Kuala Lumpur cocktail bar Penrose has made its debut on the World's 50 Best Bars list, coming in at No. 98 the extended 51-100 list. — Photo: Handout
Kuala Lumpur cocktail bar Penrose has made its debut on the World's 50 Best Bars, coming in at No. 98 on the extended 51-100 list.
It is only the second Malaysian bar ever to make it on the list – the first ever Malaysian bar to do so was Bar Trigona, which was listed at No. 44 in 2020.
This is the latest in a string of accolades Penrose has picked up in the two years since it opened. In July, it broke into the Top 10 of Asia's 50 Best Bars at No. 8, winning the the Best Bar In Malaysia award in the process.
Since it was founded in 2022 by head bartender Jon Lee, this cocktail bar on Petaling Street has gained a strong reputation for its relatively simple but intimate atmosphere, the warm hospitality of its bartenders, and of course, a strong repertoire of drinks that range from tasty twists on classics to bespoke creations.
The bar's concept focuses on functionalism, simplicity and an intimate atmosphere with bar-counter seating that fosters engaging conversations.
The extended list is a precursor to the live reveal of World's 50 Best Bars 2024 on Oct 22 in Madrid, Spain. The 51-100 list includes bars spanning 35 different cities across the world, and includes 13 bars in Asia, three of which are in Singapore.
Published annually since 2009, the World's 50 Best Bars is a list of the world’s best drinking venues, voted for by an Academy of over 540 experts worldwide. The annual list is decided by a voting panel comprised of more than 700 independent drinks experts, renowned bartenders and educators alongside award-winning drinks writers and cocktail specialists.
Here is the full extended 51-100 list:
- 51. The Bar in Front of the Bar (Athens)
- 52. Kwãnt Mayfair (London)
- 53. Freni e Frizioni (Rome)
- 54. The SG Club (Tokyo)
- 55. Arca (Tulum)
- 56. Cat Bite Club (Singapore)
- 57. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok)
- 58. Argo (Hong Kong)
- 59. Little Red Door (Paris)
- 60. The Clumsies (Athens)
- 61. A Bar with Shapes For a Name (London)
- 62. Mirror Bar (Bratislava)
- 63. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou)
- 64. Thunderbolt (Los Angeles)
- 65. Angelita (Madrid)
- 66. Café La Trova (Miami)
- 67. Native (Singapore)
- 68. Barro Negro (Athens)
- 69. Carnaval (Lima)
- 70. Bar Pompette (Toronto)
- 71. Bar Cham (Seoul)
- 72. Svanen (Oslo)
- 73. Wax On (Berlin)
- 74. Night Hawk (Singapore)
- 75. Hero Bar (Nairobi)
- 76. LPM Dubai (Dubai)
- 77. Bird (Copenhagen)
- 78. L'Antiquario (Naples)
- 79. Dante (New York)
- 80. Katana Kitten (New York)
- 81. Sin + Tax (Johannesburg)
- 82. The Savory Project (Hong Kong)
- 83. Baltra Bar (Mexico City)
- 84. Attaboy (New York)
- 85. Vesper (Bangkok)
- 86. Smoke & Bitters (Hiriketiya)
- 87. Rayo (Mexico City)
- 88. Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco)
- 89. The Bellwood (Tokyo)
- 90. Amaro (London)
- 91. Zapote Bar (Playa del Carmen)
- 92. Camparino in Galleria (Milan)
- 93. Hanky Panky (Mexico City)
- 94. Red Frog (Lisbon)
- 95. Nouvelle Vague (Tirana)
- 96. Cantina OK! (Sydney)
- 97. Employees Only (New York)
- 98. Penrose (Kuala Lumpur)
- 99. Viajante87 (London)
- 100. Above Board (Melbourne)
