Ikiya 2.0 is resplendent in minimalist, earthy tones and skilled bartenders. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
IKIYA 2.0
No.14A, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 5pm to 1am, daily
Tel: 011-1756 5496
WALKING into this establishment feels like stepping into a friend’s home, with the bar’s minimalist, earthy tones enhanced by cheerful greetings from a team of skilled bartenders.
Ikiya 2.0 is presented as the successor to the original bar established in Empire Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Its menu features bespoke cocktails alongside a variety of food and drink options.
Highlights include the Kyoto Sour, Natsu Rosita and Tonyu Mudslide.
The Kyoto Sour takes inspiration from a Japanese classic, combining sake, grapefruit, agave syrup and green Tabasco sauce.
The Natsu Rosita, a variation of a white Negroni, is crafted with gin, Bianco Vermouth and Gentian liqueur.
(Clockwise, from left) Kyoto Sour, Natsu Rosita and Tonyu Mudslide are some of the highlights at Ikiya 2.0.
Enhanced with olive brine and Creole bitters, it is finished with a sprinkling of Japanese Togarashi spice powder.
Another standout is the Tonyu Mudslide, a dessert-style cocktail and one of the mixologists’ earliest creations.
Presented in a Japanese wooden cup, it offers a dual experience of creamy and sharp flavours.
The drink features a soy milk base, oolong-infused rum, cacao bitters and a dusting of matcha powder, topped with salt water and shaken with ice.
Beyond the drinks, visitors can enjoy snacks such as chicken karaage and tatami iwashi.
