Anybody who has been to Chinatown will agree that the place is just chock full of things to do, see, eat and of course drink. You've read our Chinatown for breakfast list, now check out the watering holes to hit when the sun goes down.

BarZhen

This oriental-themed speakeasy is quite hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for. Keep an eye out for a mural of two birds; BarZhen's entrance faces it. A short trip up some rickety stairs will bring you to a warmly lit space decorated with red curtains and tin lanterns. The drinks, crafted by award-winning Giri Pancha, are obviously Asian-influenced. Ladies nights are every Wednesday.

Address: 5, Lorong Panggung, Off Jalan Balai Polis, Petaling Street, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +6010 294 7074
Website: https://www.facebook.com/barzhen/
Operation Time: Closed on Mondays. Wed – Thu: 5pm – 2.30am; Sat – Sun: 5pm – 3am

Google map:

[Photos: BarZhen]

 

The Berlin KL

 A hip place to hangout in KL, the bar hosts some of the coolest parties with personalities favoured by the KL’s It crowd. There are also week-long promotions; Sundays are for buy-one-free-one Mojitos all day! Outfitted with neon signs (every hip place's staple), a brick bar, graffiti walls and a wide dance floor (that's cleared of tables on themed nights), the Berlin KL definitely lives up to its name. Happy hour promotions run from Mondays to Thursdays at 6pm to 10pm.

Address: 208, Jalan Tun HS Lee, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 2022 2111
Website: https://www.theberlinkl.com/
Operation Time: Closed on Tuesdays. Mon, Wed & Sun: 6pm – 2am; Thu, Fri & Sat: 6pm – 3am

Google map:

[Photos: The Berlin KL]

 

Botak Liquor

Botak Liquor, located right above Chocha Foodstore, specialises in botanically-derived cocktails. It's also one of the first bars in KL that offers said libations on draft. Everything that goes into making your drinks here are grown right under its roof, even its coasters are actual leaves. Botak's drinks also taste as quirky (in a good way) as they sound. You can even customise your own cocktail – just choose from a selection of ingredients and spirits provided.

Address: 156, Jalan Petaling, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 2022 1100
Website: https://www.facebook.com/BOTAKLiquor/
Operation Time: Closed on Mondays and Thursdays. Tue – Sat: 4.30pm – 1am; Sun: 2pm – 11pm

Google map:

[Photos: Botak Liquor]

 

Chinaz Café & Bar

Located on the first floor of The Five Elements Hotel, Chinaz Bar & Café now shares its space with Yumcha Café. Besides Malaysian dishes like fried rice and the like, the café also serves beer, coffee, tea and fresh juices. A place to rest your feet and replenish after a long walk in town.

Address: No. 243, Level 1, The Five Elements Hotel, Jalan Sultan, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +6012 639 8222
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ChinazCafe/
Operation Time: Daily: 7.30am – 1am

Google map:

[Photo: Chinaz Café & Bar]

 

The Deceased

If spooky stuff and gore is your jam, then The Deceased is the place for you. This speakeasy stands out from the sea of cocktail bars in town thanks to its scream factor. Its creepy stairwell – smeared with bloody handprints no less – is dimly lit by bulbs wrapped in talismans while the mood of the space is set by the eerie tune playing in the bar. The cocktails served here are crafted by Steven Wan and they definitely echo the bar's bone-chilling vibe. Call in and make reservations to get a passcode to enter.

Address: 55, Jalan Sultan, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 2715 7492
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thedeceasedkl/
Operation Time: Daily: 6pm – 2am

Google map:

 

Geographer Café KL

Besides some good food, you can also find beer, mocktails, house wines, and coffee here at Geographer Café. A hotspot favoured by backpackers and locals, the Geographer also has live music performances on selected nights. It's an ideal place to wind down and begin an evening of drinking.

Address: 93, Jalan Tun H S Lee, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 2022 2193
Website: https://www.facebook.com/geographerkl/
Operation Time: Mon – Thu: 11am – 11pm; Fri: 11am – 12am; Sat: 10am – 12am; Sun: 10am – 10pm

Google map:

[Photo: Geographer KL]

 

Nosh, Tipple & Brew

This restaurant slash bar slash café is the perfect place for a casual brunch meet-up or a gossip session over drinks at night. Its extensive libations menu caters to every kind of crowd – there's wine, aperitif, liqueur, spirits, beers, ciders to teas and coffees. Its fancy interiors – paper umbrellas, intricate wallpaper and a sleek wooden bar – are bound to beckon you in. If you're looking for a place that has it all in Chinatown, this is probably it.

Address: Ground floor, Bangunan Ming Annexe, Jalan Ampang 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 2078 8830
Website: https://www.noshtipplebrew.com/
Operation Time: Closed on Sundays. Mon – Fri: 8am – 12am; Sat: 11.30am – 12am

Google map:

[Photos: Nosh Tipple & Brew]

 

Omakase + Appreciate

One of Asia's Top 10 Bars, Omakase + Appreciate is the speakeasy bar that kicked started the trend when it opened in 2013. Established by Karl Too and Shawn Chong, the bar – hidden away behind a rundown 'Do Not Enter' sign – specialises in an ever-changing cocktail menu. Don't be shy here, go ‘down’ and have a chat with the bartender and you'll find your cocktails crafted perfectly to suit your preferences.

Address: Bangunan Ming Annexe, Jalan Ampang 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/OmakaseAppreciate/
Operation Time: Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Tue – Fri: 5pm – 1am; Sat: 9pm – 1am
Telephone No.: +603 2033 2238

Google map:

[Photos: Omakase + Appreciate]

 

PS150

If you know Merchant's Lane, you would know PS150, one of the city's most popular bars to date. The bar is split into three sections that reflect different eras of Indochina history; its interior is a mashup of an old Chinese convenience shop and an abandoned warehouse space. The cocktail list is also divided into five eras – Vintage, Prohibition, Tiki, Disco and Contemporary. Each category offers key cocktails from the respective eras with a modern twist.

Address: 150, Jalan Petaling, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 76228777
Website: http://www.ps150.my
Operation Time: Closed on Mondays. Tue – Sat: 6pm – 2am; Sun: 4pm – 12am

Google map:

[Photos: PS150]

 

Reggae Bar

Back then Reggae Bar was the only bar in Chinatown so you could call it the OG Bar. Decorated in mostly red, yellow and green colours, Reggae Bar is all about the Bob Marley tunes – we'd expect nothing less seeing as how the music legend's face is plastered on the walls. The bar's tagline 'Love All, Feed All' also adds to the One Love vibe that made it popular amongst travellers and locals alike.

Address: 158, Jalan Tun HS Lee, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +603 2026 7690
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ReggaeBarKL
Operation Time: Daily: 12am – 2am 

Google map:

[Photo: Reggae Bar]

 

Shuang Xi

This old-school looking bar caters to a limited number of customers each night; the sales made in the bar are channelled to a community of local artists. Rickety stools, wooden tables, a bathtub filled with greenery and antique items like a phonograph decorate the space. There are also carpets to lounge around on. The menu here is simple and focuses on cocktails with fruity or sweet flavours. Shuang Xi occasionally hosts macramé classes, flea markets, and even tattoo sessions.

Address: 177, Jalan Tun HS Lee, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telephone No.: +6014 944 5130
Website: https://www.facebook.com/shuangxi177/
Operation Time: Closed on Mondays. Tue – Sun: 9pm – 3am

Google map:

[Photo: Shuang Xi Facebook]

 

Under9

Located in a basement of a restaurant, this club throws some of the raddest dance parties. From bashes that celebrate the queer community to local indie performers, Under9 has got them all. And it comes with a super affordable entry fee of RM15! Sometimes, Under9 presents movie and art nights too.

[Photo: Under9]