cocktail bars i tried in kuala lumpur 🍸

if you love cocktails as much i do, you've got to go bar hopping in kl! i noticed most of the drinks are priced about SGD14-15, which saves you about SGD5-10 per drink compared to singapore! here are some of the bars i tried:

1. small shifting space — ok hear me out, while they don't serve cocktails here, they specialize in wine, if that's your thing! 🍷 we chanced upon this place in chinatown and love the semi open-air / chill / industrial bar vibes. they also serve a pretty extensive dinner menu that we would have tried if we weren't that stuffed that day.

2. pahit — my favourite spot among all the bars we tried! this is a gin-centric cocktail bar, ranked amongst the top 100 in asia's top bars in 2021 and i would say it's well deserved! the crowd really adds to the atmosphere at pahit, while the interior is nicely furnished, it is also cosy and comfortable where you feel like you're at a friend's home having drinks 🥂. i recommend the coconut clover club 🥥, a mixture of coconut fat washed gin, raspberry, lemon and chocolate bitters.

3. coley — another popular cocktail bar and sister to pahit! you can find contemporary drinks like bubble tea cocktails here🧋. in contrast to pahit, it was rather quiet and empty on a weekend night (i'm not sure if it was the timing) and we left after 1 round of drinks.

4. ps150 — i love chinatown as it is bustling with cafes and bars! ps150 is one of the most reviewed bars on google with over 1.1k reviews and is rated 4.5 stars ⭐. ps150 was so packed that we couldn't get a seat and was parked at the bar (fully standing only), squeezing with other customers which wasn't the most pleasant experience 🫣. they have one of the most extensive cocktail menus and you can definitely find a drink for everyone! i recommend rumble in the jungle (coconut and pandan rum with gula melaka) 🦁

tip: in my opinion, you can't go wrong with coconut/ pandan cocktails here in malaysia. when in doubt, that was our go-to combination and it never fails!

5. the chow kit kitchen & bar — this was a bar within the hotel we stayed in and felt more quiet and intimate compared to the other bars we've been to 😌. they serve a malay cuisine dinner which was extremely delicious and i highly recommend! for drinks, try the great colada, a concoction including vitagen grape, coconut and pineapple.

6. momosita — a mexican-inspired cocktail bar🇲🇽 just beside the chow kit and also within a hotel! the setting here is more casual with colorful posters plastered on the walls with a projector and open-mike karaoke! while the drinks are average, this makes for a perfect spot for a hangout with friends.

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