Whenever anyone talks of hidden bars with secret entrances, one tends to think of well-guarded hangout spots that only the most exclusive locals are privy too. Yet this does raise the question: if a bar is just that good, surely it can’t remain under-the-radar in perpetuity?

It does stand to reason that at some point, word-of-mouth might surely spread wide and fast enough, that perhaps a most discretely-designed secret bar will  inevitably shed be forced to shed identity as a well-kept secret, transforming into more of a...well...open secret?

PS150's hidden entrance, now rendered indiscrete by the bar's popularity.

A case in point is PS150 – a speakeasy located near Petaling Street that I was repeatedly told to visit while in Kuala Lumpur. Rocking up to the entrance, one is greeted by what appears to be a vintage toy store, filled with various knick knacks that would delight any kid.

Another party of guests happen to arrive at the entrance at the same time as us, but no one is fooled by this false entrance. Instead, everyone knowingly shrugs at one another and looks past the toys on display, making a beeline for the not-so-discrete door that opens to the bar inside.

My own drinking companion for the night, a Kuala Lumper native, beckons for me to follow, before expertly navigating through the winding interior passageways of PS150 with the comfortable ease of a regular.

We descend deep into the belly of the beast. I've been told that PS150 is housed in what used to be an ex-brothel, and the interiors play homage to the shoplot’s Old Chinatown roots, with decidedly seductive sensorial elements such as red lanterns and beaded curtains.

Entering the main bar area, one can spot the iconic bright neon sign that’s often featured in profiles of PS150. I later learn that the words “茨廠街” (pronounced Chee Chong Gai in Cantonese) directly translate to “Starch Factory Street”. It’s a reference to the old tapioca mills that were opened along Jalan Petaling at the beginning of the 20^th century.

Even the menu is designed to transport one back in time, shaped like the old jotterbooks we used to scribble on during primary school days of spelling tests and abacus arithmetic exercises.

My companion orders the Salty Chinamen. “Have you tried the Himalayan salt candy? This is just like that, but for alcoholics like myself.” 

Don’t let this tipple’s teasing and tongue-in-cheek name deceive you. It’s a highly approachable drink that’s sweet and citric with a salty kick. Comprising of preserved orange peel vodka, lime, lemonade and orange bitters, I steal a sip and almost regret not ordering this instead.

My own cocktail arrives shortly after, the Ketayap Flip.  It’s a creamy concoction of pandan-infused white rum, sweetened by the addition of coconut cream, Pedro Ximenez nectar and Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters.

True to its name, it reminded me of kueh dadar, a traditional peranakan dessert made of grated coconut and palm sugar wrapped around a pandan pancake. This is a drink that can’t go wrong for any of my fellow Bengawan Solo lovers!

Drinking at PS150 feels very much like childhood nostalgia, tinted by the lens of grown-up sensuality.

We snack on a tray of murukku and green beans - not unlike the ones we used to purchase at nearby convenience store after school - and catch only the occasional scandalous whisper from a couple beside us. We can’t quite hear what they’re saying, but bathed in a dim glow of the lanterns overhead, their body language almost makes us blush. 

Until next time,

@lotusroot518

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PS150

https://www.ps150.my/

Ground Floor, 150,

Jalan Petaling,

50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

IG: @ps150kl | FB: @PS150KL

PS150 is a cocktail bar on Petaling Street in Chinatown Kuala Lumpur. Inhibiting the least expected of places, PS150 is housed in a pre-war shop lot situated next to a tiny stationery shop sitting under the popular cafe, Merchant’s Lane. The space is divided into three seating areas that bookmark three distinct eras in the history of cocktails. With the bar's unassuming entrance, child-like curiousity is rewarded as you step through the toy store.

Befitting its location, Far Eastern accents liven up the bar as the interiors harken back to a darker, yet more exciting time in our city’s history. The cocktails at PS150 draws from bold Southeast Asian flavours using distinct ingredients that are native to this part of the world. A wide array of spirits and liqueurs are also available to choose from. Expect the unexpected from obscure vermouths to local ginger wines - an adventurous tipple awaits the bold at PS150.

The cocktail list is divided into five distinct eras in reflecting the evolution of the art of the cocktail: Vintage, Classic, Tiki, Disco and Contemporary. Each era presents a key cocktail reimagined, as well as original concoctions by PS150. Step through the toy store and let us transport you back in time.