Must-see nightlife in Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei

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    Employees Only

    Chinatown & the CBD

    This outpost of the famous New York cocktail bar of the same name has brought a slice of big city buzz to Singapore, along with a dazzling array of…

  • Atlas

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Straight out of 1920s Manhattan, this cocktail lounge is an art deco–inspired extravaganza, adorned with ornate bronze ceilings and low-lit plush lounge…

  • Suzie Wong

    Kuala Lumpur

    Push aside the heavy curtain at the end of a clubby bar to discover the wild goings-on at this old Hong Kong–style speakeasy cocktail bar. Expect a…

  • Manhattan

    Singapore

    Step back in time to the golden age of fine drinking at this handsome Mad Men–esque bar, where long-forgotten cocktails come back to life. Grouped by eras…

  • Operation Dagger

    Chinatown & the CBD

    From the cloud-like light sculpture to the boundary-pushing cocktails, extraordinary is the keyword here. To encourage experimentation, libations are…

  • 28 HongKong Street

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    Softly lit 28HKS plays hide-and-seek inside an unmarked 1960s shophouse. Slip inside and into a slinky scene of cosy booths and passionate mixologists…

  • Native, drinks

    Native

    Chinatown & the CBD

    This hidden bar in hotspot-heavy Amoy St is the brainchild of bartender extraordinaire Vijay Mudaliar – formerly of Operation Dagger – and his concoctions…

  • Three Little Birds. The well-trained baristas also whips up a good filter coffee

    Three Little Birds

    Kuala Lumpur

    Top-tier coffee bar and micro-roaster Three Little Birds is manned by the pioneers of third-wave coffee culture in KL: Michael Wilson and wife Amirah…

  • Tippling Club

    Tippling Club

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Tippling Club propels mixology to dizzying heights, with a technique and creativity that could turn a teetotaller into a born-again soak. Sample the…

  • Other Room

    Singapore

    You'll find this hidden drinking house, a throwback to a bygone era, behind a secret door in the Singapore Marriott lobby – ring the doorbell for entry…

  • Zouk

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    This legendary super club has been pumping beats since 1991 and draws in some of the world's biggest DJs and Singapore's seen-to-be-seen crowd. This is…

  • Smoke & Mirrors

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    Oozing style, this rooftop bar offers one of the best views of Singapore. Perched on the top of the National Gallery, the vista looks out over the Padang…

  • Calanthe Art Cafe

    Melaka City

    Fancy a full-bodied Johor or classic Perak white? Sip a coffee inspired by your favourite Malaysian state at this perky place. The coffee is excellent,…

  • Drunk Monkey Old Street Bar

    Kuching

    This bar attracts a relaxed crowd of tourists and locals. There's a nightly BBQ of meaty skewers (7pm to midnight) and you'll find menus from nearby…

  • Landing Point

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    For a decadent high tea, it's hard to beat the one at this chichi waterside lounge. Book ahead (one week for weekdays, one month for weekends), style up,…

  • Nylon Coffee Roasters

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Hidden away in the Everton Park public housing complex, this pocket-sized, standing-room-only cafe and roastery has an epic reputation for phenomenal…

  • Vinum Exchange

    Kuala Terengganu

    Equal parts cafe, bar, restaurant and wine shop, Vinum Exchange is a game changer for Kuala Terengganu. The stylish interior features a great selection of…

  • Seraph Awaken

    Malaysia

    Coffee making is approached with scientific precision by Cheau See and Chun Hoong, who serve hand-brewed drip coffee from a counter laden with beakers and…

  • Ruai Bar

    Kuching

    This self-styled 'Modern Dayak' bar features a mash-up of modern and indigenous design, and there's occasional live music – including metal and local hip…

  • RGB at the Bean Hive

    Kuala Lumpur

    This is what you get when a boutique coffee roaster teams up with health-conscious cooks in a quiet green oasis. RBG serves excellent hand-drip and…

  • Tanjong Beach Club

    Sentosa Island

    Tanjong Beach Club is an evocative spot, with loungers on the sand, a small, stylish pool for guests, and a sultry, lounge-and-funk soundtrack – perfect…

  • Café Lumière

    Malaysia

    With guitars, clocks and rock icons set against its whitewashed brick walls, Café Lumière has a loose Parisian theme and an upbeat atmosphere. Daily food…

  • Geographer Cafe

    Melaka City

    A swinging recorded soundtrack of jazz and classic pop keeps the beers flowing at this traveller magnet. The first cafe to open on Jonker St (in 1999), it…

  • Ming Cafe

    Miri

    This ever-busy corner bar stocks 25 imported bottled beers and has several on tap, including Paulaner wheat beer. The drinks menu also lists Australian…

  • Heesan Kopi

    Melaka City

    Brought to us by the female entrepreneur behind Backlane Coffee, this member of Jonker St's coterie of design cafes is a winner, offering excellent…

  • Only One

    Kota Bharu

    This is one of the few bars that serves wine (Spanish and Australian) to accompany surprisingly good Thai and Western food. The open-sided design makes it…

  • Chye Seng Huat Hardware

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    An art deco former hardware store provides the setting and name for Singapore's coolest cafe and roastery, its third-wave offerings including on-tap Nitro…

  • Bar Trigona

    Kuala Lumpur

    The signature drink at this glittering cocktail bar on level six of the Four Seasons Hotel lives up to its name, which is 'nectar'. Made with light rum,…

  • Arnold Cycling Cafe

    Kota Bharu

    The cycling part of this contemporary-styled cafe refers to some of the decoration, which also includes bare-branched trees and suspended coffee-bean…

  • Mugshot Cafe

    George Town

    Asian breakfast not your thing? Stop into this eclectic cafe to be transported West for a meal. The options include huge mugs of coffee, wood-fired bagels…

  • October Coffee House

    Kota Kinabalu

    October is welcoming with a wood-accented interior and cosy mezzanine, arguably the best coffee in town, herbal teas, French toast, juices and cakes. The…

  • Yellow Café

    Pulau Langkawi

    The best bar in Pantai Cenang has a mellow soundtrack, seating at yellow tables, on yellow beanbags or in yellow hammocks, and a big menu of beach snacks…

  • Urban Cafe

    Sandakan

    A favourite with young, laptop-toting locals and coffee fiends, this cafe is well worth the detour to Bandar Utama. There are cosy couches to lounge…

  • Tea Chapter

    Tea Chapter

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip dropped by this tranquil teahouse in 1989, and for S$10 you can sit at the table they sipped at. A minimum charge of S$8…

  • Bar and pool , Lantern

    Lantern

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    It may be lacking in height (it's dwarfed by the surrounding CBD buildings) and serve its drinks in plastic glasses (scandalous!), but Lantern remains a…

  • Kilo Lounge

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Known as one of Singapore's best clubs, Kilo Lounge is not to be missed by those who love letting loose. You'll have to search around to find the door …

  • FOC Sentosa

    Sentosa Island

    A tiny slice of Barcelona on Palawan Beach, this vibrantly striped hang-out is perfect for lazing the afternoon away either by the compact infinity pool…

  • CÉ LA VI SkyBar

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    Perched on Marina Bay Sands' cantilevered SkyPark, this bar offers a jaw-dropping panorama of the Singapore skyline and beyond. A dress code kicks in from…

  • Maison Ikkoku The Art of Mixology

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Pimped with modern, industrial finishes and flushes of greenery, Maison Ikkoku The Art of Mixology is where real magic happens. There's no menu, so let…

  • Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    Get that in-the-know glow at this sneaky cocktail den, perched above the tacky Boat Quay pubs. Adorned with vintage Hong Kong posters and feeling more…

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