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Malay Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Four Malaysian bars named in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025: Penrose remains the top bar in Malaysia at No. 10, while Three X Co leaps to No. 15
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Last night, at a glitzy ceremony in the Wynn Palace, Macao, four Malaysian bars were recognised in the 2025 edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars. Penrose retained its title as The Best Bar in Malaysia for the second consecutive year, placing at No. 10 after previously soaring as high as No. 8 in 2024. Jon Lee's sleek operation in Petaling Street has rapidly become one of Kuala Lumpur's most popular bars over the past year, and its momentum continued with the May opening of his latest concept, Lavantha. The team behind Penrose, which retained its title as The Best Bar in Malaysia despite slipping to 10th on the list. — Picture courtesy of Penrose This new venture is located in a refurbished bank vault inside the recently launched Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown. However, it was Three X Co's surge to No. 15 that garnered significant attention. Hidden away on the third floor of Bangsar Shopping Centre, the bar has been an integral part of the Klang Valley cocktail bar scene since it was founded in 2017. The team at Three X Co, which ranked No. 15 on the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list. — Picture courtesy of Three X Co It first appeared on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list at No. 47 in 2021, and last year, it ranked 56th on the extended 51-100 list. Last year also marked a significant appointment for Three X Co, as Amanda Wan was named head bartender. A seasoned figure in Malaysian bartending, Wan previously served as beverage development manager for Hong Kong's Tastings Group, known for acclaimed establishments like Quinary, a regular on the 50 Best list famed for its inventive Earl Grey caviar martini. Amanda Wan, head bartender at Three X Co. — Picture courtesy of Three X Co She then worked in New York and Singapore before returning to Malaysia. At Three X Co, Wan's 'Indi V Duality' menu features a mixture of classic cocktails with a twist, like the Whimsy Wabbit, a riff on a lychee martini featuring a jelly rabbit, and original creations inspired by a taste of home, like the Ayu Ayumi, an aperitif made with sake, soda and clarified pandan inspired by the classic Chinese steamed white cake, bak tong gou. Reka Bar in Bukit Damansara, known for its lab-like setting and innovative, almost scientific approach to cocktails, placed at No. 47, marking the second time it has appeared on the list since debuting at No. 41 last year. The team behind Reka Bar. — Picture courtesy of Reka Bar A longtime Malaysian representative on the list, Bar Trigona continued its streak of making the list for a sixth consecutive year, placing at No. 39. Located in the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, it was the first Malaysian bar to place on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2020, when it ranked 44th, and also previously won the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award in 2022. This year, Penang's Backdoor Bodega became just the second Malaysian bar to win the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award. The team behind Backdoor Bodega, who pulled off a massive surprise by winning the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for 2025. — Picture courtesy of Backdoor Bodega The self-described 'overpriced pin shop' where guests purchase lapel pins at the bar to 'redeem' cocktails was founded in George Town, Penang, in 2016. It re-entered the extended 51-100 list at No. 64 this year after first making the list at No. 97 in 2022.
The Star
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
4 Malaysian bars on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list, Penang bar wins best menu
Malaysia's cocktail scene enjoyed one of its best showings on the annual Asia's 50 Best Bars list, as four bars made it into the Top 50, with one bar in the Top 10. — Photos: 50 Best Bars Malaysia's cocktail scene enjoyed one of its best showings on the annual Asia's 50 Best Bars list, as four bars made it into the Top 50, with one bar in the Top 10. Petaling Street cocktail bar Penrose retained its title as the Best Bar In Malaysia, ranking No.10 this year, dropping just two spots from its No.8 placing in last year's list. Bangsar bar Three X Co made a stunning return into the Top 50 at No.15, its best placing on the list since making its debut at No.47 in 2021. Two other Kuala Lumpur bars were also listed – Bar Trigona (No.39) and Reka:Bar (No.47). The tenth edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars, was announced at a live awards ceremony in Macau on July 15, in collaboration with destination partners Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace. Penang's Backdoor Bodega won the Best Cocktail Menu Award at the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025. Penang bar Backdoor Bodega pulled off a surprise when it won the Best Cocktail Menu Award 2025 for its 'The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang' menu, which "surpasses the traditional drinks list idea to create an all-singing celebration of its unique locality". While it didn't make it into the Top 50, Backdoor Bodega did place No.64 on the extended 51-100 list which was announced last week, together with Bangsar favourite Coley at No.92. Hong Kong's Bar Leone topped the list for the second year running. This year's list featured bars from 20 cities across Asia, including 20 new entries. Hong Kong's Bar Leone was crowned The Best Bar in Asia for the second year running, with Seoul's Zest at No.2 and Singapore's Jigger And Pony at No.3, an exact repeat of last year's Top 3. Chinese bartender Andrew Ho of Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame won the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award 2024 for his role in elevating Mainland China's drinks scene to new heights. The Asia's 50 Best Bars list is voted upon by a region-wide Academy comprising a gender-balanced group of bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail aficionados, all of whom place independent and anonymous votes for what they believe constitutes a 'best bar experience'. Penrose By maintaining its Top 10 position, Penrose continues to fly the flag for Malaysian hospitality, with its on functionalism and simplicity, while providing an intimate atmosphere that allows for engaging conversations between bartender and customer. Founder Jon Lee and his team recently opened a new outlet called Lavantha, also located around the city centre. Three X Co The big Malaysian story of this year's list is the reentry of Three X Co at its highest ever position, at No.15. Located in Bangsar Shopping Centre, the bar been one of mainstays in the KL bar scene since it was founded in 2017. It made its debut at No. 47 on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list in 2021, and this year, it stormed back into the Top 50 on the back of a strong cocktail programme by Head Bartender Amanda Wan, and a reputation of being one of the most hospitable bars in town. Bar Trigona At No.39, Bar Trigona continued its strong presence on the list for the sixth year running. Located at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the bar was the first Malaysian bar to make it on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2020. With head bartender Darwin Ng at the helm, the bar sets the standard for sustainable bar practices by focusing on Malaysian produce. The bar is currently celebrating its seventh anniversary with a look back at some of the best cocktails it has created over the last seven year. Reka:Bar Reka Bar, which had broken into the Top 50 last year the first time at No. 41, placed at No.47 this time around. A self-styled 'post-modern flavour lab' located at Damansara Heights, the bar is like a cross between a chill out lounge club and a space-age laboratory. Led by head bartender Joel Poon, the bar team creates unique and complex, yet clean and flavourful drinks through a myriad of techniques, including infusion, clarification, distillation and more.
