Betelnut PJ’s cosy interior fuses new elements like giant TV screens with nostalgia for the once-bustling nightspot in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Betelnut, an iconic nightspot of the 1990s, re-emerges as a blast from the past in Petaling Jaya’s SS2 area.
The brainchild of Spike Yong in a team-up with Ken Chia and Kili Anandaraj, Betelnut in Kuala Lumpur’s city centre was famous for its gift and beer giveaways besides music.
Renowned as the ultimate party destination in that thriving era of the tail end of the 1980s through to the mid-1990s, Betelnut’s early years had Patrick Teoh’s Music Machine as one of its star attractions.
Added to this was a long list of the city’s best deejays who included Spike, Skin, David Chew, Robert Ma, OJ, Kenny Bak Kut Teh and Philippe de Souza before the venue ended its run in mid-1990s.
The new Betelnut PJ, which opened its doors in October 2023, is co-founded by Yong along with VDJ RF and Datuk Ian Ong of Uncle Don’s casual-dining restaurant chain.
For patrons of the original Betelnut, the return journey begins as you enter a door tucked away next to Uncle Don’s outlet.
Inside, the ambience looks like a fusion of industrial contemporary design and nostalgic charm.
Roughened red bricks and timber tiles adorn the walls, creating a cozy atmosphere complemented by plush couches and a spacious balcony area.
At the helm of the entertainment are veteran music spinners VDJ Alfred, VDJ RF and DJ Kash, curating a playlist of old-school remixes that transport patrons back to the golden era of the ’80s and ’90s which infuses the venue with nostalgia and musical charm.
The bar’s signature Long Island Tea.
Special guest deejays including Jim, Kishore, Lively Larry, FM1 and Bernie have also made appearances, infusing the nights with their unique spins on retro classics.
What sets this incarnation of Betelnut apart are giant screens showcasing music videos.
This trip down memory lane comes with Betelnut’s array of drinks, from commercial staples like Carlsberg, Connors Stout, Kronenbourg 1664 on draught, soju and Somersby by bottle to premium spirits like Stolichnaya vodka, Bombay Sapphire and Roku gin, Jameson whiskey and Glenfiddich Single Malt.
Twin bottle promotions ensure that guests can indulge in their favourites, while wine aficionados will find a fair selection to suit their palate.
Their cocktail menu offers classics as well as innovative and personalised creations, allowing you to sip on ice-cold tropical cocktails while grooving to your favourite retro tracks.
Betelnut’s menu partners with Uncle Don’s to offer unique bar bites and dishes to celebrate a blast from the past made for today.Betelnut PJ, 181, First floor, Jalan SS2/24, PJ, Selangor. (Tel: 016-655 9393) Business hours: 4pm till late daily. Wednesdays: Gentlemen’s Night; Thursdays: Ladies Night; Fridays and Saturdays: Weekend Party Night.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
