Three Malaysian Bars Made it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024

Malaysia’s bars had one of the biggest achievement in the annual Asia’s 50 Best Bars this year. Three cocktail bars in Kuala Lumpur made it into the Top 50 of the Asia’s Best Bars, with Penrose had the biggest accomplishment.

Penrose, which opened in August 2022, debuted at No.50 on last year’s edition of the list before shooting up a stunning 42 places to No.8 this year, earning both the Nikka Highest Climber Award 2024 and the title of The Best Bar in Malaysia 2024.

At Penrose, the essence of the cocktail is captured through five pillars: alcohol, flavour, taste, body and dilution. Spearheaded by Jon Lee, Penrose’s intimate atmosphere, with a focus on bar-counter seating, allows the team to deliver a more intentional service that encourages conversations across the bar.

Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur did not continue its streak of being named the Best Bar in Malaysia. However, they still retain in the Asia’s 50 Best Bar list at the 36th place.

Head bartender of Bar Trigona, Rohan Matmary, who took the reins from Ashish Sharma in October 2022, has used his tenure to solidify the bar’s relationship with the Malaysian farmers that supply the ingredients for its patriotic drinks programme.

Reka Bar, also in Kuala Lumpur is a new entry in the list, making its way to the 41st place.

Reka is the Malay word for ‘creation’, and the bar describes itself as a ‘postmodern flavour lab.’ Its interior certainly leans into futuristic and scientific imagery, with low ceilings and long neon lights that bask the bar in an effortlessly cool hue. Drinks also deliver on that promise, as co-owner and head bartender Joel Poon uses the four fundamental elements of salt, fat, acid and heat as the guiding pillars of Reka’s cocktail programme, elevated by advanced techniques and lab-grade machinery.

Here’s the full list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024.

#1: Bar Leone – Hong Kong

#2: Zest – Seoul

#3: Jigger & Pony – Singapore

#4: Coa – Hong Kong

#5: Bar Benfiddich – Tokyo

#6: Nutmeg & Clove – Singapore

#7: BKK Social Club – Bangkok

#8: Penrose – Kuala Lumpur

#9: Argo – Hong Kong

#10: The Aubrey – Hong Kong

#11: Virtù – Hong Kong

#12: The Cocktail Club – Jakarta

#13: Vesper – Bangkok

#14: Hope & Sesame – Guangzhou

#15: Sago House – Singapore

#16: Night Hawk – Singapore

#17: Darkside – Hong Kong

#18: Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar – Bangkok

#19: The Savory Project – Hong Kong

#20: Bar Cham – Seoul

#21: Bar Us – Bangkok

#22: The St. Regis Bar – Macau

#23: The SG Club – Tokyo

#24: Penicillin – Hong Kong

#25: Offtrack – Singapore

#26: Quinary – Hong Kong

#27: Pantja – Jakarta

#28: Craftroom – Osaka

#29: Smoke & Bitters – Hiriketiya

#30: Vender – Taichung

#31: Native – Singapore

#32: Origin Bar – Singapore

#33: The Curator – Manila

#34: The Bellwood – Tokyo

#35: Analogue Initiative – Singapore

#36: Bar Trigona – Kuala Lumpur

#37: Bar Mood – Taipei

#38: Employees Only – Singapore

#39: Barc – Kathmandu

#40: ZLB23 – Bengaluru

#41: Reka – Kuala Lumpur

#42: Fura – Singapore

#43: CMYK – Changsha

#44: The Public House – Taipei

#45: Mostly Harmless – Hong Kong

#46: Alice – Seoul

#47: The Haflington – Hanoi

#48: Le Chamber – Seoul

#49: Atlas – Singapore

#50: Pine & Co – Seoul

There is also four Malaysian bars who have made it into the extended list. Read more about it here.