More than just cocktails

Takumi Craft Bar at The Gardens Mall offers a wide range of craft beer.

TAPS BEER BAR

1 Jalan Nagasari, Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: 3pm to 11pm (Daily)

Reservations: 03-2110 4836, 011-6978 0780Looking for a special selection of beer? Check out Taps Beer Bar. To ensure the diversity and range of quality craft beers, the bar regularly rotates its selection. It has served over 800 types including some of the best craft beers in the market. There is also music at the bar.

This Sunday, it’s Back to the 80s with Richard Lim, Frankie Tan, Kenny Tay and Sam Ponnudorai. Patrons can enjoy the barbecue and good vibes from 5pm onwards.

TICKETS BAR

KLG05A, Ground Floor, Republik Damansara, 1 Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: 6pm to 2am (Tuesday to Sunday).

Reservations: 03-7622 8765This cocktail bar thrills with themes and flavours that change annually.

This year’s theme – Ima-GIN-ation – takes one on a refreshing gin-based, spiced-up cocktail adventure.

The entrance is unassuming as visitors are greeted with an office-type desk, a computer and a “Ticket Management” sign.

Once you find your way in, you’ll discover that the cocktails are inspired by classics from around the world.

Each drink has been carefully curated and reflects the bar’s theme for the year. Try one of its signatures, Before Sunrise Cocktail, which comes with mango distillate gin, triple sec, house-made cinnamon honey, lemon juice and house-made mango puree, served with mint sprig and candied mango slice. Or sip on Rain in Venus – made from jackfruit distillate gin, clarified lemon juice, carbonated genmaicha tea and sage honey, served with house-made jackfruit ice cream.

NOMI TOMO SAKE BAR

Level 3, 2-2 Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, KL

Business hours: 5pm to 2am Monday to Saturday

Reservations: 016-661 5907

Its name, which means “drinking buddies” in Japanese, reflects four friends’ passion for quality sake.

Established in 2015, the bar is Kuala Lumpur’s very first sake speciality bar that imports a wide selection from all over Japan.

Expect a respectable range, from Futsushu (table sake) and Junmai Ginjo to premium options such as Junmai Daiginjo, as the establishment aims to satisfy even connoisseurs.

There are also other liquors, including Japanese whisky, Scotch whisky and cocktails, in addition to food to pair with the drinks.

JUNGLEBIRD

61M Jalan Medan Setia 1,

Plaza Damansara, KL

Business hours: 4pm to midnight (Monday and Tuesday), noon to 1am (Wednesday and Thursday), noon to 2am (Friday and Saturday), noon to midnight on Sundays

Reservations: 03-2011 5715Established in 2017, JungleBird is inspired by South-East Asian influences but lately the watering hole has expanded its concept to include Latin Caribbean elements.

Patrons can expect delicious bites such as Cubano Sandwiches, Dominican Albondigas Guisadas (meatball stew) and Tobagoan Curried Crab Dumplings on the menu.

The bar’s latest cocktail menu pays tribute to key rum-producing nations, with signatures such as JungleBird Piña Colada, a nod to Puerto Rico and Funk’n Jerk for Jamaica.

Focusing primarily on sugarcane spirits, the bar currently carries some 250 individual bottles from around the world.

It also has a selection of other spirits, wine and a few craft beers but rum is definitely the star attraction here.

RYU@TTDI

167B, Level 2, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL

Business hours: 4pm to 2am daily

Reservations: 012-358 3772“Ryu” in Japanese means “dragon”, which symbolises the roaring spirit of this establishment.

The Japanese-inspired hideout is great for patrons who enjoy long conversations over meat-and-vegetable skewers and alcoholic drinks.

Several beautiful hand-drawn paintings by two talented Malaysian artists adorn the bar that has a welcoming and alluring vibe, reminiscent of a bar in Japan.

Among the hot favourites here are deep-fried Tebaski Winglets, but new additions such as Japanese-style pizzas and pastas as well as tuna or beef tataki are recommended, too.

The food is an ideal match for its Jim Beam highball. Patrons can also try pairing the food with sake, umeshu and soju.Japanese, K-Pop inspirationsTakumi Craft Bar• Third Floor, Isetan The Gardens, The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur (11am to 11pm)

• Isetan The Japan Store, Lower Ground Floor, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, KL (Noon to 10pm weekdays, 11am to 10pm weekends and public holidays)

Reservation: 011 6978 0780 (for both outlets) Touting itself as Malaysia’s first artisanal Japanese craft bar, Takumi Craft Bar offers curated craft beers and artisanal cocktails.

Its first outlet started in 2016 at Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur and the bar recently opened its second outlet at The Gardens Mall.

With a fantastic line-up of signature Japanese cocktails and beers such as Suntory Highball and Hitachino Nest Craft Beer, the bar aims to give patrons a “real Japan” drink experience or omotenashi, which means “hospitality from our hearts”.

Besides craft beers, whisky, gin, rum, sake, spirits and highballs to cater to different tastes, there is also a Tasting Set of three for those who want to taste more of what’s on tap.

Small bites such as snacks and pizzas are also available. MOMO’S KL

316 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: Noon to 10pm daily

Reservations: 03-2776 6666MoMo’s is not just a drinking place for travellers staying at the hotel, but also a watering hole for others in the vicinity.

It serves up a range of fancy cocktails like Momojito, Pisco Sour, caipirinha and margarita.

Those who love a bigger portion can go for the 1l XL cocktails such as Momo Island, Red Sangria and White Sangria.

In conjunction with famous K-pop girl group Blackpink’s concert in Bukit Jalil stadium on March 4, MoMo’s is coming up with exciting treats for Blinks, or Blackpink fans.

There will be two DJ spinning Blackpink and K-pop tunes next Friday, from 7pm to 10pm followed by Emir Hermono spinning the hottest R&B, Hip-Hop, Amapiano and Baile Funk tunes during Block Party Fridays.

On March 4, warm up your vocals before heading to the concert by singing along to the best of Blackpink at MoMo-oke (karaoke) from noon onwards.

Wind down with burgers, fries and free-flow mojitos and caipirinhas at MoMo’s Boozy Brunch from 11am to 3pm on March 5. Blackpink concert-goers get discounts by showing their tickets.