Meet Surry Hills' Sweet New Malaysian Cafe and Retail Space

Perched on the lower end of Campbell Street, Café Rumah could easily be overlooked. But poke your head inside their bright pastel doors, and you'll find a unique retail-meets-dining space that has, quite literally, come straight from Malaysia.

The cafe has taken over the ground level of the Surry Hills space, covering off the food and drink side of things, while upstairs is set to house Malaysian menswear boutique, 15sheets. The store will be the second outlet for owner Riszal Nawawi, whose first one has been operating in the Kuala Lumpur neighbourhood of Bangsar since 2013.

"We started with the initial idea that the retail experience in today’s world extends beyond just a buy and sell process," says Riszal. "It is also about building relationships with customers and the community." Blending the retail and hospitality worlds into one all-encompassing venue, Rumah (meaning house or home in Malay) truly lives up to its name. "We want people to feel welcomed and be a part of our family," he says.

15sheets will deliver shoppers small independent labels from across the US and UK, including Descendants of Thieves, Weekend Offender, SLVDR and Alternative. The clothing range will focus on smart casual wear for "the everyday man and for every day of the week".

Back on the ground floor, Rumah uses traditional ingredients and signature dishes from both Malaysia and Singapore, giving classic menu items an unexpected twist. Grab a slice of their sweet homemade kaya (coconut jam) toast, or dig into their spiced beef and egg roll (the Roti John) to kick-start your day. As for lunch, Rumah brings everything from green curried egg sambos to their own Asian Cuban (with five spice roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard). You'll be able to wash it all down with a hot tea from Newtown’s T Totaler, a zesty cold-pressed juice or grab a tasty Malaysian pastry from their in-house selection.

With light timber interiors reminiscent of Muji’s minimalistic styling, it is easy to spot the venue’s underlying Asian influences. From the vases of baby’s breath to their old-school black letter board, every inch of Rumah feels oh-so-cute. Add in pastel accent tiles and bright white walls, and Rumah provides a sweet departure from the modern, industrial interiors of their neighbouring venues.

It might be freshly opened and yet to really find a good groove, but Café Rumah is bound to become a local hot-spot for weekday diners looking for something a little out of the ordinary. And these guys still have plenty more up their sleeves. "We are constantly testing out new ideas and, from time to time, may even allow a 'secret' menu dish to surface."

Find Cafe Rumah at 71-73 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. It's open 7.30am - 4pm on weekdays, and 8am - 4pm on Saturdays. For more info, check out their Facebook page.