Ol’ Skool Makan #13: From Sin Seng Nam To KLCG Bakery -- A Medan Pasar Institution


Back in the mid to late ’90s, when I was working at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, I used to walk past Sin Seng Nam almost every day. It sat quietly along Medan Pasar, one of those old-school kopitiams that seemed to belong to another time -- the kind that made the city feel warm and familiar.

Most mornings, the crowd was the same: lawyers, court officers, and KL office workers grabbing their roti bakar, half-boiled eggs, and kopi-o before work. I’d sometimes join them, enjoying that comforting mix of kaya toast and charcoal coffee, the clink of cups and chatter bouncing off the high wooden windows. It wasn’t just breakfast -- it was a little pause before the city roared to life.

I left that job in 2000, but Sin Seng Nam carried on until 2013, when it was reported to be closing permanently after 85 years. The original family could no longer maintain the old building, and The Star wrote about the closure with the kind of sadness reserved for true KL landmarks. For many of us who’d passed through that corner of the city, it felt like losing an old friend.

But the story didn’t end there. A new owner, Datuk Ghani Abdullah, stepped in to preserve the building’s history. After renovations, the place reopened as Kafe Old Market Square, a respectful continuation of Sin Seng Nam’s legacy. It kept much of the charm -- the same colonial façade, the kopitiam vibe, even some of the classic dishes -- and for a few years, it carried the torch beautifully. Eventually, though, that too closed down.

Now, the building has been reborn once more, this time as KLCG Confectionery & Bakery -- a brighter, more modern space that still remembers its roots. Walking in today, you’ll see black-and-white photos of old Kuala Lumpur, heritage memorabilia, and a lovingly restored interior that honours the past.



When I visited recently, I had an almond croissant and artisan tea -- a far cry from the roti bakar and kopi I used to have, yet the feeling was oddly familiar. Sitting there, I could still picture the morning crowd of the 1990s, the same faces I once brushed past on my way to work.




Time moves on, buildings change, menus evolve -- but every so often, you find a place where memory and modernity sit together, quietly sharing a cup of tea.



About Ol' Skool Makan

Ol' Skool Makan is my little tribute to Malaysia’s timeless eateries -- the ones that fed us before hashtags, food apps, and fancy plating. It’s about real food, real people, and memories that still smell like sambal and kopi-O.


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Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di SINI

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