Cover The Best-in-Class category brings excellence to the forefront
The Best-in-Class category brings excellence to the forefront
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Tatler Best is voted by our panel of industry leaders and tastemakers. These winners are recognised for excellence in their respective categories, collectively elevating the local bar scene and helping to put Malaysia on the map
For the past 20 years, Tatler Dining Malaysia has been producing the Tatler Dining Guide, showcasing the city’s best restaurants through our annual Tatler Dining Guide. We celebrate the creme de la crème of the Malaysian bar scene, six Best-in-Class categories, spotlighting the best bars and mixologists in the country.
Together with our curated panel of tastemakers—in-house editorial team and expert reviewers, we’re thrilled to announce the handpicked list of exceptional bars that have raised the ceiling within the drinks industry in Malaysia in their respective categories. Without further ado, here are the winners for 2026.
1. Humboldt
Bukit Damansara
Humboldt's interior pays homage to its namesake—the Humboldt penguin, bringing in an incredible geometrical bar and penguin portraits (Image: Humboldt)
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Awards
2026 Tatler Best 20
Best Design: Humboldt
Humboldt takes inspiration from the Humboldt ocean current, seen not just in its cocktails but also its design. The polygonal artwork behind the bar and the custom built bar installations draw inspiration from the natural habitat of the Humboldt penguin.
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2. Three X Co
Kuala Lumpur
The team at Three X Co bring you more than just a drink, but bring their passion and skill in hospitality to give guests the best experience (Image: Three X Co)
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Awards
2026 Best Service
2026 Tatler Best 20
2025 Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific
Must Try
- Tea-riffic Twins
- The Whimsy Wabbit
- Quiet Quinn
Best Service: Three X Co
If there is one bar in Kuala Lumpur that portrays Malaysian hospitality, it is Three X Co. Collaborating with local artists and creatives, the team at Three X Co, led by co-founder Angeline Tan and head bartender Amanda Wan, delivers top-notch service that is inclusive and seamless. This year, Three X Co launched its Individuality menu tour across Malaysia, from Sekinchan to Kuching, hoping to discover how locals connect with cocktails.
3. Backdoor Bodega
Penang
Above Tatler's Best-in-Class Rising Star, Thanesh Joel (Image: Backdoor Bodega)
Tatler's Best-in-Class Rising Star, Thanesh Joel (Image: Backdoor Bodega)
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Awards
2026 Tatler Best 20
2026 Tatler Best-in-Class Rising Star
2025 Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific
Must Try
- Kelapa Hotak
- Ulam Mojito
- Georgetown Gimlet
Rising Star: Thanesh Joel, Backdoor Bodega
Speakeasy Backdoor Bodega is hidden inside what looks like a pin shop, but inside, guests are welcome to an ever-changing menu of specialty cocktails featuring ingredients unique to Penang. From nutmeg and belacan to Penang-made soy sauce, the team here keeps things fun and interesting, ensuring guests are engaged and involved. The bar is helmed by self-taught bartender Koh Yung Shen, who is also the organiser of Penang Cocktail Week. Don’t leave without trying the Kelapa Hotak, the first-ever cocktail on the menu since Backdoor Bodega’s debut in 2016. This clarified concoction blends coconut, white rum, kaya, and pandan for a smooth, aromatic sip that perfectly captures the essence of Penang.
4. Reka:Bar
Bukit Damansara
Constantly pushing boundaries through their creations, Reka:Bar continues to challenge the norm, earning them Tatler's Best Innovation award (Image: Reka:Bar)
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Awards
2026 Best Innovation
2026 Tatler Best 20
2025 Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific
Must Try
- Liquid Ambra
- Martini...Still Nost Stirred
- Dusun 2.0
Best Innovation: Reka:Bar
Inspired by the Malay term for creation, reka, and the Greek word for the joy of discovery, Eureka, Reka:Bar delivers a fun and memorable journey through flavours and sensory pleasures. The bar team, led by Joel Poon, serves masterful cocktails that are both technical and balanced. For instance, the Pistapple Passion which highlights pistachio in the form of a distillate, garnished with a sous-vide pistachio yoghurt crisp, which blends in the mouth to create a savoury, refreshing experience.
5. Lavantha
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Lavantha, a highly anticipated opening within Malaysia's bar scene, has officially been awarded Tatler's Best New Bar (Image: Lavantha)
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Awards
2026 Best New Bar
2026 Tatler Best 20
Best New Bar: Lavantha
From the team behind Penrose is Lavantha, a cavern-like cocktail lounge set within a repurposed bank vault that is rooted in intentionality, an exciting new addition to the local bar scene. Drinks are created to highlight the intrinsic character of the main spirit without unnecessary ingredients.
Lavantha
Address:
Moxy Kuala Lumpur, Lower Ground Floor, Chinatown, 1, Jalan Hang Lekiu, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur
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6. Penrose
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Chinatown
Penrose has once again been awarded Tatler's Best-in-Class Bar of the Year through their exceptional hospitality, drinks, and innovation (Image: Penrose)
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Awards
2026 Bar of the Year
2026 Tatler Best 20
2025 Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific
Must Try
- Ume Fuji
- Rum Musa
- Penrose Gibson
Bar of the Year: Penrose
This award recognises the highest ranking bar, as voted on by our panel of industry leaders and tastemakers. While Penrose has won this awards for two years in a row, it is without a doubt that Jon Lee and his talented team have elevated Malaysia’s bar scene, with Penrose a destination for both locals and travellers alike. Embracing intentional simplicity, every element, from the interior to its drinks, is crafted with purpose, allowing guests to discover layered complexity.
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