Sublime view of Kuala Lumpur city centre is part of the charm at Poolside Bistro.
MAI BAR
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 5, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral
Business hours: 2pm to midnight
Reservations: 03-2723 1154
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral invites cocktail lovers to savour Malaysian-inspired creations by Sembang Sips at Mai Bar.
Sitting on this city hotel’s rooftop, Mai Bar offers sweeping views of the KL Sentral skyline.
Available from Aug 31 to Oct 22, the Sembang Sips series offers five distinct cocktails.
Inspired by tea time staple onde-onde, the Lemak Manis cocktail features a rich blend of coconut milk, sweet pandan and vodka, creating an indulgent drink.
The Ha-Rhum-atic adds a fragrant twist to your sip, being a rum-based cocktail elevated with a chamomile-infused spray around the glass.
Paying homage to everyone’s favourite teh-o-ais, the Tea-Ki cocktail blends robust cold brew black tea, zesty passion fruit and white rum, making it perfect for evening unwinding.
Featuring beloved local flavour pairings, Memory Lane is a nostalgic cocktail for Malaysians.
Merdeka means creations like Lemak Manis, Ha-Rhum-atic and Tea-Ki plus snacks at Sembang Sips at Mai Bar.
It blends the sweet and tangy flavours of green guava, asam boi, Triple Sec and tequila.
For a more tropical twist, Kelapa is inspired by our nation’s bountiful coconut harvests.
It is mixed with coconut water, lime, bird’s eye chili and rum, making it the ultimate refreshing cocktail.
POOLSIDE BISTRO
51st Floor, Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur, 15, Jalan Kia Peng, KL
Business hours: 6.30pm to 11pm daily
Reservations: 03-2177 1180
This Merdeka, celebrate the spirit of freedom and unity at Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur with its exclusive bar creations at Poolside Bistro.
Available until Sept 17, these unique beverages blend tradition and innovation to pay homage to Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage.
Indulge in the Liberty-Jack Fruity cocktail, featuring Tanqueray gin infused with jackfruit, secret homemade spice-infused syrup, pu’er tea and local spices.
Meanwhile, the Sparkling Ketayap mocktail combines pandan-infused water, soda, Giffard coconut syrup and gula melaka, topped with a coconut cream foam.
Perched on the 51st floor, the bistro allows one to unwind with Western cuisine and expertly crafted cocktails.
Guests can choose between the inviting indoor dining area or the alfresco section where they are treated to a panoramic view of the KL skyline.
The drinks are also available at the Satellite Restaurant and Bar at Level 53 of the hotel serviced residences.
THIRTY8
Level 38, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, 12 Jalan Pinang, KL
Business hours: 11am to midnight
Reservations: 03-2203 9188
Celebrating this Merdeka, Thirty8 bar and restaurant at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is offering Merdeka Countdown packages for diners.
The 360° view from the bar perched on the 38th floor means you can grab a firework seating and enjoy the night with a bottle of Sanfeletto Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco and a bar snack at RM388 for two.
At an extra charge of RM150, one can opt to upgrade the prosecco to Taittinger Reserve Brut Champagne.
The package is also available for up to 10 people.
For the bar and lounge seating, package prices start from RM708 inclusive of two bottles of prosecco, or other spirit and a bar snack.
Choice of spirits include Tanqueray or Roku Gin, Johnnie Walker Black or Jim Beam whiskies.
Diners can also savour cocktails at the bar such as the Lychee No.38 cocktail which is mixed with gin, Midori melon, lychee, cucumber, vanilla and egg white.
The colourful Lady in the Garden cocktail is mixed with gin, pineapple juice, apricot and butterfly pea tea to attain a balanced acidity with fruity notes.
G-STRING KL
No.147, Jalan Petaling, KL
Business hours: 5pm until late
Reservations: 013-938 6322
Collaborating with Hendricks Gin, G-String KL is coming out with three signature cocktails this Merdeka.
Try out the fruity and floral Rosie cocktail that is made of Hendricks Gin, rose syrup, Triple Sec Curacao as well as lemon juice.
For something more refreshing, gin lovers can indulge in the Timuntini.
Queen’s Jackfruit Punch from Thirty8.
It is made of Hendricks Gin, Martini, cucumber liqueur as well as ginger syrup.
Meanwhile, the Blouie cocktail is a mix of Blue Curacao, tangerine syrup, mix berries syrup and lemon juice.
G-String cocktail bar strives to create a sexy, intimate setting.
The bar’s interior has pink neon lighting, floral sofas and lacy decorations on the ceiling while vintage TV sets, radios, and lamps belonging to co-owner Desvin Tew flank the bar.
Blouie from G-string.
Other signature drinks include Blue Bird Paradise, which is a mix of gin, sour grapefruit, Blue Curacao and yuzu, and the more spirit-forward Bible Black which is a concoction of whisky and yuzu.
Some of the fruity combinations include Watermelon Sugar High, which is a mix of brandy, Lillet Rose, watermelon liqueur, elderflower and fresh watermelon.
BAR TAILOR
No.42A, Jalan SS20/10, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business hours: 4pm to 1am (Monday to Saturday)
Reservations: 011-1639 5006
In conjunction with Merdeka Day, Bar Tailor is flexing its creativity by adding a vibrant coloured cocktail to commemorate the occasion.
Guests can savour the rum-based concoction called the Independent Cocktail on a buy-one-free-one basis on Aug 31.
Sparkling Ketayap.
This balanced cocktail combines fruity flavours from strawberry puree and fresh lemon juice as well as floral notes from hibiscus syrup topped with Blue Curacao, egg white and Malibu.
Having trouble finding the entrance to the speakeasy?
Look out for the tailor’s mannequin disguised as a painting at the doorway.
Guests will be surprised to find that the bar also has bespoke tailoring service on its mezzanine floor, on top of personalised cocktails upon request.
Bar Tailor’s vibrant Independent Cocktail.
Other signature cocktails are available too.
For example, Have You Met Jane is a gin-based cocktail mixed with Falernum syrup liqueur and kaffir lime while the more spirit-forward Tuxedo Flame is a mix of Jameson whisky with ginger and peach-flavoured liqueur.
A wide wine selection as well as some rare gems are also available for wine lovers.
