9 Hidden Gems in Ipoh To Explore (Instagrammable!)
Wanting to explore hidden gems in Ipoh? You’re in luck! Whether you’re visiting Ipoh for the first time or even if you’ve been to the city countless times, there are always going to be places you’ve never visited (or even heard of!).
Ipoh, a charming city nestled in the heart of Malaysia, is renowned for its rich history, delicious food, and stunning natural caves.
While popular attractions like cave temples and historical lanes draw most people in, there are a few hidden gems in Ipoh that are worth exploring.
I’ve compiled a list of underrated places to go in Ipoh based on my travels.
9 Hidden Gems in Ipoh
1. Happy 8 Cafe
Happy 8 Cafe is a hidden cafe in Ipoh. While exploring the old town of Ipoh, I stumbled upon this cafe situated on Market Lane.
At first glance, I did not realize there was a cafe there as the exterior looked a bit rundown and there were lots of greens surrounding it.
I thought it was the back door of an old shophouse. But when I looked closer, there was a sign above it and that’s how I knew it was a cafe.
The cafe doesn’t have a wide range of food and beverages, but they are surely unique – black lemon tea, and jade lemon tea.
Besides, I like that I could take a break at this cafe from exploring Ipoh old town street art.
2. Old Town Ipoh Street Art
Many people are familiar with Ipoh old town for food and its historical lanes.
But did you know there are street arts to explore, commissioned by the Ipoh government and OldTown Ipoh White Coffee?
Plus, there’s a map you can follow that’ll take you to all 7 of these murals.
However, some of these murals have been blocked by construction sites or haven’t been maintained as well. You can find more details on which Ipoh murals are worth visiting here.
3. BookXcess
Looking for an aesthetic bookstore to visit? BookXcess is one of the most underrated Instagrammable spots in Ipoh!
This BookXcess outlet is pretty unique compared to other outlets in Malaysia. This is because of its bookish puns.
However, some might think that the puns make the bookstore not very kid-friendly. On the contrary, there’s a large number of children’s books at this bookstore.
Visit it for a photo or to pick up a couple of books for your little one, either way, you won’t be disappointed!
4. Tiga Bar
And of course, I had to feature a hidden bar in this list of Ipoh hidden gems!
Tiga Bar is a speakeasy bar located on Bijeh Timah Street. It wasn’t very difficult to spot as most of the shops along the street are closed at night.
That being said, it is still quite hidden as the bar is located on the floor above. Their menu has an illustration for every cocktail with a brief explanation on its concoction. Perfect for those who are always indecisive on what to get!
Besides, they have an exclusive menu of cocktails that are always changing. So it’s pretty cool if you want to visit the bar on multiple trips as you’ll never get the same drink again. Most of these drinks are Ipoh-inspired!
5. Kopi Panglima
Concubine Lane is of no doubt a very popular touristy place to visit in Ipoh. There is many food, drinks and souvenir shops in the lane that can be hard to spot at times.
I spotted this cute Kopi Panglima stand on the lane and wanted to try their coffee. It’s really good Ipoh white coffee.
Although it’s something you can get from almost anywhere in Ipoh as every coffee shop serves it, this one is a little unique because of its packaging.
For those of you who don’t know, Kopi Panglima translates to Commander’s Coffee. Concubine Lane has been renamed to Panglima Lane in recent years.
6. Visit Kong Heng Square Artisan Market
If you’re looking for a hipster market that sells unique handcrafted items, clothes, bags and trinkets, Kong Heng Square Artisan Market is a hidden gem in Ipoh, located near Plan B, nestled in the centre of Ipoh Old Town.
It’s also an Instagrammable spot in Ipoh, as there’s a lot of greenery, flowers and rustic walls.
At the artisan market, I visited a woodcraft pop-up and got myself a pair of mismatched earrings that were super cute!
7. Ipoh Railway Station
If you did not travel by train to Ipoh, you wouldn’t know about this Instagram-worthy British colonial architecture, making it a hidden gem indeed!
At first glance, it might not look as interesting, but it is a wondrous sight in person. With white walls and green grass and a clear blue sky, it’ll make the perfect photo backdrop!
8. Homebaker at Clover
Homebaker at Clover is an artisan bakery that serves over 20 different flavours of cinnamon rolls! Some of their famous flavours are – plain cinnamon, cookies and cream, M&M, KitKat and more!
I had a latte and a couple of flavours. The cinnamon rolls are very soft and delicious! If cinnamon rolls aren’t your thing, they also serve bagels!
In my opinion, it’s worth visiting this hidden gem if you’re a foodie or cafe lover.
9. Anika Selera
Formerly known as Gomez Square, Anika Selera is a great place to visit if you’re in the mood for hawker food.
There are so many options to choose from. If you’re going alone to Ipoh, it’s going to be harder to try all of the amazing food.
But if you can grab a couple of friends, it’s worth going and trying all sorts of local food.
Some of the hawker food I tried:
- Char Koay Teow
- Chicken Dumplings
- Lobak (Spring rolls)
- Ikan Bakar (Fish)
- Satay
Wrap-Up: Hidden Gems in Ipoh
I hope this list of hidden gems helped you with planning your next trip to Ipoh. If you do visit any of these, let me know in the comments!
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