A walk through Kuching’s old-town shophouses doesn’t have to end with another takeaway coffee. At Indah House Kuching on Upper China Street, I would make room for nasi lemak, then leave a little time for the art. This is a useful stop for someone who wants a proper meal and a reason to linger, rather than a café chosen only for its backdrop.
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Google Map / Indah House Kuching
Indah began in 2014, when founder Trudy opened a small art-gallery café to give Sarawak’s artists somewhere to show and sell their work. Coffee and cakes came first. Meals followed as customers began asking for more, so the kitchen’s growth was tied to the people sitting at its tables, not simply a bigger menu on the wall.
That makes nasi lemak a good starting point. It keeps the visit rooted in a familiar Malaysian meal while the café’s in-house baking gives a coffee-only companion another way to join in. I would ask which nasi lemak options are available that day before ordering, especially when choosing between meat-free and other versions. Vegetarian and vegan options are part of the café’s offering, but an individual plate still needs checking if you avoid eggs or particular ingredients.
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Google Map / Indah House Kuching
There is a more substantial food outing here too: Indah’s Sarawak cooking class begins with a visit to a local farmers’ market, followed by preparing five dishes and sharing the meal. I would treat that as a separate half-day booking, not something to squeeze into a quick lunch stop. For a short visit, a meal, coffee and a look at the local artwork is the simpler plan.
The cake side of the business hasn’t disappeared as the kitchen has expanded. If you have already eaten elsewhere in the old town, I would reverse the order: look at the day’s cakes first and make this the pause between walking stops. Flavours and availability are worth asking about rather than choosing solely from a photograph.
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Google Map / Indah House Kuching
Indah House Kuching is at 38, 50 & 52 Upper China Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak.
Open Indah House Kuching in Google Maps
The café lists daily hours of 8am–5pm. Walk in for the café; arrange the cooking class ahead. I would keep the two visits distinct: nasi lemak for an easy old-town meal, or the market-and-kitchen session when you want the food itself to fill the morning.