The tropical yet industrial decor with vibrant mural gives Rahsia Speakeasy Bar in SS2 a fun, retro feel.
AS far as speakeasies go, the well-known ones tend to be in Kuala Lumpur – in areas such as Petaling Street, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Damansara Heights.
But now, the secret is out because there is a new swanky hangout for whimsical cocktails and scrumptious food in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
Rahsia, a Malay word for “secret”, is a playful and tastefully designed watering hole helmed by certified pastry chef Elizabeth David who hails from Ipoh, Perak.
After moving back to the Klang Valley once Covid-19 movement restrictions were lifted, she decided to open a bar.
Industrial yet playful is the vibe in this secret bar in Petaling Jaya.
“It wasn’t planned and I was thinking about what to do after my stints in France and the US.
“Then I saw that a shoplot was available for rent in SS2 and two weeks later, I secured the location and went for it,” she told StarMetro.
After thinking about names, she decided on “Rahsia” as a nod to the secret bar concept.
From the outside, guests will notice green faux leaf foliage on the second floor balcony – it’s the bar’s alfresco area.
Rahsia, Money Maker and Lost in Passion.
As you open the door, a staircase leads you to an entrance filled with green foliage. Find the flower door knob to enter the establishment.
The tropical yet industrial decor and purple neon lights give the space a fun, retro feel.
The cool, concrete finish of the bar top complements the earthy tones throughout.
The balcony is ideal for those who want to enjoy some fresh air as they eat and drink while watching life go by.
Mocktail Chilli Boost. — Photos: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The StarBack inside, at one end of the bar, there is a feature wall with a vibrant mural of a woman with a finger to her lips, as if to say, “Shh”.
David engaged a local mural artist to decorate the wall.
“I wanted a 3D effect of a woman’s hair, but it turns out that hanging leaves achieve a similar effect.
“And it’s something different,” she said.
The cocktail menu has three pages with 12 original, cleverly crafted concoctions using liquor infused with local ingredients rather than syrups.
There are also mocktails such as Chilli Boost.
We tried Rahsia, featuring butterfly pea-infused Roku gin, elderflower liquor, sake, orange bitters and roselle tonic.
Gin lovers will find this particularly interesting for its floral elements.
If you like dark spirit-based drinks, Money Maker has plantation rum, Dom Benedictine, Campari and orange bitters.
This was heady in a good way, with a citrus burst.
We also tried Linghum Sweet Skip which has Cuban rum, Campari, passionfruit, pineapple and lemon juices as well as sugar syrup — fruity and fun.
Lost in Passion has Rahsia’s homemade asam boi-infused tequila with Chardonnay, a secret syrup and roselle tonic, with herbaceous aromatics that celebrate sweet and sour notes.
As for the food, Rahsia has a range of appetisers, pasta dishes and mains with chicken, fish, beef or lamb, pizzas as well as small bites.
While a lot of pasta fans would gravitate to aglio olio, pesto or carbonara, we had the Vongole with Mixed Shell, which won us over with its umami flavour, robust sauce and clams cooked to perfection.
For carnivores, the barbecue beef back ribs or if you want to splurge, the 24k Golden Grill Rib Eye Steak are guaranteed to satiate your hunger.
We were recommended the Rahsia Signature Golden Creamy Truffle pizza, and this is definitely a must-try.
RAHSIA SPEAKEASY BAR, 58A, Jalan SS2/66, SS2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Business hours: 5pm-1am Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 5pm-2am Friday to Sunday; closed on Tuesday. Tel: 017-300 4490.
This is the writer’s personal observation and not an endorsement by StarMetro.
