A vital part of every Malaysian’s DNA is our vast array of cuisines from fine dining to local dishes, and it also extends to our burgeoning bar scene. Two Malaysian bars––Bar Trigona and Penrose KL have clinched spots on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, as reported by CNN.
Bar Trigona, located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, is placed at no.36, the highest spot for any bar in KL. Meanwhile, Penrose KL on Jalan Petaling narrowly landed a spot at no.50, making its mark as a newcomer on the list.
The winners were announced at a celebratory event on 18 July at the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong at the first full-scale gathering in Asia since 2019. The Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy which comprises 260 members, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia's bar scene, had a hand in creating the list. Hong Kong’s COA was crowned first place for the third year in a row. A total of 17 cities and 12 countries were included on the list.
Bar Trigona is no stranger to the scene, being recognised as The Best Bar in Malaysia for the sixth year running. Rohan Matmary, Trigona’s head bartender and bar manager, spoke to CNN Travel during the ceremony during his first-ever trip to Hong Kong. “It’s amazing to represent Malaysia,” Noting that much of the country’s population is Muslim and doesn’t drink alcohol, he explained that “the (bar) scene is small, but it’s growing as fast as it can.”
The bar also posted their win on their Instagram page: "We’re incredibly thrilled to share that we have been named the no.36 best bar in Asia by 50 Best Bars. Thank you for your unwavering support, this one is for ALL of you who believed in us!”
Penrose KL is a newcomer to the scene, having opened in August 2022. The theme of the luxurious bar in Chinatown was inspired by English mathematician, Roger Penrose, regarded as one of the greatest living physicists.
Jon Lee, the former bartender of Tippling Club Singapore is the bar’s pioneer and uses the five-fold symmetry in Penrose’s tiling to make cocktails, with five elements included in each drink.
The full list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 is as follows:
1. COA (Hong Kong)
2. Jigger & Pony (Singapore)
3. BKK Social Club (Bangkok)
4. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo)
5. Zest (Seoul)
6. Tropic City (Bangkok)
7. Nutmeg and Clove (Singapore)
8. Argo (Hong Kong)
9. Darkside (Hong Kong)
10. Sago House (Singapore)
11. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei)
12. Vesper (Bangkok)
13. Cham Bar (Seoul)
14. The SG Club (Tokyo)
15. Analogue Initiative (Singapore)
16. Republic (Singapore)
17. The Aubrey (Hong Kong)
18. Sidecar (New Delhi)
19. The Cocktail Club (Jakarta)
20. Virtù (Tokyo)
21. Manhattan (Singapore)
22. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok)
23. Lamp Bar (Nara)
24. 28 HongKong Street (Singapore)
25. Le Chamber (Seoul)
26. Penicillin (Hong Kong)
27. Atlas (Singapore)
28. Alice (Seoul)
29. Pantja (Jakarta)
30. Employees Only (Singapore)
31. Quinary (Hong Kong)
32. Stay Gold Flamingo (Singapore)
33. Mostly Harmless (Hong Kong)
34. The Curator (Manila)
35. The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai)
36. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur)
37. Southside Parlor (Seoul)
38. Copitas (Bengaluru)
39. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou)
40. Smoke & Bitters (Hiriketiya)
41. Vender (Taichung)
42. Native (Singapore)
43. The Public House (Taipei)
44. Bee’s Knees (Kyoto)
45. High Five (Tokyo)
46. Soko (Seoul)
47. The Old Man (Hong Kong)
48. The Living Room (Mumbai)
49. The Bellwood (Tokyo)
50. Penrose (Kuala Lumpur)
Follow Bar Trigona and Penrose KL on Instagram.
Image credit: @penrose.kl, @bartrigona