The opening of Chica Bonita, a Mexican food outlet, has made the Plaza Damansara area more vibrant.
Move over Bangsar, Plaza Damansara is quickly establishing itself as an F&B attraction as more watering holes and eateries emerge
ANY discussion about cool suburbs to hang out in Kuala Lumpur will invariably revolve around patronising the F&B outlets around either Bangsar or Sri Hartamas.
However, Damansara Heights, also known as Bukit Damansara, is slowly emerging as a strong contender.
Much of its growth has been rapidly occurring since the relaxation of restrictions to fight Covid-19.
The Bukit Damansara F&B scene took off at a snail’s pace in the 1980s, with some of the earliest development around Medan Damansara that fronts the Sprint Highway.
Over time, the development of the F&B scene progressed uphill, especially around Plaza Damansara, an area bound by Jalan Setia Murni and Jalan Medan Setia – an area that is marked by a tower housing a CIMB branch at one end, and Republik Damansara Heights (formerly Plaza Epicure), at the other side.
Jarrod Ang, general manager of a restaurant called Gin Rik Sha, said Plaza Damansara was an up-and-coming area, as far as the F&B scene was concerned.
“Gin Rik Sha has been around for four-and-a-half years, but I’ve been in the industry for over 30 years, and saw how the area that used to feature just one German bar, has grown to be what it is now.
“No doubt, this is not a new neighbourhood and is somewhat like a hidden enclave,” said Ang, who added that a relatively secluded area could have its charm for those seeking for a hangout place with a difference.
Happy Stan is an upscale cafe at a corner of Plaza Damansara.
“In the past, people only knew Medan Damansara, but Bukit Damansara is now one of the most happening places in Kuala Lumpur.
“This place is now a hotspot,” he added when asked about the potential of the area immediately surrounding Plaza Damansara, which is a shop-office enclave in a primarily residential area.
Ang’s optimism is shared by other observers, such as a contributor to travel guide Lonely Planet last year, who succeeded in entering Bukit Damansara as one of the “favourite lesser-known neighbourhoods in the world’s greatest cities”.
“Bangsar may be better known, but Damansara Heights has the buzz.
“One of the richest addresses in Kuala Lumpur, this neighbourhood has retained its personality despite its recent revitalisation.
“Post-facelift, Jalan Batai has developed into a community-focused street replete with eateries and cosmopolitan conveniences.
“While the road has yet to draw Kuala Lumpur’s cool kids, the offerings – farm-to-table restaurant Sitka, Ben’s Independent Grocer (including a great coffee bar) and the elegant Torii Yakitori & Whiskey Bar – deserve attention.
Pang says the area’s unique mix lends its own charm to the F&B scene.
“Swing by Plaza Damansara, a beat-up area seeing an uptick of shiny shops and restaurants such as cafe-bakery Huckleberry, Skullduggery speakeasy and Flour (which has since relocated to Jalan Imbi), a north Indian restaurant that peddles a knockout biryani,” wrote Kong Wai Yeng, a Kuala Lumpur-based writer.
Rogelio Morga Jr, outlet manager for Rockafellers at Plaza Damansara which opened on Sept 14, also commented that there was something special about the neighbourhood.
“This is a special place to hang out, somewhat quiet, and we are offering an alternative to downtown Kuala Lumpur.
“We have managed to attract a good clientele from the neighbourhood,” he said.
Kannan Kent Nair, 42, who manages Frangipaani nearby, said more eateries opening in Plaza Damansara had been creating a win-win situation for all.
“It is about enlarging the cake, not about fighting over the same limited pool of customers,” said the executive who welcomed the recent arrival of Starbucks and Chica Bonita below Frangipaani.
“It is healthy competition.
“After a meal at Frangipaani, they go to Starbucks for coffee. So it is mutually beneficial.
“Even Chica Bonita’s customers come up to check us out. There has been no impact on our business.
Kannan: Frangipaani has not been impacted by the opening of several new eateries.
“It seems the pie is being enlarged, rather than being shrunken,” said Kannan, who added that nearly 80% of Frangipaani’s customers were from the neighbourhood.
“That said, we could do with more customers from outside of Bukit Damansara, but this is tough on weekdays.”
Kannan’s optimism for Plaza Damansara is shared by Pang Jia Woei, a partner of the company behind Chica Bonita, which counts Republik Damansara Heights as its second outlet after its Mont Kiara establishment.
“We can see the area has a lot of potential as it is a prominent neighbourhood with a certain charm.
“So far, the crowd has been very good, and the vibe very palpable,” said Pang.
Ang of Gin Rik Sha also thinks that the Republik end of Plaza Damansara has created its own niche.
“When it started, it was quite quiet. They are doing well and have improved its image, and there are new tenants,” he said on the area’s burgeoning F&B scene.
Pang said the Plaza Damansara area could support many more businesses.
“I see many are under renovation. Sooner or later, it will be a hub, drawing outsiders in.
Rockafellers offers a different kind of after-hours hangout.
“That said, we do have a neighbourhood crowd that is either from within walking distance or a very short drive away.
“Our role is to enliven this place at night so that guests stay a bit longer, and perhaps create some synergy such as bar hopping,” said the restaurateur, who is confident of holding his own despite his eatery’s proximity to Frangipaani, Maillard, Happy Stan and Yakiniku Great.
“We do not see ourselves as competitors as we have our own niche and different target segments,” he added.
Chica Bonita’s landlord, Shamsul Fahmi Padzli, who is the managing director of Nusa Baiduri Sdn Bhd, shares his vision of how he intends to transform the Plaza Damansara area into an attraction that not only befits Bukit Damansara, but can draw outsiders as well.
“We are between Bangsar and Sri Hartamas, with lots of affluent folks staying here.
“This location makes sense, especially now when people do not like to travel too far and rather stay closer to home,” said Shamsul, who predicts that investments in F&B would continue to pick up pace.
“However, we must mix and match in order to ensure that it’s family- and community-centric,” added the entrepreneur who also lives in the neighbourhood.
The optimism of the F&B owners and ongoing renovations around Plaza Damansara reflect a general confidence that the crowd will come with the right mix of establishments.
This month, a new watering hole called Tickets will open.
Block B of Plaza Damansara (just behind Huckleberry), which used to house a Maybank branch, is also being offered for lease after recent refurbishment that has added much-needed business space to the area.
If one has difficulty imagining how this part of Bukit Damansara may look like in the years to come, one only needs to ask those who have been observing it.
“I predict this will be the next Bangsar,” said Ang, without any hesitation.
