Imaginative cocktails tell stories in intimate setting
ATTIC BAR
No.15, Jalan Balai Polis, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 5pm to 1am (Sunday to Thursday) and 5pm to 2am (Friday and Saturday)
Reservations: 012-393 8627
Nestled above a guesthouse, the rooftop Attic Bar is accessible through a spiral staircase.
Cocktails here are named after characters of popular fantasy drama series Game of Thrones and the bar has been banking on the show’s popularity since opening in 2015.
Dragon Lady (left) and Gadis Tuak at Attic Bar.
One of its top-selling cocktails, Dragon Lady – a mix of vodka, dragonfruit, passionfruit, lime and egg white – takes inspiration from the character Khaleesi aka Daenerys Targaryen.
Cocktails such as Gadis Tuak with tuak (locally brewed rice wine), lime, Calpis and pandan are also worth a try for that distinctive local flavour.
And if tuak is something you enjoy, there are tuak shots to savour too.
BAIJIU KL
Lot 4, Lorong Panggung, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 5pm until late daily
Reservations: 018-3679387
Stepping into Baijiu at Kwai Chai Hong in Lorong Panggung is like being transported to an East Asian setting replete with Chinese-inspired motifs.
The unique element here is the use of baijiu (Chinese grain liquor) – a strong distinctive alcohol base that is often described as having a sweet fruity fragrance with a touch of nuttiness – in cocktails.
Baijiu shooters at Baijiu KL.
Twelve signature cocktails paired with tropical fruits like pink guava, jackfruit and pineapple as well as the popular baijiu shots await.
Baijiu-based cocktails such as Pisang and Lotus Pink tantalise with fruity flavours before the grain liquor dominates.
Those hankering for a bite to eat have dim sum options to go with the cocktails.
G-STRING KL
No.147, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 5pm until late
Reservations: 013-938 6322
G-String cocktail bar strives to create a sexy, intimate setting.
The “G” in its name represents gin, a lighter liquor option that appeals to women and used in most of the bar’s cocktails.
The bar’s interior has pink neon lighting, floral sofas and lacy decorations on the ceiling while vintage TV sets, radios and lamps of co-owner Desvin Tew flank the bar.
Blue Bird Paradise at G-String KL.
The watering hole recently revamped its cocktail menu.
Signature drinks include Blue Bird Paradise, which is a mix of gin, sour grapefruit, Blue Curacao and yuzu, while the more spirit-forward Bible Black is a concoction of whiskey and yuzu.
Some of the fruity combinations include Watermelon Sugar High, which is a mix of brandy, Lillet Rose, watermelon liquor, elderflower and fresh watermelon.
CONCUBINE KL
Lot 2, Jalan Panggong, KL
5pm to 1am (Sundays to Thursdays) 5pm to 3am (Fridays and Saturdays), closed on Mondays
Reservations: 011-6090 2416
Inspired by Concubine Lane in Ipoh, Perak, this bar adopts a modern, feminine and sassy theme.
The bar owners wanted to break away from the concubine stereotype and its negative connotations.
Pineapple cocktail by Concubine.
Based on the etymology of the Chinese character, the word “concubine” has two elements – the top radical means “independent” while the lower half represents the concept of a woman.
Expect tropical ingredients in Concubine’s cocktails.
The Jackfruit is concocted with dry gin, absinthe and sweet vermouth with jackfruit and clarified milk.
Empress Negroni puts an Asian twist to the classic cocktail by adding oolong tea to dry gin, Campari and Maraschino.
