How to soak up the nightlife in Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang has always been the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s social scene – especially after the sun sets. From luxurious champagne clubs to small, experimental resto-bars, the streets of Bukit Bintang are bustling with life after dark. For a true taste of KL, look to some of the city’s transformed spaces: converted cinemas, converted shophouses and reimagined villas offer an immersive experience that can’t be found anywhere else.  

Drop by Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang for a cocktail

Whether it’s a solo sundowner to take the edge off a long day at work, pre-dinner drinks with friends or a catch-up well into the night, you’ll find the right atmosphere at Drinx. The star of the show is gin – you can choose from a classic gin and tonic or go for one of the more innovative concoctions like the Pegu Cocktail (a mix of Bombay Gin, Orange Curacao and Angostura bitter). The bar is well-stocked with other favourites as well, from international beers to ciders and wine.

Sip on a reinvented G&T at Pahit, one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars

It’s all about gin – and awards – at Pahit. Named one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2021, this establishment is lauded for its array of gins and knowledge of pairings. The low-key space is tucked away in a 1920s house, arranged around a courtyard ideal for long, late-night conversations.

Explore a world of gin at Pahit, which offers interesting, independent spirits sourced from all over the world: Four Pillars from Australia, Von Hallers from Germany and LoneWolf from Scotland, to name just a few. And while its modern gin-based cocktails are excellent (look out for its contemporary take on the colonial Gin Pahit cocktail), you can’t go wrong with a classic gin and tonic. New gins, new tonics and new flavours are constantly bolstering its line-up – we especially love its work with local fruit. Jackfruit G&T, anyone?

Where: 3 Jalan Sin Chew Kee, Kuala Lumpur , 5-minute drive from Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang

Hop away from the crowds at The Rabbit Hole

If the bright lights and busy streets of KL are getting to you, you’ll find some serenity at The Rabbit Hole. This Art Deco villa has carved out a private resort-like oasis right on Changkat Bukit Bintang, complete with an Instagram-friendly pool – those interested in actually taking a dip will need to book the whole area for a private event.

Plus: The Rabbit Hole is one of the few bars in KL to offer cocktails on tap, created by TAP TAP. The 12 innovative cocktails are helpfully charted out for you from smooth to concentrated; low to high alcohol content. Our suggestion is to ease your way into the night with For Chrys Sake, a boozy take on the regional favourite chrysanthemum tea, brightened with lemon and elderflower notes.  

Where: 14 & 16 Changkat Bukit Bintang , Kuala Lumpur, 15-minute walk from Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang  

Savour natural wines and small plates at Small Shifting Space

The one thing that you can depend on at Small Shifting Space is that it’s always evolving. It’s in the very nature of this experimental restaurant and natural wine bar, which was previously a brothel and a coffin house.

The kitchen acts as a residence for a rotation of chefs to take over, a month at a time, testing out new dishes, flavours and combinations. One day it could be beef bresaola and radish croquettes; the next it’s duck fat potato pavé crowned with Sevruga caviar. 

Matching up perfectly with the ever-changing food menu is an excellent lineup of natural and biodynamic wines. The Amador Medrano Rose is a favourite among regulars, but take the time to peruse the full menu to find your new favourite – orange wines are particularly well-represented here.

Where: 141 Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur , 10-minute drive from Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang
https://www.instagram.com/smallshiftingspace/

Sip on shochu highballs at Shhhbuuuleee

To get to Shhhbuuuleee, you have to first wind your way through to the top level of BookXcess, the bookstore so beloved on Instagram. Once you’ve located the neon sign and stepped inside, you’ll find yourself in a stylish, unpretentious al fresco bar where sake and highballs are the order of the day.

Shhhbuuuleee prides itself on its extensive array of sakes and shochus, but the real draw is the innovative lineup of highball cocktails. If you only have time for one, make it the signature Yuzu-Hi, a deceptively light concoction of shochu, Nimbura lemon and yuzu. And if that convinces you to stay for a second, order yourself a Mikan-Hi, which pairs the mandarin orange notes of Aragoshi Mikan with Imo shochu.  

Where: RexKL, 80 Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur , 7-minute drive from Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang

Treat yourself to the finest caviar at Maristar

From the same people that brought you the very glamorous Marini’s on 57 comes this new fashion and seafood concept bar. Maristar does classic luxury very well, with its gold- and velvet-accented decor and illustrious caviar and oyster menu. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, look no further than the caviar selection: Oscietra or Beluga Siberian caviar, served alongside crispy bread, condiments, truffle pasta and your choice of vodka shots or Taittinger Brut. 

If you can, time your visit to coincide with oyster happy hour on Wednesday nights, when all of the bar’s oysters, from Fine de Claire to Tragheanna Bay, are 20% off. 

Where: The Starhill, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur , 3-minute walk from Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang

Try innovative new cocktails at The Rex Bar

The Rex Bar has a lot to boast about. Its central location within the converted old Rex Cinema is one, taking pride of place in the lively night market-style The Back Ground. Its clientele of young, trendy KLites is another. But the biggest is this: award-winning mixologist Angel Ng, famous around the region for her innovative use of flavour, is the bar’s general manager. And you can really tell from the menu, which builds on familiar local flavours in exciting new ways.  

There’s sparkling tuak (Sarawakian rice wine) and classic highballs on tap, but what customers really want are Angel’s handmade cocktails. A crowd favourite is Tales of Kopitiam Uncle, an easy-drinking highball of sake and yuzu tonic, with a distinctive salty-sweet finish from salted mandarin. Or try Jacky Joseph Junior, a sparkling combination of Jameson Black Barrel, jackfruit tea and club soda – so named for Angel’s son.   

Where: RexKL, 80 Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur , 7-minute drive from Capri by Fraser, Bukit Bintang