Swing By the ‘Page II by A SIP’ Speakeasy Bar in Penang for Infused Cocktails & Chill Vibes

Located on Argyll Road in Georgetown, you could easily drive by and miss it due to its nondescript signage and discreet entrance, which is the whole idea of a speakeasy.

In the 1920s, speakeasies were illegally operated bars hidden in plain sight in the US. Although they aren’t illegal anymore, speakeasies usually sport a vintage aesthetic, with dim lighting, and serve prohibition-era cocktails in addition to their main menu (they offer the Old-Fashioned and Whiskey Highball).

The Venue

With wooden touches throughout the space, they have implemented the wabi-sabi style, emphasising simplicity, natural materials, and the beauty of imperfection with exposed ceiling beams. The main highlight of the place was naturally the bar, where customers could converge and ask the friendly bartender, Alex, to whip up something off-menu.

People come here for the drinks and laid-back atmosphere, so a definite plus was that there weren’t grumpy old dudes trying to hit on you at the bar. Note that it is also pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends with you and not have to rush home to see your pup.

What we appreciated about this spot is that they played a decent playlist that wasn’t too loud and allowed you to have a conversation without shouting over the music. Sadly, we didn’t know before we visited, but there are also performances of different instruments every Thursday and Friday, such as the violin, saxophone, or piano. If you are musically inclined, you can also get a free cocktail if you play a piano piece, which is really neat.

Page II also has an extensive Western food menu of sandwiches, tapas, and main courses. We tried the tortilla chips with sour cream and guacamole (RM21), which was a generous portion of Chachos, and you can’t go wrong with that.

We ordered their speciality, an Old-Fashioned Grilled Chicken (RM25) with a side of mashed potatoes, brown sauce, and some tiny tomatoes. The chicken thigh was nicely grilled and tender but we wish the mashed potatoes were a bit creamier.

Meanwhile, we also tucked into the Grilled Lamb Shoulder (decently priced at RM39), which has a huge 170g lamb and the same sides as the Old Fashioned Grilled Chicken. Unfortunately, we’d recommend skipping this one as the lamb was too tough.

This is where Page II shines. It has an extensive drinks menu comprising shots, classic cocktails, martinis, margaritas, wine, draught beer, and liquor, including infused liquor. The star of their menu is their infused cocktails, but there are only five varieties so far. However, they are planning on expanding the menu.

We tried two infused cocktails (RM45 each), which arrived adorned with edible flowers and filled to the brim. One of these was the Salted Plum Mangoes, a delicious mix of asam boi gin, lime juice, mango syrup, orange bitters, and egg white that was refreshing without being overly sour.

We also downed the Chrysanthemum Lady, which consisted of chrysanthemum-infused gin and sugar syrup. It had a lovely floral scent and just the right amount of gin.

Bartender Alex also whipped an off-menu grapefruit drink made of grapefruit, Campari, Aperol, lime juice, and sugar syrup. The Aperol worked beautifully to counter the bitterness of the Campari. This is one for those who enjoy fresh, citrus flavours.

Additionally, we also took a shot of Fallen Frog (RM25 per shot), which is a party in a glass and looks extraterrestrial. Although a combination of melon liqueur, Irish cream, and a dash of grenadine syrup may sound weird, the crazily layered shot tasted incredible.

Page II also boasts an interesting infused liquor menu, with concoctions such as bak kwa (dried pork) bourbon and bak kut teh vodka, which appear during festive seasons.