Jumping on the bubble tea bandwagon, Johor’s selection of bubble tea cafes in Taman Mount Austin is earmarking the locations as the next boba heaven in Malaysia. And much like Kuala Lumpur’s coveted “Boba Street” in SS15, Johor Bahru’s equivalent features a vast assortment of quaint tea shops offering pretty much every variation of the much-beloved Taiwan-born beverage
But besides coming for the bubble tea themselves, the atmosphere, ambience, and pretty decor of the bubble tea cafés here do go a long way in providing the ideal spot for a mini photoshoot — perfect for those Instagram posts!
So, the next time you’re thinking about taking a short staycation in Johor Bahru’s Taman Mount Austin, why not take it up a notch and make it a boba-esque adventure? Without further ado, take a gander at these five Insta-worthy bubble tea cafés in Taman Mount Austin.
1. Holatea
First up, Holatea’s Mount Austin outlet has a very European setting, which creates a rather interesting contrast with the café’s offerings of traditional Taiwanese handcrafted bubble tea.
And as far as Instagrammable spots go, Holatea’s exposed brick walls, quirky picture wall, and Victorian-style mantelpiece (with artificial fireplace and all) does make for a gorgeous backdrop for all your Instagram needs.
When it comes to their menu, Holatea serves a wide range of Taiwanese style recipes, from fruity and tangy to milky and creamy. Plus, their blend of unique topping combinations also adds a new layer of taste/experience each time you visit.
Do also expect the standard café affair here such as smoothies, coffee, finger food, and of course, bubble tea! Of note, you should definitely try out their signature Taiwan tea series like the Taiwan Sun Moon Lake Black Tea and the Taiwan Four Season Green Tea. Otherwise, the Devil Pearl Latte is the café’s fresh take on the increasingly popular sweet treat of brown sugar milk tea.
Where: GF-L009 Austin International Convention Centre, Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Opening Hours: 11.00 AM to 1.00 PM daily
2. 少1点 (Shao Yi Dian)
With an emphasis on freshness, 少1点 (pronounced Shao Yi Dian) is a bubble tea shop which offers a decadent range of delicate bubble fruit tea. The people behind Shao Yi Dian extract the juices from fresh fruits and pair them with a range of equally fresh tea leaves to produce a cool and refreshing fruit tea drink.
At this joint, patrons may also enjoy the classics including the obligatory albeit always-welcomed bubble tea, as well as cheese tea — a fluffy-cheese-whipping-cream-topped version of the traditional Taiwanese milk tea.
But aside from the cafe’s drinks, this locale is definitely worth a visit for its aesthetically pleasing, IG-able interior. The walls in this café are lined in a soothing Tiffany Blue hue and decorated with contemporary artwork. Along with that, a bright pink neon sign and stunning wall of equally pink roses round off a most pleasant vibe you would come to expect in an upscale café.
Where: GF - 1007, Austin International Convention Centre, Jalan Austin Height 8/1, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Opening Hours: 2.00 PM to 12.00 AM, Sunday to Thursday 1.00 PM to 1.00 AM, Friday to Saturday
3. OH! Boss Café
Oh, and speaking of pink things… Oh! Boss Café is without a doubt, a pink (the colour, not the singer) fan’s paradise.
Stepping into its premises, your sense of sight will be assailed by the very bright pink pastels this café has come to be known for. From rosy-coloured ball pits to hot pink neon typography signage to all sorts of vibrant pink photo props, you’ll instinctively be reminded of the similarly-themed Urban Space café in Seoul.
But make no mistake about it, Oh! Boss Café is a unique bubble tea shop in its own right. And we’re pretty sure that you’ll want to indulge in selfies galore in this unbearably cute (and pink, have we mentioned the café is very pink?), camera-ready space.
Once you’ve worn yourself out from taking tons of IG photos, take a seat and order something from the café’s menu to recharge. Off the top of the list, desserts like fluffy eggettes (egg waffle) paired with refreshing beverages such as fruit teas, juices, milk teas, and smoothies will hit that sweet spot.
Where: No.16, Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Opening Hours: 12.00 PM to 12.00 AM daily
4. High School Kopitiam
Harking back to the days of yesteryear, High School Kopitiam is as its name suggests — a café which sports a high school setting, similar to those that you may find in many popular Taiwanese films and dramas.
In particular, this café is reminiscent of the scenes from popular high school romance movies like “You Are The Apple of My Eye” and “Our Times”. It’s definitely easy to spot the similarities.
Stepping inside, a bunch of classroom tables and chairs, as well as an old fashioned school chalkboard (handwritten) menu greets visitors to order up a storm of delectable food including breakfast platters, sandwiches, toasts, and the like — all at affordable prices much like the good old school canteen days.
And while the coffee shop doesn’t traditionally offer bubble teas, we reckon the nostalgic Taiwanese drinks of sugarcane milk tea and high school milk tea are more than an acceptable replacement in this case.
Where: 57-G, Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Opening Hours: 8.30 AM to 9.00 PM, Tuesday to Sunday
5. TiCoTi
We’ve so far covered all the IG-able bubble tea spots based on their looks and overall atmosphere. But what if the drink itself takes centre stage?
At TiCoTi café, bubble teas are the star of the show. Each cup of TiCoTi’s signature fruity bubble tea is topped with a big, bouncy, jiggly cloud of cotton candy — making this beverage one of the most Instagram-ready drinks on our list. And with a whole host of delicate milk tea flavours ranging from the classic matcha to Assam red tea to macchiato mango, you can be sure that TiCoTi’s bubble teas not only looks good but also taste great too. Each cup comes with a spoonful of boba, but if you want more added sweetness, you may also request for an additional shot of Gula Melaka.
Aside from their drinks, TiCoTi also offers the standard café dishes like breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Though, there is something to be said about their special boba-filled croissant paired with ham and cheese. Delish!
Where: 10, Jalan Austin Height 8/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Opening Hours: 12.00 PM to 12.00 AM daily
