Penrose
In just its second year, Penrose has already achieved an impressive #8 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for 2024. This intimate bar hopes to spark conversations, with most seats concentrated around the counter. Led by Jon Lee, Penrose’s team crafts exceptional cocktails based on five core principles: alcohol, flavour, taste, body, and dilution. Their meteoric entry into the top ten highlights Kuala Lumpur’s growing reputation for exciting and innovative cocktail experiences.
Bar Trigona
Despite a slight drop from its previous rankings, Bar Trigona remains a stalwart on the Top 50 list, securing the #36 spot this time around. Nestled within the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel KL, Bar Trigona is renowned for its dedication to sustainability and Malaysian ingredients. Its menu features playful and innovative cocktails like Airmail from Trigona and Bee’s Knees, both of which incorporate Trigona honey. Other highly recommended cocktails include the Trigona Old Fashioned and Bumblebee.
Reka
Debuting in 2021, Reka has fast become a rising star in Kuala Lumpur’s innovative cocktail scene, coming in at #41. Nicknamed a “postmodern flavour lab”, the bar lives up to its name with a focus on forward-thinking techniques and unique flavour combinations. The menu is built around the four elements of salt, fat, acid, and heat, so expect to see advanced tools like centrifuges and dehydrators used to create truly delightful concoctions.
Three X Co
Tucked away behind an unassuming barbershop facade in Bangsar Shopping Centre lies Three X Co, a hidden gem that also receives honours from the team behind the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, coming in at #56. Inspired by the glamour of the Great Gatsby era, the bar boasts a dimly lit and intimate atmosphere with plush leather furnishings and vintage glassware. Three X Co offers a meticulously crafted cocktail menu featuring innovative originals alongside a selection of top-shelf whiskeys and bourbons.
Coley
Ranked at #70, this bar pays homage to Ada Coleman, the pioneering female bartender at London’s Savoy Hotel who created the iconic Hanky Panky cocktail. Their menu features a delightful mix of classic cocktails with a Malaysian twist, alongside innovative new creations. Whether you’re a Hanky Panky purist or a curious explorer of new flavours, Coley promises a memorable cocktail experience.
