JungleBird celebrates what makes tropical South East-Asia unique.
If you feel like splurging on creative cocktails, handcrafted beverages or a cup of sake, Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur offers them all for adventurous drinkers.
Bars have been mushrooming there over the years, especially around Plaza Damansara.
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Despite the fact that finding a parking spot can be tricky at times, the place continues to attract night owls who want a drink or two with their friends and family.
This week, StarMetro explores some of the bars there that offer a wide selection of cocktails, spirits and sake.
JungleBird
Established in March 2017, JungleBird celebrates what makes tropical South-East Asia unique.
Last year, along with its move to its current location, the watering hole expanded its concept to include Latin Caribbean influences.Patrons can expect delicious bites such as Cubano Sandwich, Dominican Albondigas Guisadas and Tobagoan Curried Crab Dumplings on the menu.
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Its latest cocktail menu pays tribute to key rum-producing nations, with signatures such as JungleBird Piña Colada as a nod to Puerto Rico and Funk’n Jerk for Jamaica.Focusing heavily on sugarcane spirits, the bar currently carries some 250 individual bottles from around the world.
They also have myriad other spirits, wine and a few craft beers but rum is definitely the star attraction at JungleBird.
The bar has been on Asia’s 50 Best Bars for the last five years, coming in at No.35 this year.
Located at No.61M, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Plaza Damansara, JungleBird opens from 4pm to midnight on Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 1am Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 2am Fridays and Saturdays and noon to midnight on Sundays.
For reservations, call 03-2011 5715.
Reka:bar
The name of the bar is derived from the words “reka” in Bahasa Malaysia, which means create, and “eureka” in Greek, which is a cry of joy when one discovers something.
Striving to push the boundaries of innovation and deliciousness in concoctions, the basic principles for its drink ideas are accessibility and sustainability.
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Its inaugural signature menu, The Domino Effect, has every cocktail linked to each other by a common ingredient but expressed in different forms.
For example, the use of cacao can be seen in Forbidden Nib-ble that mixes Dewar’s 12YO, Port Charlotte 10YO, Melaka cacao nibs, eight-day apple, aromatic bitters and masala powder, and Strawberry Feels which blends together Campari, Bacardi Cuatro, pineapple, coconut, strawberry and cacao mist.
Reka:bar also changes its spotlight menus occasionally, where the drinks are designed to highlight a particular idea, theme or flavour.
This month, the bar’s spotlight menu is “Hanami: A Dream of Spring”, which features cherry blossom-inspired drinks.
One of the highlights here is the (The First) Cherry Blooms, which is a combination of Haku Vodka, Wasabi Distillate, floral infusion, Purple Sweet Potato Calpis, pineapple and citrus.
Located at No.67M, Jalan Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara, the bar opens from 6pm to midnight Mondays to Saturdays and 5pm to midnight on Sundays.
For reservations, call 010-287 8908.
Skullduggery
Midori (right) and Hey Jasmine cocktail at Skullduggery.
The skull motif behind Huckleberry is the only clue to the hidden entrance to Skullduggery in Damansara Heights.
The bar under the Huckleberry Hospitality Group Sdn Bhd imports 60% of the premium spirits on its own for its cocktails.
Known for its fruity and refreshing cocktails, guests can expect new creations to be featured, including Midori, a mix of gin, honey matcha, turmeric, Japanese cucumber and clarified milk.
For something more zesty, Hey Jasmine adds a unique twist on the Maverick Martini, as it was thought to be a stylish and confident drink, which uses kaffir lime leaf-infused rum, homemade honey jasmine, passion fruit syrup, champagne and topped with mango foam.
The cosy setting inspired by European and American bars as well as low lighting make this the perfect place for groups of people to catch up with each other while enjoying some signature drinks.
Located at No.2M, Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, Skullduggery opens from 5pm to 1am Tuesdays to Thursdays and 5pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
For reservations, call 017-266 7335.Nomi Tomo Sake Bar
Its name, which means “drinking buddies” in Japanese, reflects the passion of four friends-turned-business-partners for quality sake.
Established in 2015, the bar is Kuala Lumpur’s very first sake speciality bar that imports a wide selection of sake from all over Japan.
Expect a respectable range, from table sake like Futsushu to Junmai and Junmai Ginjo to premium options such as Junmai Daiginjo, as the establishment aims to satisfy even sake connoisseurs.
There are also other liquors including Japanese whiskey, scotch whiskey and housemade cocktails.
On Ladies Night every Thursday, women can enjoy Minuty Prestige Rose and cream cheese raisin butter at RM239.
There is food available. Try its Volcano Beef, which is pan-seared beef on potato salad topped with egg yolk for RM48.
Located at Level 3, No.2-2, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, the bar opens from 5pm to 2am Monday to Saturday.
For reservations, call 016-661 5907.
BAC
Green Glutton cocktail by BAC is a mix of Widges gin, St George absinthe, lime, sugar and Chang soda.
It does not matter what the letters BAC stand for here.
Be it Beef And Cocktails, Blood Alcohol Content or Before Any Covid, BAC is only keen on taking visitors back to a time where unadulterated fun was the norm.
The bar focuses on highballs, spirits and tonics, with a wide variety of cocktails to choose from.
One of their signatures, BAC to Black is a mix of Michter’s rye whiskey, strawberry, basil balsamic shrub and Chang soda.
Another hot favourite is the Paloma Picante, which harmoniously brings together jalapeno arquitecto tequila, Machetazo Mezcal, saline solution, lime sour syrup and east imperial grapefruit soda.
BAC’s food is separated into three categories – pre-drinks, during drinks and to soak up the drinks, such as Cincalok Fried Chicken, Udon with Wagyu beef as well as fried baby corn served with Sarawak pepper hollandaise and lime.
Located at No.73-1, Jalan Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara, the bar opens from 6pm to midnight daily.
For reservations, call 010-287 0731.
