Contour in PJ Old Town, Petaling Jaya
No one can say no to a pastry-and-coffee excursion. And lucky for us Klang Valley residents, we’ve got plenty of bakeries and cafes to keep us carb-loaded and caffeinated. A popular spot in town for some of the best pastries and coffee is Contour, at PJ Old Town in Petaling Jaya. This go-to roastery cafe has recently expanded with a new bakery space next door, to welcome more to feast on their goods.
Naturally, as brew worshippers and pastry purists, we joined the crowd.
Expanded bakery-cafe at Contour
Tucked into a humble shoplot since 2023, Contour has been quietly and steadily warming the hearts of patrons with their artisan loaves, flaky treats, and bitter brews in PJ.
More and more people came, stayed, and returned. And now, with a lovingly expanded space next door, the bakery-cafe has doubled its size as well as its delights on its rack of baked wonders.
While the original space remains delightfully old-school, the new wing brings a refreshing contrast with its modern industrial interior, softened by touches of Scandinavian warmth. But the soul of the cafe is unchanging, especially with the buttery scent of pastries and robust fragrance of roasted beans in the air.
The menu at Contour
The choices displayed on the baking rack and the counter can be overwhelming – crusty sourdoughs, flaky morning buns, rich butter slabs, and towering cream cakes – but we’re here to help you narrow down your options.
Strawberry Daifuku Croissant
The first pastry that captured our attention right away was the Strawberry Daifuku Croissant (RM16), for both its intriguing fusion of flavours, as well as its aesthetics. The golden halves of the buttery croissant were slathered with red bean paste, cradling a soft mochi sheet and slices of plump rip strawberries.
Each component was great on their own – the croissant crisp, the mochi chewy and tender, the strawberries fresh and tangy, the anko paste smooth and well-balanced with its sweetness – but together, they intrigue rather than impress. Its textures were slightly at odds and left us confused about the lack of harmony, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
Tuna Croinigiri
The savoury pick we went for was the Tuna Croinigiri (RM15), which looked and tasted exactly as it’s called. A wink toward the onigiri, the croissant is shaped as a flaky pyramid and tears open to reveal a generous filling of tuna mayo.
It was delicious, though not mindblowingly so. The creamy tuna stuffing within echoed the taste of the beloved Asian tuna buns sold at school canteens, which scored points from us. Wrapped in a Parisian pastry instead of a soft bun, the fusion actually felt elevated, thanks to the buttery richness of the shell. Overall, it lacked a bit of Oomph, but we prefer simple over complicated.
Matcha Tart
From the dessert counter, we chose the fun-sized Matcha Tart (RM12), which turned out to be quite the showstopper and our favourite of the lot. The pastry shell was delicate and layered, filled with a pool of velvety matcha filling that glows with a deep green lustre – earthy, bitter and indulgently lush. We left not a single crumb behind.
Matcha Strawberry
Matcha Strawberry are all the rage right now, and Contour’s rendition at RM21 definitely does the drink justice – with or without the mini croissant that comes with every order of the drink.
The emerald matcha was silky smooth and full of depth, and lifted by the slight piquancy of the strawberry puree layer. We’ll say that the mini croissants adorning the cup did nothing to elevate the flavour or the experience enjoying the drink, other than adding to the visuals – though, the striking layers of matcha and vibrant red strawberry bed was doing most of the legwork already.
Hot Latte
As a 4-time Malaysia Barista Champion, there’s no way we were leaving without enjoying a cup of coffee. As a milk coffee drinker, we were recommended a Hot White (RM16) with an Ethiopia Anasora blend that has a fruitier flavour profile of apricot jam and mandarin orange.
We were doubtful about the combination of zesty and milky at first, but one sip later, we could see why these baristas were experts. The latte was silky, mellow, and luxuriously smooth all at once, with the slight hint of fruitiness adding a very light sweetness to the coffee.
Get your dose of coffee & pastries
The walls are wider at Contour PJ, their rustic baguettes and brunch platters are just as incredible – all the more reason to drop by for some sweet carb-loading. Otherwise, do yourself a favour and grab a warm cuppa or a midday matcha run, it’ll be your best decision of the day.
Address: 55, Jalan 1/12, Pj Old Town, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 8am-6pm, Daily
Contact: 011-1673 5503 | Contour PJ website | Instagram
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Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Jia-Ju.