Brunch at Monroe, KLoé Hotel, Bukit Bintang

Brunch at Monroe

Words: Matt Brown
Photos: Rich Callahan

Inspired by US-style diners (although with far more impressive furnishings and sense of style), Monroe presents a chance for guests and visitors to relax and find more fun in a hotel dining experience than one would usually find. From the gorgeous colour palette employed throughout to the views of the lush pool area, you instantly feel welcome in a space where good vibes are the norm – the perfect setting for brunch.

Monroe is launching a new bubbly brunch special, where guests can order five plates from their menu (2 dishes from Breakfast Things, 2 from Sharing and 1 from Desserts, to share). , along with a bottle of bubbles, for RM290 for two people. As if that deal weren’t enticing enough, should you treat yourself to a stay at KLoé, you’ll receive a 20% discount off the bill. Items listed below are all available on the brunch special and are listed with their individual prices as well.

Brunch at Monroe

Since opening in March 2020 – a month and year we all remember quite distinctly – Monroe has been focused on experimenting with comfortable classics and a menu that honours the immigrant influence of well-known American cuisine. Its latest iteration, focusing on brunch and dinner, utilises local ingredients and the skills of its talented kitchen to offer a truly delicious menu.

In the interests of providing some colour range in the pictures for this article, I opted not to order my usual bread and cheese mash-up items – though I will return for the brioche soon – and instead started with the Kale Chopped Salad (RM30). Thank goodness there were three of us, as this is a huge and hearty plate of fresh and fried kale, Japanese cucumber, momotaro tomato and tofu miso ranch. The Spring Rolls (RM28) is a crunchy set of wagyu salt beef, Russian dressing and sauerkraut, which allowed me to settle down my brain that I’d suddenly gone totally healthy for brunch.

If a more light and healthy dish is your craving, then the Monroe Everything Bowl (RM32) is made up of beautifully toasted cranberry granola, overnight oats, whipped Greek yoghurt, blueberry jam and honey with fresh fruit. Our entire party declared that the House Pancakes (RM34) are the best in Kuala Lumpur. They are perfectly light and fluffy the whole way through and come with maple whipped butter and golden syrup.

The Steak and Eggs (RM45) is a gorgeously plated 100gms of Australian beef, with oven-roasted Portobello mushroom, heirloom tomato, chimichurri, sunny side up egg and sourdough toast, which was all a very elegant play on the more traditional (and far greasier) fry-up option found in diners the world over.

For a dish to share more savoury deliciousness with your friends, the Fresh Burrata (RM 52) combines Puglia fresh cheese, black bean chilli crisp and phenomenal roasted grapes to smear over the gorgeous sourdough bread that accompanies it.

Dessert at Monroe

At this point, we all know that my favourite phrase from this year has been “breakfast dessert”. Honestly, the amazing pancakes would satisfy anyone with a reasonable level of a sweet tooth, but should you find yourself like me and wanting, even more, Monroe has you covered.

The Spiced Apple Cobbler (RM25) was crunchy and sweet, but in a way that the sweetness was not overpowering. Granny Smith spice compote and a brilliant rolled oats crumble are served with vanilla ice cream (and don’t last very long once you’ve had the first bite, FYI). For something less crunchy but as sweet and well-matched to the great coffees made at Monroe, the PB&J Mille Crepe (RM25) is a handmade slice of layered crepes combined with blueberry jam, peanut honeycomb and ice cream.

Bubbles

Our brunch experience included a bottle of wine selected from Monroe’s good range of natural wines. The Tuff Nut Bianco Pet Nat 2021 comes from the Riverland region of South Australia. It is an ideal match for brunch with its clean and crisp fruity flavours. I would go so far as to say this maybe went down a little too easy, but what else is a bubbly brunch for?

If your drink preference is less wine-focused for your brunch, Monroe crafts excellent coffee – no surprises there, given the LOKL connection – with coffees ranging from RM9-16. There is also a range of teas, cold-pressed juices, sodas, smoothies and crafted coolers to keep you hydrated in any way you desire.

Reasons to try brunch at Monroe: This will very quickly become a go-to spot for KLoé guests and those in the know who want something a bit more special for their social activities. Monroe isn’t fine dining – it’s fun dining, and whether you’re there with a group or a lucky date, you’ll find that the friendly team and excellent kitchen work hard to ensure your experience is an enjoyable one. Matt enjoyed the chewy goodness of the Monroe Everything Bowl, Monica was on cloud nine with the discovery of the pancakes, and Rich relished the roasted grapes in all their burrata glory. Get a group together and enjoy just the right vibe for a great time out.

Brunch at Monroe at KLoè Hotel
227, Bukit Bintang St, Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur
+6 03 2772 1314
Instagram @monroe.kl

Brunch at Monroe Hours
Weekends: 11:00 am – 2:30pm

Find more brunch options in KL here and stay up-to-date with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations for Malaysia here and here.