TOKLFDA2018 Shortlist: Best Place for Gin Cocktails

This popular spot in Chinatown serves contemporary cocktails in surrounds that retain the building’s original old school charm. The cocktails here highlight Southeast Asian flavours, and the menu is divided into five prominent eras of cocktail making, each focusing on the individual era’s classics (with a PS150 twist) alongside original creations. Try the Lychee No.3 with London dry gin, lychee, torch flower and lime – a well-balanced cocktail inspired by the classic lychee martini.

Mr Chew’s is a gorgeous two-storey space in the middle of the city, with a menu that marries Asian cuisine with Latin American touches. This combination of influences translates to the cocktail menu as well, and a crowd-favourite at the bar is the refreshing Mr Chew’s Take-Away G&T – a generous serving of Opihr gin with guava and pink peppercorn, served in a cool takeaway box.

This hidden bar in Bangsar Shopping Centre serves cocktails that stay true to local roots, with strong Asian influences. The range of house cocktails here make use of premium spirits and liqueurs with familiar Asian ingredients like gula Melaka, winter melon tea and more. The interesting Eastern Poem with chrysanthemum-infused gin, pei pa koa syrup, yuzu tonic water and ginger rootlets is a refreshing drink that’s a bit too easy to drink.

Pahit’s appeal lies in its knowledgeable bartenders, cosy ambience and extensive list of gins from distilleries around the world. With gentle fruit-infused G&Ts and carefully crafted gin cocktails, this is a bar for both the gin connoisseur and beginner. The signature Gin Pahit #2 is a popular option – London dry gin, orange bitters and house-made syrup give the cocktail a balance of bitter notes, a playful hint of spiciness and citrusy tones.

Coffee saloon by day and gin parlour by night, MAZE boasts a comprehensive list of gins from all over the world alongside classic G&Ts and a variety of gin-based cocktails. The bar provides a fun way for guests to play bartender by way of the Gin Sum cart, a cart filled with fresh fruits and herbs that you can experiment with, mixing and matching your G&T with a garnish of your liking.