Malaysia's vibrant bar scene has once again garnered international recognition, bringing immense pride to the nation as an impressive number of its establishments secured coveted spots on the prestigious Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list. This outstanding achievement is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and unparalleled talent within our local hospitality industry, cementing Malaysia's position as a rising star on the global cocktail map.
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1. Penrose – Kuala Lumpur
Ranked #10 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and named Best Bar in Malaysia, Penrose is emblematic of minimalist precision, with cocktails built around a five‑pillar structure: alcohol, taste, body, flavour, and dilution
Signature drinks like the Penrose Gibson (sake vinegar, leek, shio kombu) and Ume Fuji (fuji apple, rhubarb) redefine modern classics
2. Three X Co – Kuala Lumpur
At #15 in Asia’s Top 50, Three X Co leapt upwards in 2025 thanks to creative menus like the “Indi V Duality”. Expect playful riffs like Whimsy Wabbit (lychee martini with jelly rabbit) and Ayu Ayumi (sake, clarified pandan) inspired by bak tong gou
Ranked #39, Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons has been on the list for seven consecutive years, leading Malaysia’s luxury cocktail scene with locally sourced ingredients like trigona honey and its signature Trigona Old Fashioned
Its “Handpicked by Trigona” curated menu revisits iconic standout cocktails from the bar’s history up to the current Colour Me Curious 2.0 edition
Ranked #47 on Asia’s list, Reka:Bar operates like a sensory cocktail lab. Expect clarified, distilled, and fermented innovations like the famed Naughty Congee, a warm umami‑driven drink inspired by Chinese porridge
Within the extended 51-100 list:
5. Backdoor Bodega – Penang
Listed at #64 in the extended Top 100, this speakeasy behind a pin shop embodies bold storytelling, hosting award‑winning menus inspired by Penang flavours. The Georgetown Gimlet, riffing on assam laksa with tamarind, belacan, torch ginger, is a standout
It also won the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award 2025
6. Coley – Kuala Lumpur
Ranked #92 in the extended list, Coley is a casual neighbourhood institution blending simple yet elegant twists, like the tropical Gin & Coconut (gin with fresh coconut water) or Dragon Eye (longan, monk fruit, apricot). Regularly on the list since 2018, it remains reliably excellent
