Ipoh’s Newest Landmark - OldTown Heritage Centre

Ipoh’s Newest Landmark - OldTown Heritage Centre 

When was the last time you’ve been to Ipoh? Now I’ve always found it refreshing to do a 1 day trip to Ipoh to enjoy the sights and sounds as well as to explore the good food the town has to offer. 

Did you know the largest halal-certified kopitiam chain in Malaysia, OldTown White Coffee recently celebrated the opening of its new Heritage Centre in Ipoh? It’s a fanfare of arts and cultural showcases, commemorating its Artists Heritage Collaboration Project. Read on below. 

Ipoh’s Newest Landmark - OldTown Heritage Centre 

OldTown Heritage Centre Opens! 

The brand unveiled its inaugural Artists Heritage Collaboration Project, an initiative by OldTown White Coffee to elevate its Heritage Centre as a “living” heritage where artists are able to showcase any pieces of art that honour the sweet-smelling legacies of Ipoh white coffee. 

A vintage coffee brewing station

Spread across three floors of the neo-colonial structure are an eco-driven Earthcare Cafe, the OIdTown Heritage Gallery, and a retail outlet that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the history and heritage of white coffee. 

The Earthcare Cafe will serve as the brand’s flagship farm-to-table dining concept, featuring a new menu that is distinct from the brand’s familiar kopitiam fare, with an emphasis on ethically and locally-sourced produce, such as free-range eggs from cageless chicken farms. 

The dining area on the first floor of Earthcare Cafe

A Celebration of Shared Legacies

“The OldTown Heritage Centre is not just a place to enjoy great coffee and food. It's a celebration of our shared history and values, as well as a platform for fostering community and environmental stewardship," commented Dawn Liew, CEO of Kopitiam Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd. 

As part of the brand’s cultural preservation efforts, it has elicited the help of various artists to spearhead its Artists Heritage Collaboration Project, most of whom were present for the opening, including: 

• Melinda Looi, celebrated fashion designer who was also chiefly responsible for creating the iconic brown coffee cups for OldTown White Coffee back in 2009, and has returned to create a limited edition, commemorative OldTown Heritage Tote Bag to mark the Heritage Centre’s opening. 

• Chuen Mun Wai, one of the last surviving traditional Chinese lantern makers in Malaysia who was specially commissioned to create five lanterns for the Heritage Centre, visible at the Ground Floor dining area. 

• Chin Choon Yau, a renowned mural artist from Ipoh who has painted over 300 walls that eulogises the cityscapes of yesteryear.

• Lim Pui Wan, also known as “PicoWorm”, a miniature artist famed for creating exceedingly intricate and realistic dioramas that could fit the palm of a person. 

• Jeffrey Lim, a multi-talented photographer, cultural artist, and heritage enthusiast who contributed a vintage coffee brewing station, a collection of antique coffee cups, and a “Traditional Kopi Lineage” photo installation. 

• Azmi Hussin, a cartoonist celebrated for his quirky depictions of local life and the Malaysian record-holder for creating the country’s longest single comic strip, “Saga Kami”. 

As part of OTWC's Artists Heritage Collaboration Project, the brand recognizes local artists who contributed to the Heritage Centre. 

The OldTown Heritage Centre opens in the midst of Visit Perak Year 2024, and is primed to cater a fresh influx of local and international tourists keen on enjoying what was recently announced as one of the world’s best coffees. 

The facade of the OldTown Heritage Centre during the day

With its unique approach to serve time-tested recipes and a history lesson, OldTown White Coffee’s latest flagship addition raises the bar on how heritage businesses are able to capitalise on their rich histories to serve an ever hungry audience with a palate for the past.