Seafood lovers looking for a weekend dining experience in Johor Bahru have plenty to explore at Food Exchange, Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre, where the Seafood Extravaganza brings together an extensive selection of seafood, live cooking experiences and international favourites.

Located on Level 11 of Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre, Food Exchange provides a modern and comfortable setting for families, friends and food lovers to enjoy a relaxed buffet dinner.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to explore the Seafood Extravaganza and discover the different stations available throughout the evening.

A Seafood Extravaganza to Explore

The buffet offers plenty of opportunities for seafood lovers to enjoy their favourites, with various seafood selections prepared in different ways.

One of the most interesting highlights for us was the Seafood Yell-Out, a live cooking experience that adds something different to the usual buffet concept.

The dish brings together clams, prawns, mussels and squid with okra, corn, onions and long beans, all cooked in Food Exchange's signature shell-out sauce.

What makes the experience particularly interesting is that the seafood is prepared fresh at the Chef's Action Stall. Once cooked, the dish is served directly to the table by the F&B team.

For us, this was one of the more memorable parts of the evening because it combines freshly cooked seafood with a more interactive dining experience.

We tried the shell-out ourselves and enjoyed exploring the restaurant's interpretation of the sauce. The spice level was manageable, allowing the flavours of the seafood and accompanying ingredients to come through.

Japanese Favourites

Beyond the shell-out experience, the buffet also features a Japanese section that attracted plenty of attention throughout the evening.

Guests can explore a selection of sushi and sashimi, with the F&B team working continuously to replenish the dishes as diners make their selections.

It was interesting to see how popular this section was during our visit, with the team keeping busy preparing and topping up the selection throughout dinner.

More Than Just Seafood

Although seafood takes centre stage, there is more to explore around the buffet. At the dedicated alfresco area, guests can find grilled favourites including chicken and beef satay, accompanied by local-style peanut sauce and condiments.

Another highlight is the Signature Spit Roast, featuring marinated lamb leg, lamb chops and beef tenderloin. The meats are slowly roasted and freshly carved to order, accompanied by grilled seasonal vegetables and the chef's sauce of the day.

This gives diners the opportunity to enjoy a combination of seafood, grilled meats and international flavours in one dinner.

Freshly Prepared and Constantly Replenished

One thing we noticed during our visit was the amount of work happening behind the scenes. The F&B team was constantly moving between the different stations, preparing dishes, replenishing the buffet and assisting diners.

The Japanese section was particularly busy, while the live cooking stations continued serving guests throughout the evening.

For buffet dining, having the food regularly replenished is an important part of the overall experience, and it was good to see the team actively keeping up with the demand.

Don't Forget Dessert

And, of course, a buffet dinner isn't complete without something sweet to finish the evening. After exploring the seafood, Japanese selections and grilled dishes, guests can also choose from a variety of desserts to end the meal on a sweeter note.

For families and groups with different tastes, having a selection of savoury dishes followed by desserts gives everyone something to explore.

A Little Extra Fun with the Lucky Draw

Our evening also came with an unexpected surprise. As part of the hotel's activity, we had the opportunity to take part in the lucky draw and we were very happy to be selected as one of the lucky winners that evening! 

It was a nice little addition to an already enjoyable dinner experience.

Seafood Extravaganza at a Glance

📍 Venue: Food Exchange, Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre
📅 Available: Every Friday & Saturday
⏰ Time: 6.30pm – 10.00pm
💰 Adult: RM138 nett
👴 Senior Citizen (60 years old & above): RM118 nett
👧 Child (6–12 years old): RM118 nett

Our Takeaway

Our Seafood Extravaganza experience at Food Exchange was all about having plenty of choices to explore.

From the freshly prepared Seafood Yell-Out and Japanese sushi and sashimi to grilled favourites, satay, spit-roasted meats and desserts, the buffet brings together different flavours under one dining experience.

For us, the most enjoyable part is always discovering something new and the live seafood preparation certainly gave us something different to talk about and enjoy.

If you're planning a weekend dinner with family or friends and enjoy seafood alongside a wider selection of dishes, the Seafood Extravaganza at Food Exchange, Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre is an experience worth exploring.

JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA | September 2026: With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, we are glad to share the season with a delightful discovery from Sheraton Johor Bahru's limited-edition Luna Prestige Mooncake, part of the hotel’s 2026 “Golden Symphony of Seasons” mooncake collection.

This year’s collection brings together a selection of baked mooncakes that combines familiar traditional flavours with contemporary creations, offering mooncake lovers an opportunity to explore different tastes and textures during the festive season.

Six Baked Flavours to Discover

The baked mooncake selection features six flavours:

• Pure Lotus Paste: a classic favourite with a smooth and rich lotus filling.
• Pure Lotus with Single Yolk: a traditional combination pairing lotus paste with a salted egg yolk.
• Tiramisu Lotus with Single Yolk: a contemporary interpretation that brings together lotus paste, tiramisu-inspired flavours and salted egg yolk.
• Chocolate Lotus Paste: a chocolate-inspired creation for those who enjoy a richer, sweeter profile.
• Chocolate Sea Salt with Walnut: combining chocolate, sea salt and walnut for a more distinctive flavour combination.
• White Lotus with Kaya Lava: a local-inspired creation featuring white lotus paste with a kaya lava centre.

The experience began even before tasting the mooncakes. The hotel's Luna Prestige offers an elegant presentation, making the unboxing itself part of the festive experience.

The unboxing experience was really enjoyable. The presentation immediately created that Mid-Autumn feeling, and it was exciting to discover the different flavours inside the box.

The collection also provides an opportunity to enjoy Mid-Autumn moments with family and friends whether sharing traditional favourites or discovering newer flavour combinations.

The Golden Symphony of Seasons

The Golden Symphony of Seasons collection is available in two box options:

RM163 nett per box

2 pieces

RM238 nett per box

4 pieces

The mooncakes are available from 1 August to 28 September 2026 at Sheraton Johor Bahru.

Discovering the collection is another opportunity to highlight the diverse food and hospitality experiences available in Johor Bahru.

We would like to sincerely thank Sheraton Johor Bahru for the thoughtful appreciation and for giving us the opportunity to experience this year's mooncake collection. We truly appreciate the gesture and look forward to sharing this Mid-Autumn discovery with everyone.

As families and friends prepare to gather for this Mooncake Festival, Sheraton Johor Bahru’s Golden Symphony of Seasons offers a selection of baked mooncakes designed to bring together tradition, creativity, and the joy of sharing.

After a long day of driving, finally arriving at BRIX KLIA by Pinetree felt like a moment to slow down and relax. With our check-in completed and our personal belongings settled, we were ready to take a much-needed break.

The good thing about staying at BRIX KLIA by PineTree is that there is a restaurant right inside the hotel — Eats Café. For hotel guests, having a dining option within the property is certainly convenient, especially after spending hours on the road.

Since we had already spent quite some time travelling and settling in, we decided to take the opportunity to sit down, relax and explore some of the specialities available at Eats Café.

A Variety of Choices on the Table

Eats Café offers a selection of dishes ranging from local favourites to Western-inspired meals. With the kids joining us for dinner, we decided to order several different dishes so everyone could have something to enjoy.

Our dinner spread included: Pasta Carbonara Chicken & Mushroom, Cheesy Chicken Chop, Grilled Lamb with Fried Rice, Fish N Chip, French Fries

With several dishes arriving at the table, we were already excited to start trying them one by one. The presentation was appetising, and after a long day of travelling, there was something particularly satisfying about finally sitting down to enjoy a proper meal.

Starting with the Fruity Drinks

Before getting into the food, we also tried some of the café's fruity drinks. We started with their orange drink, followed by the cranberry drink. The kids were especially excited to have their own drinks while we settled into our dinner.

For me, the drinks were a nice complement to the meal, particularly after spending so many hours on the road.

Cheesy Chicken Chop

I started with the Cheesy Chicken Chop. Since my little one is a fan of French fries, they were quick to request a piece from my plate as well.

The chicken chop is one of the Western dishes available at Eats Café, and the combination of chicken, cheese and fries makes it a familiar choice for those looking for a comforting meal.

If you are craving a chicken chop while staying at the hotel, this is certainly one of the dishes worth considering.

Grilled Lamb with Fried Rice

Next, we tried the Grilled Lamb with Fried Rice. What caught my attention was the mushroom sauce served with the grilled lamb. I really enjoyed the combination, and it was nice to try something a little different from the usual chicken or pasta dishes.

This is also one of the dishes that requires a little more preparation time. So, if you are ordering the grilled lamb, just keep in mind that it may take some time before it reaches your table. A little patience is needed, especially when the restaurant is busy.

For us, it was worth waiting for and gave us another dish to enjoy as part of our family dinner.

A Must for the Kids — Pasta

And of course, since my kids love pasta, we had to have pasta on the table. The Pasta Carbonara Chicken & Mushroom came with a creamy sauce that the kids enjoyed.

Having pasta as part of the meal also gave the kids something familiar to enjoy while we explored some of the other dishes on the menu.

It was definitely one of those family meals where everyone could find something they liked.

A Convenient Dining Experience

Overall, our dining experience at Eats Café inside BRIX KLIA by PineTree was quite pleasant.

For us, one of the biggest advantages was simply the convenience of having a restaurant within the hotel. After a long day of driving, we did not need to get back into the car or spend additional time searching for somewhere to eat.

The service may take a little longer depending on how busy the restaurant is, so it is good to manage expectations during peak periods.

But once the food started arriving, we were happy to sit back, enjoy the meal and spend some family time together.

And there was one particular drink that I enjoyed enough to have another bottle — their fruity calamansi drink.

It was refreshing and went nicely with the dishes we had ordered.

Our Little Dining Discovery

Sometimes, after a tiring journey, you don't need anything complicated. A comfortable place to sit, a selection of food, refreshing drinks and some quality family time can be more than enough.

That was our experience at Eats Café.

With its selection of local and Western dishes, convenient location inside BRIX KLIA by PineTree, and a menu that offers something for both adults and kids, it gave us a comfortable place to enjoy dinner without needing to leave the hotel.

For travellers staying around KLIA, especially families arriving after a long drive or flight, having a dining option within the hotel can certainly make the stay a little easier. And for us, this dinner became another little food discovery during our stay.

 

Johor Bahru: A new grocery destination has officially opened its doors in Tampoi, Johor Bahru, and the opening-day response was certainly something to experience.

On 12 September 2026, we visited ST Rosyam Mart in Tampoi, Johor Bahru, to witness its official opening and see for ourselves what the new mart has to offer the local community.

And if there was one thing that immediately caught our attention, it was the crowd. At around 8:45 AM, shoppers were already arriving and lining up to register as ST Rosyam Mart members.

There was a sense of excitement around the entrance, with many people eager to get inside and take advantage of the special opening promotions.

New members were also able to enjoy benefits such as free reusable shopping bags, which came in handy later when we started filling our own bags with groceries.

But, of course, the biggest attraction was the promotional pricing. 8 Sen Whole Chicken and RM0.88 Tilapia

Among the opening promotions that caught our attention was the highly talked-about whole chicken promotion at just 8 sen. Yes, just RM0.08!

It was certainly one of the promotions that attracted shoppers to the mart, and the crowd around the chicken section quickly grew as people looked to take advantage of the deal.

Another promotion that stood out was Ikan Talapia Merah at just RM0.88, with the fish weighing approximately 400 to 600 grams.

There were also various other promotions throughout the mart, including selected vegetables and grocery items offered at remarkably low prices.

What made these promotions particularly interesting was that many of them involved basic household necessities products that families would normally purchase during their regular grocery trips.

During the opening ceremony, we had the opportunity to witness Datuk Rosyam Nor, Director of ST Rosyam Mart, together with Dato’ Raymond Ho Cheng Hann, Group Managing Director of Sri Ternak.

The opening also gave us an opportunity to learn more about the operation behind this new grocery destination. During the press conference, Dato’ Raymond shared that the mart has more than 400 staff serving the outlet, with recruitment still ongoing.

This is also an interesting development from a local employment perspective, as the new outlet continues to create job opportunities for people in Johor Bahru.

Once the doors opened, the atmosphere inside ST Rosyam Mart was definitely lively. We were welcomed by staff positioned throughout different sections of the mart, and shoppers quickly spread across the various departments.

The fresh food and wet market areas were among the sections we explored. The seafood was neatly displayed, while the wet market section also featured a selection of live seafood.

The overall area looked clean and organised despite the large number of shoppers moving around. Plenty to Explore in the Grocery Section. Moving into the grocery area, the crowds continued.

The shelves were filled with dry goods and everyday household products, while shoppers were busy looking for the best opening deals.

Some of the vegetable promotions were also priced as low as 8 sen per pack, adding to the excitement among shoppers looking for affordable groceries.

With so many promotions happening at the same time, it was easy to understand why the mart became so busy shortly after opening.

The crowd was especially noticeable at the cashier area. With so many shoppers carrying their groceries, the mart had opened its payment terminals to accommodate the large number of customers.

There was certainly a long queue, but considering this was the official opening day with some very aggressive promotional prices, the busy atmosphere was not entirely unexpected.

Fortunately, our reusable bags from the membership registration came in handy.

After going around the mart and picking up some of the promotional items, we ended up with two bags of groceries.

And the total? Less than RM72! For us, this was probably one of the more interesting parts of the visit. Affordable Everyday Essentials

What we found particularly appealing about the opening promotions was that a large portion of the discounted items were not simply novelty products.

Many were everyday grocery necessities that families would normally buy, chicken, fish, vegetables and other household grocery items.

For families who are always looking for ways to manage their weekly grocery budget, promotions like these can certainly make a difference.

Of course, promotional prices may be subject to availability and specific membership conditions, so shoppers should always check the latest promotions when visiting.

Another interesting feature of ST Rosyam Mart is that it is said to operate 24 hours a day. This could be convenient for shoppers who prefer doing their grocery shopping outside the usual daytime hours.

So, if you're worried about the huge crowds we experienced during the opening day, there is always the option of visiting at a later time when things have settled down.

Whether you're looking for fresh food, groceries or simply want to explore a new shopping destination in Johor Bahru, ST Rosyam Mart is certainly a new place to keep on your radar.

For those planning to visit, it may be worth checking the latest membership promotions and offers before heading down, especially if you're interested in the special opening deals.

There’s something special about exploring Melaka at night. As the sun goes down, the city’s historic heritage area comes alive with colourful lights, beautifully illuminated buildings and the unmistakable sight of decorated trishaws ferrying tourists from one place to another.

During our recent exploration, we took some time to simply stroll around and enjoy the atmosphere. The colourful heritage buildings looked even more vibrant under the evening lights, creating plenty of beautiful scenery and photo opportunities along the way. 

One of the things we enjoyed most was the relaxed atmosphere. There was no need to rush from one attraction to another. We could simply walk around, admire the architecture, watch the trishaws passing by and enjoy the lively surroundings.

And the good news for visitors is that there is no entrance fee to enjoy the heritage area. You can simply come, walk around and take in the scenery at your own pace. For families and budget-conscious travellers, this is definitely a nice way to experience Melaka without spending much.

Parking, however, can be a little challenging, particularly when the area gets busy. It may take some patience to find a suitable parking spot, but once you are parked, the experience of walking around the heritage area is well worth it.

If you are planning to explore the area on foot, especially with children or family members, do remember to bring enough drinking water. The Malaysian weather can still be warm, and you may end up walking more than expected while stopping at different spots to enjoy the scenery. 

What makes this experience even more enjoyable is that there is always something happening around you. The colourful trishaws, tourists exploring the area, beautifully lit buildings and heritage surroundings all come together to create the unique atmosphere that Melaka is known for.

For us, it was not just about visiting another tourist attraction. It was about slowing down, enjoying the surroundings and appreciating the heritage and character of one of Malaysia’s most recognisable historic cities.

So, if you are planning a family getaway or simply looking for somewhere nice to explore during an evening in Melaka, consider spending some time around the heritage area. Take a slow walk, bring your camera, stay hydrated and enjoy the colourful scenery.