Medovik Coffee House

Russian food doesn’t usually come to mind when choosing a place to eat, but not anymore. Medovik Coffee House is at the club level of Bay 21 condominium along the Likas Coastal Highway, an amazing location with gorgeous views from the deck. The cosy interior offers plush chairs to sink into as you enjoy your coffee and cake with a few dining tables to sample more of the menu. Yelena, one half of the couple who runs the café, has brought her favourite traditional Russian recipes and a few secret family recipes to introduce the unique flavours of Eastern Europe to Kota Kinabalu.

Like the Chinese wonton, Zakuska Pelmeni is a Russian dumpling topped with cheese, sour cream, homemade pickled chillies and tomatoes for a flavourful snack. Love doughnuts? Try the savoury Belyash, a chewy fried doughnut filled with chicken, beef or lamb. The Shuba salad is a riot of colours with layers of carrot, beetroot and potato separated by a thin layer of mayonnaise and mashed boiled eggs on a bed of smoked salmon. Similar tasting, the Mimosa salad comes without the beetroot but tastes just as good.

Medovik’s cakes are exceptional. The traditional Russian layered honey cake with caramel cream is a signature offering but check out their Facebook page to see what other seasonal goodies they have available. •• Lvl 8, Bay 21, Jln Bayu 21, Off Jalan Istiadat, Likas, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 6012-8022719 Open daily: 8am–8pm (2pm–8pm on public holidays) FB: @medovikcoffeehse