You may not presume that a Muslim-majority country like Malaysia would house so many fabulous speakeasies in its capital, but you’d be wrong. In Kuala Lumpur, pretty much anything goes, and the cocktail scene here is burgeoning.
I’ve had heaps of fun venturing to secret bars in KL over the years. Unlike your regular rooftop bar (huc hum, Helipad), they’re generally less commercial, more intimate and serve much better cocktails. Plus, there’s something quite thrilling about finding and drinking somewhere hidden. It’s a bit like geocaching, but with the added bonus of a drink at the end.
This article will bring you a list of the top speakeasies in KL, as well as some awesome cocktail bars! 🙌
But what is a speakeasy?
Born in Prohibition America (1920-1933), they were once small, illicit drinking houses known only to a select few. Venues ranged from dingy basements and backrooms to snazzy clubs with jazz bands and ballroom dance floors.
To prevent getting found out, they would have no signage, a decoy at the entrance and you would need a special password to get in.
Often, they sold some form of cocktail, usually bathtub gin (poor quality, homemade gin that was watered down in the bathtub as bottles were too big for the kitchen sink) or moonshine (illegally distilled, homemade high-proof whiskey) that was mixed with bitters, juice, sugar and fruit garnishes to mask the bad taste of these spirits.
Speakeasies today
Modern-day speakeasies should be modelled on the original concept, with a covert entrance that is unnamed and inconspicuous. They should also offer a predominantly cocktail menu, not serve bottled drinks (as these were once too obvious to mask) and be dimly lit.
Whilst in the twenty-twenties they’re not exclusively ‘word of mouth’ watering holes (the internet has killed anonymity), most can be found online through Facebook pages or websites, and articles such as this. But hey, I’m sure if the web existed during prohibition, then Al Capone himself would have utilised it for illegal operations. 😉
Top Speakeasies in Kuala Lumpur
PS150
Location: Chinatown
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈
These guys don’t call themselves a speakeasy, but most patrons do. From the front, the entrance is filled with toy shop paraphernalia and a sign saying ‘Cheng And Huang Toys and Co’.
But there are three giveaways that something more than dolls and toy cars lies within.
- The bouncer/no flip-flops checker at the door.
- The mildly penetrating music.
- The unfussy painted wooden plank bearing the name PS150 that’s propped discreetly on the right wall.
PS150 is one of my top picks because of its atmosphere. The space is cosy, dimly lit and intimate. Although it fills up on the weekend, it has a great buzz without being annoyingly packed or loud.
The bar is split into 3 sections: The red Opium Den with intimate booths; the airy outdoor courtyard, and the Main bar which has retained much of its pre-war character.
We always opted for classic negronis, but the menu is extensive and covers 5 distinct eras.
(Tip: Book if you wish for a seat at weekends, otherwise you can stand at the bar.)
The Vault
Location: Sri Hartamas
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈
Sitting within a square of low-key restaurants, it’s not an obvious entry door from the street, but there’s a sign just inside. Head upstairs to the vault door and you’ve arrived.
My favourite time to come here is between 6-8, before it starts to get busy. Take a seat at the bar and watch the bartenders work their magic.
They have a great selection of cocktails and spirits, with my favourite being the Asa Akira: Kraken Rum, Antica Formula Rossa, Becherovka (a Czech herbal liqueur), and Cherry Heering.
Although I lived in Prague for two years, I’ve never seen Becherovka in a cocktail. It was highly nostalgic and worked really well within a mixed drink.
Note: I’ve been here after 10 pm on a Friday, and it was completely packed with a DJ. Visit early evening or try a weekday if you want something quieter.
Three X Co
Location: Bangsar Shopping Centre
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈🙈
It’s not every day you come across a speakeasy in a bustling shopping centre, which makes this one an interesting find.
Located on the 3rd floor of BSC, look for the barbers. If it wasn’t for the Ikea blackboard they put out that night with their name written in chalk, then you’d never know that a secret bar lurked behind its walls.
The style is Gatsbyesque and comfortable, but perhaps a bit too well lit.
Cocktails were very well made, and the menu was inventive. My favourite was the English Whisper (you can take the girl out of England…) made with: Earl Grey infused Gin, Fleur de Sureau Sauvage, Bianco Vermouth, Grapefruit Juice & Dried Rose.
They were also the only bar in Kuala Lumpur to be featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for 2026. Go team!
The Attic Bar
Location: Chinatown
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈
This was one that was quite hard to find (I needed to ask for directions!)
At the street level, press the buzzer to gain entry to ‘The Travel Hub guest house’. Go up the first flight of stairs to reach their reception, then turn right and you’ll pass the hostel rooms (it’s pretty cool that they’re still a fully functioning hostel!).
Head up the windy stairs and go up 3 floors until you reach the top, and voila.
The added bonus of this place is that they have a rooftop. It offers a low-key KL view, but it’s nice to drink al fresco at sunset with a Muslim call to prayer echoing in the background, and minus the hefty crowds that other rooftop bars attract.
They have beers on tap and a decent selection of classic cocktails as well as those with a twist. If you’re hungry, they also serve pub grub.
2026 notes: We returned here on our recent trip to KL. Maybe it was the time that we came, or that it’s been 7 years, or perhaps its changed hands, but the cocktails weren’t as good as I remember and the service was pretty meh. The only thing that has improved is the views now that the Merdeka 101 is finished (it was a sad little stump back in 2019!).
The Pawn Room
Location: TTDI
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈
This was one of my favourites, and finding it was a tricky task. Thankfully, there’s always a local willing to guide you in the right direction (cheers dude at the fruit & veg shop downstairs!)
Head through the door with ‘2nd Floor’ written on it. Then go up to the second floor (passing the restaurant called ‘2nd Floor’ on the first floor…confusing!) Go through the iron gate and try to work out where the entrance door is 🧐
(I nearly walked back down when I got to the iron gate!)
This place really opens up and there are multiple cosy areas to chill. It’s been designed to resemble an old Chinese pawn shop and is reminiscent of Shanghai in the 1930s.
We got here early (at 6:00 pm) and it was nice and quiet. The Sailor opted for a Negroni whilst I went for a rum-based omakase treat, complete with a large round ice cube and simple garnish. Both cocktails were perfectly crafted and well balanced.
- Find them on G-Maps
P&C Cocktail Bar
Location: Sri Hartamas
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈🙈🙈
As a KL newbie a few years ago, this was the first secret bar that a friend introduced me to. Located inside a container, left of the now-closed ‘Bricks and Barrels’ pub, you’d easily walk by and not pay any attention to it.
It has an omakase concept (Japanese for ‘I’ll leave it up to you’), so there’s no drinks menu. Instead, you get a tick-list card to select your preferred liquor and flavours. Then the bartender whips you up something special. All the drinks I had here were well-balanced and innovative.
Note: During busier times on the weekends, you may need to stand at the bar and wait for a seat, but the bartenders are helpful to accommodate.
Omakase & Appreciate
Location: Jalan Ampang
Inconspicuous facade: 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈
This one has the most inconspicuous entrance of the lot. I mean, would you try going through this no-entry door [on the right] for drinks?
Sitting discreetly under an office block (called ‘Bangunan Ming and Annexe’), head underground to find your entrance. (I firstly went into the car park 😆 …hey, I’m sure it happens a lot!)
Omakase & Appreciate were the speakeasy game changers in KL. They first opened their doors in 2013, and since then, a whole wave of other secret bars opened up. O&A even made Asia’s Top 50 Bars list in 2016 and 2017.
The bar usually opens at 5 pm, but they were a bit late in opening the evening we arrived. The space is small (I’d say 20 people would be comfy, more would be a squeeze.) Perhaps they were having an off day, but I thought the service was a bit cold when we entered.
Nonetheless, the cocktails were a cut above. I went down the omakase route, requesting a rum-based cocktail. “Sweet or sour?” I went sour. It was perfectly balanced and smooth (lasting no longer than 10 minutes!)
The Sailor went for his favourite (have you guessed by now?) a negroni. I loved the way the bartender prepared it, as he pulled it from shaker to shaker like the traditional Malaysian tea to cool it down. It made the cocktail much smoother.
They also used really good quality spirits for their cocktails. This place could easily become a regular haunt.
- Find them on G-Maps
Bonus Bars (Not Secret)
I couldn’t leave these places off the list. Although they’re not speakeasies (but some are less obvious) they all serve great cocktails and are cool places to hang.
Sometimes, you just want a good bar where you can find the darn door 😉
Jungle Bird
Location: Bukit Damansara
For a pukka night, head to one of the best Indian restaurants around called ‘Flour’ (be sure to book though!), and then wriggle out to visit Jungle Bird.
Named after Malaysia’s only classic cocktail, the Jungle Bird was concocted in 1973 by Jeffrey Ong Swee Teik, who worked at the former Hilton Hotel Aviary Bar on Jalan Sultan Ismail. It was originally made as a welcome drink for the hotel’s guests and has gone on to be internationally recognised and a staple in any KL bar.
The Jungle Bird (bar) is decorated el tropical, so expect bamboo-clad walls with rainforest print and rattan furniture. As well as serving the classic Jungle Bird (dark rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime and simple syrup), they specialise in rum cocktails and have over 100 varieties of the liquor on offer. JB have also regularly made it into Asia’s 50 Best Bars list.
Neo Bar
Location: KLCC
For twin-tower views in the city centre, head to Neo Bar. Perched on the 37th floor of the ILHAM Tower, it opened in 2025 to great reviews.
I haven’t made it there yet (it’s at the top of my list for our next trip), but folks say that the cocktails are creative, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is cosy and sophisticated. The best time to come is at sunset when the skyline pops.
The Sailor and I used to love Coppersmith just across the road (one of Troika’s Sky Dining venues, by Fuegos restaurant), so we’re hoping Neo Bar lives up to it. Once I’ve been, I’ll update this with my own verdict.
Coley
Location: Bangsar
I originally came here because an online publication described this as a secret bar, which it so clearly isn’t!
Nonetheless, Coley is becoming a bit of an institution in Bangsar. It was obvious that it has a strong following of regulars, as it was pumping with trendy Bangsar folk on a Saturday night.
With its unpretentious yet contemporary decor and popular rock beats from the 90’s, it gave me a feeling of being back in a bar in Prague.
Coley is a tribute to late female bartender Ada Coleman, who worked at the Savoy in London during the early 1900’s. Apart from Ada’s famous invention ‘The Hanky Panky’ being visible on the menu, I wasn’t really feeling her connection to the rest of the bar.
Regardless, their craft cocktail menu is a play on the classics but with a contemporary twist and a generous helping of Malaysian flavours. Coley also frequently hits Asia’s Top Bars list.
(Tip: Head for a seat at the bar for the best view and book on weekends.)
Map of the Speakeasies
If you’re a visual planner like me, here’s a map I made showing all the bars mentioned. Just tap the top-right icon to use it on the road with Google Maps. (It also includes where to try different Malaysian dishes from this article!).
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As you can see, I was a bit of a cocktail girl in KL! I hope you enjoy your evenings as much as I did.
If you’re looking for some other cool things to do in the city, check out a self-guided walking tour I made through Chinatown, or see my top 10 fun things to do in KL here.
Big love,
Shezz.xx
Plan Your KL Trip
Now you know where to find the speakeasies, here are a few tips to plan your trip if you’re an out-of-towner.
Where to Stay
Most of the bars listed are based more centrally around KLCC and Chinatown, as well as popular expat burbs like Bangsar and TTDI.
Personally, I prefer staying out of the centre to avoid the hustle and bustle. Bangsar has always been a favourite of mine, and it’s where we stayed on our recent visit. It’s only 15-20 minutes away from Chinatown and KLCC, as well as other bars on this list, and it has plenty of great restaurants to keep you satisfied if you can’t be bothered to leave! (Check out my favourites: Roost for modern European, or Maya for amazing banana leaf).
Bangsar has plenty of comfy, reasonably priced Airbnbs, many of which are in high-rise condos and come with a pool and gym. We bagged a good stay at Alfa for about $120 AUD per night (approx. 345 MYR/ £65)- check out Airbnb’s in Bangsar here. Otherwise, Alila Bangsar would be my top pick for a great-value, mid-range hotel.
If you’d rather be in the action, I’d opt for Chinatown over KLCC. It feels less commercial and is a cool place to explore, with heaps of restaurants and bars. Here are my top picks for great mid-range stays within walking distance of Petaling Street:
- Shero’s Four Points: right opposite Ps150 😉, for your nightcap ease – see more.
- Robertson Panorama Suites: has spacious apartments- over 48 m², with awesome city views (I’d go for one with a balcony)- take a peek.
- Else Kuala Lumpur: for stylish rooms, perched inside a beautifully restored historical building (I like that it’s not a high-rise). It also features a pool, gym, and wellness offerings (including flotation pods and regular mindfulness sessions), which is surprisingly great value- have a look.
Getting Around
Most of these bars are spread across different neighbourhoods, so you’ll likely need to use Grab (Asia’s Uber equivalent) to get to them. This is always how I get around KL, and it’s pretty reasonable, usually RM10-25 between areas. However, the city has a well-connected public transport system if you’re looking to reduce your expenses or carbon footprint- check out the MyRapid journey planner here.
Join a Bar Tour
Admittedly, I’ve done food tours before, but no bar tours… I think the bad tourists that went to Prague put me off when I lived there! But for solo travellers or to have more fun, they can be a great way to explore a new city and meet new people. Check out what’s available on GetYourGuide.
Stay Connected
If your phone supports eSIM (mine’s a dinosaur and doesn’t!), I’d go with Saily. I’ve partnered with them because they’re part of Nord Security (whose VPN I’ve used for years as an expat), and unlike other providers, Saily includes virtual location protection, an ad blocker, and web security built in.
Otherwise, if your phone is incompatible, I’ve always used a local SIM with Hotlink, which has good coverage across Malaysia.
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