The 5 Best Speakeasies in Kuala Lumpur

Founded by friends Karl Too and Shawn Chong, Omakase + Appreciate is one of the most revered speakeasies in town. Located at the basement of an office building, the bar is cosy with bar and table seatings, perfect for an intimate night out with your friends. Every month, the bartenders come up with unique concoctions, showcasing their talent in experimenting with new flavours and combinations. Customers can also choose to leave it up to the bartenders, as the bar’s name suggests, by giving them a few notes on their preferred flavours and liquor base.

Even though PS150 is hidden in the historic and grim shoplots of Chinatown, the bar is bustling as the night falls. Behind a wooden door lays a crimson-lit alleyway with intimate seating spaces that lead you to a big room where the main bar is. The impressive liquor shelf that reaches the ceiling will be a nice addition to your Instagram feed. Kick back, relax and enjoy drinks made by some of Kuala Lumpur’s top mixologists at PS150.

Nestled in a rustic terrace house, Pahit, is a declaration of a love for gin. With rattan chairs scattered across a lush front yard and wooden seatings in the main bar area, patrons can kick back and enjoy a quiet night while enjoying deliciously crafted drinks. This watering hole offers one of the largest gin selections in the city, sourced from all corners of the world including the UK, Spain, Canada, Italy, Finland, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Netherlands, Estonia, Thailand, Japan, Australia and others.

A hidden gem in Bangsar, Coley’s creative inventions have consistently kept patrons coming back for more. Having moved to a new location recently, Coley’s hideout sports a homey cavern-like ambience for customers to hang out. A quick glance at the menu and you will find a series of Asian-inspired cocktails like the whisky bubble tea and gin and coconut, as well as classic cocktails not to be missed.

Keep your ears open, and you might hear lively beats in the quiet back alleys of Chinatown. Follow them and you might very well find your way to Bar Zhen. The setting here is elegant with cushy leather seating and walls covered by luscious red cloths. Drinks are Asian-inspired, with ingredients like red dates, ginseng, wolfberry and osmanthus. The clever use of exotic ingredients help make the drinks seductive and delightfully tasty.