8 bars with amazing food programmes

Unwined Plus may be known for its extensive selection of natural wines, but these are best sipped alongside its menu of inventive Asian-inspired sharing plates. A staple on the menu is the Crispy Pot of Rice, a textural dish of grilled snapper smashed onto a comforting bed of kimchi rice, topped with ikura and pickles.

Unwined Plus

Address: 7, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. +6012 209 0226

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Marked by a bright orange mailbox on Bangsar’s Jalan Abdullah, Juno is one of the Klang Valley’s sleekest wine bars. The space is reminiscent of both cosy neighbourhood hangouts and sophisticated jazz bars, brought together by its selection of natural pours and plates made for sharing.

Alongside bright oranges and full-bodied reds, you can choose between picking on olives and cheese platters or opt for more substantial plates of beef tartare, sage gnocchi, plums laced with straciatella, or avocado tempura. We highly recommend indulging in a plate of oysters here, dressed in a spiced and citrusy marinade. 

Juno

Address:  4, Jalan Abdullah, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur. 

Named one of Malaysia’s best bars in 2019, Coley has an impressive repertoire of sharing plates, courtesy of Joel Kirk. The menu runs the gamut from snacks to mains, from tostadas and steak frites to sourdough with black garlic ketchup and melted cheese (Kirk’s take on the Welsh rarebit). 

Coley

Address: 6-G, Jalan Abdullah, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur. +6019 270 9179

While Bar Trigona might be known for some of the best cocktails in the city, its food menu is home to dishes just as good as its tipples. You’ll find a selection of homegrown caviar served with egg cremeux, and Obsiblue prawn tartare, more substantial dishes of lobster ramen, padron pepper bhaji with grated paneer, and seasonal compote with mousse, brown butter cookies, and honey almond sponge for dessert.

A must-have when at Bar Trigona, though, is its Native Fried Chicken—morsels of perfectly crisp chicken coated in jollof spices and served alongside fried potato wedges and a decadent smoked chicken fat sauce. 

Bar Trigona

Address: 145, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. +603 2382 8670

For delectable European comfort fare paired with good wines in a relaxing space, visit Basic Wine Store. While the focus is on the curation of artisanal wines, these pours are best complemented with the ever-evolving menu of thoughtfully constructed sharing plates. Daily specials might include a tempting selection of pasta, meats, and cold cuts.

Basic Wine Store

Address: Lot 13A, Ground Floor, Arcoris, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. instagram.com/basicwinestore

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Up KL, one of the city’s newest wine bars, is home to a plethora of plates that pair perfectly with its pours. Find an assortment of tapas and mezze here from Ottoman kebabs with eggplant and cheese and thin crust flatbread with minced beef to prawns in garlic infused olive oil and beef manti with yoghurt and tomato chilli. 

Located in Taman Paramount, Bar Terumi is one of Malaysia’s few female-owner bars, led by Shirmy Chan. Special collaborations with chefs happen often, but staples on the bar menu are the fried baby octopus, chilli crab pasta, vegetable tempura, and crispy fried wanton. 

Bar Terumi

Address: 9a, Jalan 20/16, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya. +6011 5915 0308

Sharing plates are dishes best served when paired with a glass of crisp natural wine. At Mellow Wine & Dining Room, you can experience the best of worlds with the boutique wine bar’s collection of pours and impressive menu. For small plates, expect arancini with braised shiitake and pickled Calabrian chilli, cheese and cold cut platters, and fresh flatbread fermented for 48 hours and paired with zaatar.

If you’re in search of satisfying plates you can share, opt for its grilled sole with broccolini, ox tongue braised in Chinese master stock with a raspberry caper sauce, burrata alla vodka, or decadent steak frites. 

Mellow Wine & Dining Room

Address: L1-06A, Seventeen Mall, Jalan 17/38, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. +6019 272 3627

In the heart of Chinatown lies Wildflower, serving up expertly crafted cocktails and modern Asian plates that blend Malaysian flavours with global ingredients. Try the Mapo Tofu Nachos, the Tom Yum Seared Salmon, or the Cold Soy Miso Capellini. 

Wildflowers 

Address: 153, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur. +603 2022 3557

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