Tuesdays from 8:00am to 2:00pm
Restoran Siti Fatimah
Best for: A variety of local eats at an extremely affordable price
Restoran Siti Fatimah is a family-owned nasi campur restaurant, which means they offer a buffet array of Malay style dishes that you can choose from paired with piping hot rice. You basically pay for the items that you put on your plate.
It is one of the more popular nasi campur spots on the island and for good reason – the dishes are delicious. Overall the restaurant is quite clean and best of all it is affordable. From meat to seafood to vegetable selections, there is enough variety for every tastebud.
Aim to go earlier during lunch to avoid the crowd. By around 12:30pm it can get quite busy and you may be waiting to get a table.
To Visit:
Address: Batu 5 1/4, Jalan Kampung Tok Senik, Kawasan mata Air, Ulu Melaka
Hours: Open every day from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Night Market
Best for: A range of local eats that is oh-so-affordable
There are different night markets around the island that take place on different nights. But I recommend visiting the Ayer Hangat Market on Friday evenings. Located in the northern part of the island, not far from Tanjung Rhu, this is one of the biggest market on the island…and there is so much food to choose from. Best to go in the early evening so you miss the big crowds of people.
To Visit:
Ayer Hangat Night Market
Address: Jalan Padang Gaong
Hours: Open only on Fridays from 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Best for Indian Food
Pia’s the Padi
Best for: Great Indian food
This restaurant has received a lot of great reviews for its Indian food – and for good reason. At first, the large menu and pricing surprised us a little bit. I felt it was a tad bit pricey considering the basic setup of the restaurant. However, we decided to give it a chance, because after all there’s a reason it is ranked like #3 on TripAdvisor. We ordered the chicken masala with rice and roti and I was pleasantly surprised that there enough food for the two of us.
To Visit:
Address: Jalan Ulu Melaka, Kampung Padang Gaong
Phone: +60 12-493 3713
Hours: Open every day from 12–3PM, 6–9PM
Getting Around Langkawi
The best way to get around Langkawi is truly by hiring your own car. There’s minimal public transportation and taxis are limited. It’s quite easy to drive in Langkawi, so if you have your license, I highly recommend hiring a car. And if you do so, you definitely should check out GoCar.
GoCar is an on-demand car hire platform, which means that you can hire a car at any time of the day. Whether it’s per hour or per day, GoCar offers flexibility… meaning you only pay for what you use. Currently GoCar is available in over 50 locations across Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi in Malaysia.
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No compensation was received for this review. All meals were independently paid for.
I'm Soraya, travel & food blogger and sunshine chaser at Hello Raya. You know that travel bug? I have been well and truly nipped, infinite times.This is my online nook to share my lifelong experiences of travel & food in hopes to inspire you to explore our beautiful world. 13 Comments on 12 Must Try Places to Eat in Langkawi, Malaysia
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Wow, these Crepes… what to say, this just makes me want to bite into my screen!
But not only those, all of these nice dishes look so appetizing, this Indian chicken Masala – yummi!
That’s for me always the best possible combination – visiting great places and having the chance to enjoy fantastic local food, cannot be better! I need some breakfast now…
Langkawi looks like a great place to visit! I am hoping to visit around Christmas time and would love to check out these restaurants and bars! I am a sucker for a place with a view so the Nest Rooftop or Cliff Restaurant would be right up my alley! thanks for sharing! 🙂
Beach dining looks amazing, especially at sunset but so too does eating an authentic local meal in the jungle. I don’t know which one I would choose. I guess I better just stay long enough to try both. 🙂
Crepes was an unexpected addition to the list! I wouldn’t have thought that such a small place like Langkawi would have a dessert like a crepe and a good one too. I love your recommendations for sunset drinks. sunsets on islands are always the best
Wow all the places look so wonderful. My favourite would be Yellow Beach Café in Langkawi. I think one reason to travel to Malaysia would definitely be the food. It looks all so tasty.
Oh my gosh, you’ve made me hungry with this post! How beautiful is the sunset view from The Cliff Restaurant & Bar? I’d love to visit.
Cliff restaurant looks amazing! The sky you captured is amazing! Tanhyng Rhu looks like a good spot to be as well while eating! Great line up of spots! Bookmarking for when we go!
Now I’m desperate for some French desserts. Langkawi looks like it had a lot of great places to eat and drink at. My kinda holiday place! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful places.
Great place all with good looking food. But what I like here is how all of them are staring at the beautiful seaside. It is made better by the fact that you have chosen the right frames to photograph.
Thanks for such a wide range of options. I will have to refer back when I visit Malaysia. The ones on the sea shore look particularly interesting with fantastic views across 🙂 Do they all have vegetarian options?
We had been to Langkawi some 8 years back and everything of what we saw and ate has become hazy. Your pictures of food and the restaurants with gorgeous views have made us plan another trip back to the beautiful island of Langkawi.The cliff Restuarant and the Nest Rooftop looks fab to visit.
Love this post!! I was in Langkawi just last month and I ate at a few of these places myself!! Absolutely loved the view from the Scarborough Fish and Chips! And oh so close to Thailand!! Would like to try to local breakfast place, I didn’t quite get there!!
you.theworld.wandering
I might be heading to Langkawi soon. I would to watch the sunset and head to Sunset Beach, and of course, My French Factory for those dreamy crepes. Cheers!!