Glass Bar pairs scenic city, coastal views with new signature cocktails and classic favourites
THE best bars have a way of making the rush of modern life fade quietly into the distance.
With a drink in hand and scenery that changes with each passing moment, conversations linger and hours drift by unnoticed.
That uplifting sense of escape defines Ascott Gurney Penang’s Glass Bar, perched on the Level 7 pool deck overlooking Gurney Drive and the Andaman Sea.
Designed as a contemporary glasshouse, its floor-to-ceiling glass panels blur the boundaries between indoors and out, allowing natural light and coastal views to shape the drinking experience.
The backbar, clad in mirrored mosaic tiles, reflects shifting ambient light. A marble bar top with coloured lighting adds sophistication.
The space is air-conditioned and offers refuge from the tropical heat. On milder days, the glass panels can be swung open to allow cool breezes to flow through.
Appropriately, the cocktails echo the bar’s oasis-like ambience, favouring balance and refreshment over needless experimentation.
Mixologist Terrence Ho said this approach was best epitomised by five recently launched creations dubbed “The Ascott Signatures”.
“We felt that lighter and more delicate flavours better suited our surroundings,” he added.
The Golden Irish is a great example. Irish whiskey provides a mellow backbone while elderflower liqueur and cold-brewed jasmine tea lend subtle floral notes.
Lemon juice keeps everything balanced while ginger ale lifts the finish, making it an unexpectedly refreshing whiskey concoction – perfect for warm afternoons.
Apple of My Eyes is an equally charming libation that wins hearts with its combination of apple syrup, elderflower liqueur, soda and whiskey.
“For this, we chose a 12-year-old expression with crisp apple and honey notes to evoke the character of an orchard. This gentle sweetness makes it an easy drink,” Ho said.
Gin lovers will appreciate the Basil Bliss. It is based on the classic Gimlet but swaps the traditional sweetener for homemade ginger and basil syrup.
“We reduce the ginger syrup first, before adding fresh basil at the end. This method coaxes the most flavour oils out of the leaves,” revealed the bartender.
The herbaceous character complements gin’s botanicals well, resulting in a tipple that feels clean, fragrant and invigorating from first sip to last.
Andaman pays tribute to the hotel’s coastal setting. Rum provides a tropical base while peach liqueur, pineapple juice and lime create layers of juicy fruit balanced by bright acidity.
The wedge of dehydrated pineapple is more than a decorative flourish. Its shape mirrors the outline of the reclaimed Andaman Island, visible in the distance.
Completing the line-up is the intriguing Tiramisu, a gin-based reinterpretation of the beloved Italian dessert and Ho’s personal signature.
Coffee bean-infused sweet vermouth anchors the taste profile while white chocolate liqueur recreates its creamy sweetness. Lemon juice and soda ensures it retains the characteristic lightness.
The cocktail’s orange hue also brings a playful contradiction. The mind naturally associates coffee with darker tones, making the emergence of bitter coffee notes rather surprising.
Glass Bar is also offering the seasonal special, Blushing Lady, until the end of September.
The addition of rose and lychee liqueurs to gin lends the drink a soft, feminine character, while Sauvignon Blanc and tonic add sparkle and keep it light on the palate.
Among the selection of 15 classics, Ho and his team also make a mean Old Fashioned – widely considered to be an indicator of a quality bar.
Guests would also find everything from a Manhattan to a Whisky Sour, Vesper, Negroni, White Russian and Espresso Martini.
If you are in the mood for something off-menu, make a request. If they have the ingredients, they will oblige.
For food, there is a compact selection of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and light snacks.
Glass Bar’s ongoing Beat The Clock cocktail promo has been extended until Aug 31. Every Friday and Saturday, enjoy 30% off selected drinks from 7pm to 8pm or 25% off from 8pm to 9pm. On Saturdays, there is also a 20% discount from 9pm to 10pm.
In-house guests and those who sign up for the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) programme also enjoy 20% off. The discount is not stackable.
GLASS BAR, Ascott Gurney Penang, 18, Gurney Drive, George Town, Penang. (Tel: 011-2349 3902) Business hours: 2pm to 9pm (Monday to Friday), noon to 10pm (Saturday and Sunday)
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
