Between plates of delicious, flavourful Nasi Lemak and greasy-goodness of roti prata, visitors to Kuala Lumpur will inevitably find themselves thirsty and looking for refreshing libations to wash it all down. Kuala Lumpur has no shortage of award-winning cocktail bars. Whether you're looking for a more laidback spot to down refreshing drinks that beat the heat or refined venues to down a crisp, clean martini, these are the cocktail bars you must pay a visit to when you're in Malaysia's capital city! 

1. Junglebird

This revered tropical-themed rum bar is a local establishment boasting offering an extensive list of over 240 rums - many of which feature in the bar's list of damn delicious cocktails. Junglebird's drinks are delicious, but the place is never pretentious - long known for its laid-back vibes and bamboo-led atmosphere. Not to be missed is the bar's popular Cendol Colada cocktail, which features rum, pandan, homemade coconut cream and pineapple. If you're hungry for grub, be sure to order the JungleBird Cubano. Trust us, you won't regret it. 

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2. Penrose

Penrose may be the new kid on the block, but it has quickly gained a reputation for serious craftsmanship in its cocktails. Led by Jon Lee, Penrose serves up immaculate and sophisticated cocktails in an intimate atmosphere. Intentionality is the name of the game here, which each of the fifteen core cocktails is designed around the five compound structures of Alcohol, Taste, Body, Dilution and Flavour. Fan favourites include the Rum Musa, made of three distilled types of banana - the heart, the leaf and the fruit, rum, tamarind, pimento berry and shaved tonka bean; as well as the Penrose Gibson, a more savoury option that combines gin, shio kombu and sake vinegar with a smidge of wasabi. 

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3. Bar Trigona

Amid the opulent and elegant interiors of the Four Season Hotel Kuala Lumpur stands Bar Trigona, a bar that pays homage to indigenously and sustainably sourced ingredients. It's new menu, Foraged Malaysia, takes guest on a liquid exploration of Malaysian, using homegrown flavours and ingredients sourced from local farmers. Much of its menu may trigger a bout of nostalgia, with cocktails inspired by popular native dishes and drinks such as the Penang Laksa - remade into a Negroni; the Bak Kut Teh - a whisky-based cocktail modelled after the pork bone broth dish; and the Teh Tarik - combining whisky, monk fruit, sabah tea, chantilly cream and cassia.

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4. Reka:Bar

Consider the bartending team at Reka:Bar a bunch of brilliant scientist, whipping up boozy elixirs using experimental, futuristic mixology techniques. Reka:Bar was named after the "Eureka" moment, aptly reflecting its aim to be a "friendly post modern flavour lab". Neon lights and a glowing back bar are just some of the interior touches that make this place feel like a spaceship science workshop. Some cocktails to try while you're in their lab: The Domino Effect V2.0 - combing liquid ambra (a local Malaysian fruit known as 'kedondong') with gin, umami infusion, cherry tomatoes, citra hops and faux tomato; as well as the Nomadic Breakfast, an unconvetional cocktail inspired by local Nepalese Yak butter tea and millet beer Tongba, infused with bourbon and pu-er tea millet. 

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5. Soma

Soma is a popular local speakeasy that is often known for its viral adult Tau Foo Fah cocktail - which was a bowl of silky beancurd pudding paired to dark rum syrup and served in a porcelain Chinese bowl. Another popular dessert cocktail that often sells out is the Sago Gula Melaka, a refreshing concoction of coconut milk, palm sugar, sago pearls, coconut rum and dark rum. Beyond that, the bar also boasts many fun, crowd-pleasing drinks made from Asian ingredients such as the Nangka Daiquiri for jackfruit lovers, the Zen Green Tea for matcha lovers and the Yuzu Sour for yuzu lovers. 

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