Cities have souls, and some buildings carry the heartbeat of a generation.
What happens when you take a crumbling block of postwar architecture and fill it with artists, zine makers, vinyl collectors, and baristas? You get Zhongshan Building—an indie cultural complex in KL that’s equal parts nostalgic, rebellious, and deeply inspiring. What was once a set of shophouses from the 1950s, transformed into a hotspot for the sophisticated. The collaborative community space is the ideal spots for those seeking a specific kind of modern aesthetic that blends itself with artistic vibes, with each of the shops having something different and unique to offer.
Zhongshan Building exudes its beauty through its buildings minimalistic design and through the locally-done graffiti that instantly makes this an Instagrammable spot. Have you ever been to this cultural spot? No? Well, that’s why today’s topic is going to be about what this vibrant creative hub has to offer and why you should give it a check!
Re{me}dy
Re{me}dy is an eco-conscious, refill-focused boutique that champions sustainability and local craftsmanship. The minimalist store features furniture made from recycled cardboard and promotes mindful living through its design and mission. More than just a shop, Re{me}dy creates its own line of nourishing skincare and wellness products—free from harmful chemicals and made in collaboration with Malaysian artisans. Every item is thoughtfully curated to align with their values of health, sustainability, and community. Re{me}dy encourages customers to bring in empty shampoo or body wash bottles for refills or reuse, reinforcing meaningful recycling habits and reducing waste. Beyond its products, Re{me}dy serves as a hub for those who care deeply about the planet—offering not only eco-friendly goods but also inspiration to tread more lightly on the Earth. It’s a space that nurtures conscious choices while making sustainable living feel stylish and accessible.
The Eco Heroes of Today
In addition to that, Re{me}dy also collaborates with other local businesses that has its product also made from recyclable products such as bags and batiks which have a sleek and stylish design to them that also screams to others to be more caring to our Mother Nature. If you’ve ever wanted to be a hero for Earth and start making small but impactful changes, Re{me}dy is one of those hidden gems in Kuala Lumpur that is worth visiting for you to start your journey towards making the world a better place for us to live in.
fono
The local collective PublicSchool runs a music-focused community on the top floor of Unit 80C inside Zhongshan Building. They operate fono as a listening room, intimate gig venue, and bar, while also hosting film screenings, workshops, and occasional music listening nights. This alternative destination in Kuala Lumpur has regular listening parties while certain nights has genre from all around the globe. A few genres are such as Jamaican dub and reggae, Malay funk, African disco, as well as Southeast Asian sounds. fono has also brought down notable acts from other countries like Kamaal Williams from UK, FreeTheRobot from USA, AwesomeTapesFromAfrica from LA, and Nabihah Iqbal who is also from the UK. As mentioned before, fono also hosts film screenings with music docs along with occasional workshops and jam sessions, be it from the local scene or spanning from international crowd.
Where Underground Sounds Meet Artistic Souls
fono is a great spot for indie music lovers and those who are trying to find new sounds to accompany their daily life. The underground listening bar also strengthens Zhongshan’s identity as being an open art space that offers a different experience for people while also helping them discover music genres that sounds unique. The community space is also a gathering point for open-minded listeners and creatives. If you’re looking to expand your music taste with something completely refreshing while also meeting like-minded people who don’t only love music but has a huge appreciation for art, fono is an artisanal spot in KL that you definitely want to check out.
Ana tomy
Ana tomy is a Malaysian-born lifestyle brand and creative studio that is based on the ground floor of Zhongshan building that specializes on bespoke stationery, functional accessories, and curated lifestyle objects. What was once a custom-paper pressing studio known as The Alphabet Press, has now evolved itself towards a brand that focuses on customizable, sustainable products that we use daily. Their flagship products are such as their fully customizable notebook where you can fully customize its cover materials, paper types, binding, and extras like ribbon markers, elastic bands and also name monograming.
Curated for the Modern Malaysian
Ana tomy isn’t just about stationery—it’s a celebration of everyday design. Alongside their signature journals and planners, the store offers stylish tote bags, T-shirts, keychains, scarves, and socks, all created by locals for locals. They’ve also launched nostalgic limited-edition collaborations featuring Peanuts, Star Wars, The Mandalorian, and Sesame Street, making their products playful and collectible. Ana tomy offers their iconic city bags in vibrant colourways and lets customers customise them with stress pillows, charms, and keyrings. With a beautifully curated interior and a strong focus on craftsmanship, the store has earned praise from Time Out Kuala Lumpur as one of the most design-forward retail spaces in the city. Whether you’re searching for a planner that sparks joy or a gift with personality, Ana tomy delivers items that blend function and flair. Walk in for a notebook—walk out with inspiration in your hands.
Tommy Le Baker
Situated at the back of Anatomy, Tommy Le Baker is an artisan bakery that offers a well-thought out vibe for its customers and tasty bread-focused meals. The story of Tommy Le Baker revolves around its founder, Tommy Lee, who trained as a pâtissier in France for nearly a decade before returning to Malaysia. When Tommy got back, he started experimenting with atta flour, which led him to discovering wild fermentation and traditional sourdough baking. He opened his second outlet at Zhongshan Building, creating a quaint courtyard space that adds to the beauty of Zhongshan’s creative vibe. The menu here revolves around artisanal bread, sandwiches, and tartines that have fillings such as smoked salmon, oven-braised chicken, ribeye steak, and cheese to name a few.
The Aroma of Freshly Baked Bread, a View of Merdeka 118
Their loaves also focus on using atta flour which gives their food crusty exteriors, chewy interiors, with the added benefit of not having added fats or sugars. In addition to their bread and loaves menu, they also have pastries and tarts. Crunchy and fresh delights such as their croissants, quiches, banana-almond crème tart, and apple tarts. All baked with love and passion by the fellow patissiers. The space leans more towards a well-lit courtyard with a fan that ensure its cooled. You can frequently see either art-lovers or bread aficionados enjoying the space here.
Tandang Records Store
Tandang Records Store is not just a great place for fellow music enthusiasts who enjoys the louder and expressive kind of music but is also a creative art space in Kuala Lumpur. Wan Azril and Alak founded Tandang Records as an independent record store and label, originally setting up shop at Rumah Api in Ampang before moving to the second floor of Zhongshan Building around 2017. You can find vinyl, CDs, and cassettes with genres like alternative, punk, hardcore, experimental, metal, indie, psychedelic and even global music. The independent record store also carries merch such as band tees, books, slipmats, and even a record player for you to begin your journey as a record collector.
Raw Sounds and a Home for Local Noise
Their vinyl and cassettes are priced from RM30 and goes up to RM68 with the condition being either new or used. The aesthetic of this place can be described as punk-garage, surrounded with band posters, stickers and a whole lot of DIY energy. Tandang also occasionally holds gigs and late-night events that collaborates with Zhongshan’s neighboring units and some local bands in Malaysia. Besides from selling music, Tandang as a record label also releases music locally – for example, one of their patrons are the KillerCalculateur album which is under their label. Tandang Records Store is not just a great place for those who wish to expand their music taste but also for those looking for like-minded individuals who have a deep love for music and wishes to jam with them.
Kantata
Kantata is one of those alternative destinations in Kuala Lumpur that is designed with the idea of dual concepts. By day, it’s a light-filled café but when it turns to night, it transforms itself into a retro-vibe bar. Being discreetly placed through a crack in the Zhongshan Annexe Wall, once you’re inside, its as if you’ve discovered a secret hangout. The place is also surrounded by greenery which makes its customers feel as if they’re dining with nature. A sense of minimalist aesthetic can also be sensed around the dual-concept diner that makes it a great instagrammable spot. The café layout features vintage glass blocks that bathe the space in natural light and include quirky elements like disco balls and a scalloped-edge bar. They also provide all-day breakfast and snacks such as their Sarawak laksa, broken rice bowls, and sourdough-based toasties.
Coffee by Day, Neon Grooves by Night
Its customers can also treat themselves to some specialty drinks that ranges from coffees such as an orange-infused iced espresso, teas such as chai, and warm beverages like their hot chocolate. As the day switches to night, Kantata dims its lights and ignites its neon fixtures and mirror balls, instantly turning it into a relaxed bar. Not only that, but they also regularly host karaoke nights, disco-themed brunches as well as live sets. Kantata is also pet friendly and has multiple seating zones. Whether it is you chose to be close to nature or inside the dimly lit diner, the calming and natural vibe of the place is sure to make you feel something.
Poppy Records
Poppy records is yet another record store that is located on the 2nd floor of the Zhongshan building Annexe that caters to both casual listeners and serious collectors of music. Its laid-back, specialist atmosphere makes it a perfect place for people to hunt for some treasures of music. Poppy Records selection leans more towards genres such as pop, hip hop, rap, classic, retro, and cult. They also often bring new records from new releases and to name a few would be Mac Miller’s Balloonerism while also having hidden and rare finds such as MF DOOM’s old catalogue like King Geedorah. The shop correlates more towards being an apartment-style, analogue hangout that blends a minimal décor for music lovers.
Finding Connection and Surprise in Every Record Stack
.As you enter the record store, you’ll get to see vinyl being attached to the walls with some similar albums that you may have listened to awhile back or some familiar artists that you’re surprised to see but also adds an amount of joy with how much of a fan you are of their music. Record stores are generally great not only for people who collect vinyl, but also for those who want to find a new kind of sound to accompany them in their daily life. You may end your visit with a possibility of finding a new artist to listen to, maybe owning an album as an actual art piece appreciation from the creator, or having a meaningful conversation with its friendly owner about your shared love for music.
BelongInk Tattoo Studio
If you’re looking for a spot to get new inks towards your skin, then BelongInk Tattoo Studio, tucked into Room 134 on the top of Block 82 of Zhongshan Building might just be your next stop! Ran by the artist Brandon, its studio is a shared creative space lush with indoor plants. Think of it as a calm little urban garden where art blooms under a needle through the vision of an artist. Brandons style of doing tattoos has been described as flash-style, minimalistic, and doodle-inspired designs that feel quirky and personal. His designs have also been described as ‘cute and simple’ due to his way of doing them in a spontaneous drawing manner rather than formal designs.
Intimate Ink Sessions with a Creative, Caring Touch
BelongInk Tattoo Studio mostly operates by appointments so be sure to make a booking for a relaxed, private session while Brandon spreads his artful pieces onto your body. BelongInk is also a recommended place for people looking to get a tattoo for the first time due to Brandon being praised for being friendly, professional, and patient towards his customers. Thinking of getting a new tattoo with a different kind of touch towards it? Do give this place a check then to get your own flash-styled tattoo.
In every corner of the city, there’s a story waiting to find you. Zhongshan just tells it louder.
You’ve reached towards the end of this article! Three cheers for you! We hope you enjoyed reading this article about one of the many hidden cultural landmarks in Kuala Lumpur. Whether you’re in it for the vinyl hunts, a soul-soothing pastry, a flash tattoo, or a moment of creative quiet with a cup of orange-infused espresso—Zhongshan Building isn’t just a destination, it’s a feeling. It’s a living, breathing space where indie energy thrives and communities grow. So, the next time you’re craving something offbeat in Kuala Lumpur, take the turn into Kampung Attap and let Zhongshan surprise you. Who knows? You might leave with a record in hand, ink on your skin, or just a renewed sense of inspiration. Whichever place you decide to venture to, we wish you to have a grand of a time doing so. Till next time! Take it easy.
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