5 of Kuala Lumpur’s coolest bars – for hip crowds, master mixologists and the best city views

As Kuala Lumpur’s bustling bar scene indicates, Malaysians take their nightlife seriously. Establishments don’t hold back in creating extraordinary experiences for patrons with imaginative cocktails, cool ambience, dazzling sky-high views and hidden entrances to amplify the thrill and exclusivity.

Add any one of these bars to your evening plans and you’re sure to have a good time; after all, three on this list – Coley, Bar Trigona and JungleBird – sit proudly in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019, while the others confidently hold their own with aces up their sleeves and novelty on their side.

Coley

Coley’s original rustic space behind a cafe in a quieter part of bustling Bangsar couldn't contain the bar’s popularity for its refined, Malaysian-inspired cocktails. Two years after opening, Coley – named after The Savoy’s legendary female bartender, Ada Coleman, inventor of the Hanky Panky – moved into elegant new digs a few doors down with a refreshed menu. Despite a luxe interior of black, gold and woody accents, Coley remains down to earth with owner and bartender CK Kho at the helm.

The cocktail bar’s creations are complex yet unpretentious and affordably priced – one of the many reasons the bar draws endless crowds from its 5pm opening until late. Some quirky libations inspired by local flavours include whisky and bubble tea, gin and coconut, and one-off specials such as the Miloni, a playful take on the Negroni using Milo, where a sweet mix of gin and vermouth is poured over a Milo malt chocolate jelly.

Address: 6-G, Jalan Abdullah off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur

Blue 

Shoot up to the 51st floor of luxury hotel EQ and let the dazzling new rooftop bar that is Blue take your breath away. Here, evening feels infinite, like stepping into a sky full of stars; a magical effect created by the ceiling’s twinkling lights splayed across flanking mirrors and the city’s glittering skyline. The view afforded by the open-air lounge is mesmerising, boasting sweeping vistas of the KL Tower and Petronas Twin Towers on either end.

With a variety of seating available throughout the space, including an upper deck for more privacy, Blue is ideal for intimate date nights, parties and casual post-work tipples. The signature Blue Moon cocktail is theatrical and delicious, served under a smoking glass dome cloche to reveal a gorgeous violet concoction of gin, elderflower liqueur, hibiscus purée, lavender bitters and egg white. For a well-rounded evening, consider the adjoining fine dining restaurant, Sabayon – the ambrosial menu by Swedish Michelin-starred chef Hans Boren and selection of fine wines are otherworldly.