Presenting the 10 best bars in Malaysia, in alphabetical order.
Backdoor Bodega
In George Town’s part-gentrified, part-gritty Jalan Gurdwarav area, this is Penang’s reigning speakeasy, highlighting botanicals such as pandan, lemongrass and ginger flower.
Bar Trigona
At Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur, gilded Bar Trigona offers delicious cocktails crafted to highlight endemic and sustainable ingredients and raise awareness about the plight of local bees.
Basic Wine Store
Natural wines and European-style sharing plates are Basic’s currency, served in a clean, warm and welcoming Scandi-style space with lots of natural light and earth tones.
Coley
The modern epitome of a neighborhood bar, Coley’s exceptional drinks and rugged interior make it the local for regulars.
Junglebird
Championing rum-based concoctions, the eponymous Jungle Bird cocktail is the inspiration for this award-winning venue. Add to that a cosy tropical setting, great company and delicious food.
Pahit
One of the Kuala Lumpur’s pioneering gin bars, Pahit’s charm lies in its delicious drinks and its 1920s shop-lot with raw, industrial interiors.
Penrose
Penrose’s futuristic façade stands out in downtown KL—it might be intimidating for some, but those who venture in are rewarded with superb, award-winning cocktails.
Reka
Joel Poon and team make some of KL’s most innovative cocktails, best expressed in The Domino Effect menu, where each of the 12 cocktails link to another via one ingredient.
Three X Co
Helmed by Amanda Wan, this award-winning bar seeks to propagate an adventurous, serious and all-embracing drinking culture through finely crafted cocktails.
Vér: The Bar at Nadodi
With its swanky location at the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur, it delivers punchy, innovative cocktails layered with spices and stories of the South Indian and Sri Lankan coast.
Discover all of our T+L Tastemakers 2024 winning bars and restaurants here.
Lede and hero image courtesy of Four Seasons.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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