Bricks & Barrels (CLOSED)

We’ve made a couple of cloak-and-dagger visits to this corner-lot bar in Desa Sri Hartamas, and on most occasions, have been greeted by generous crowds and lively spirit. And we’re not referring to the bottles they keep behind the bar either. After-work crowds are sizeable here on most evenings, and when the sun sets on a Friday, tables are hard to come by.

The reason for this is that the folks at Bricks & Barrels have gotten all the right ingredients in place. For one, they’ve got decent proximity to downtown KL and the suburbs of PJ, and they’re a mere stone’s throw away from Mont Kiara’s residential hub. Throw in excellent happy hour deals and entertainment on the side and this bar – barely a year old – is set to be a firm fixture on KL’s drinking circuit.

And talk about sexy surroundings: Exposed brickwork and iron fixtures make an appearance indoors, giving the place a semi-industrial feel. Prefer the beer garden variety? The alfresco area at Bricks & Barrels is for you, then. In fact, the best seats at Bricks & Barrels are the ones in the bar’s spacious outdoor area, decorated with faux grass and wood accents, while a small stage hosts nightly live performances (except on Sundays).

Beer, as the bar’s name suggests, is never in short supply. Best times to head there for a pint? Happy hour (4–6pm), when a pint goes for the bargain rate of RM10nett. Every. Single. Day. Not a fan of lager? Rejoice in the fact that Guinness pints and house pouring wine go for RM15nett each. Other drinks are on offer, too, including a generous selection from the cocktail list, but it’s really the offerings from the kitchen that steal the limelight. Bricks & Barrels’s bar-worthy snacks and dishes are a treat, with pork featuring heavily on the menu. The signature English Roast Pork is a favourite, and there’s also a host of salty nibbles that are perfect for layering with a cold one or two. Coming with your crew? Opt for pizzas or the tasty lamb chop – diced up and prepped for communal indulgence.

Curiously, Bricks & Barrels boasts northern links; the original Bricks & Barrels was founded in Ipoh, and it’s been a reliable haunt for drinkers in the old tin mining city. The same owners preside over their Hartamas outlet, and the same gastropub charm persists, promising pleasant evenings without the catastrophe of the unruly crowds that you sometimes find in the city.

Bricks & Barrels has offered its surroundings a nice boost. Desa Sri Hartamas needed this renaissance, and while the multiple personalities of the place – it’s a gastropub, a family-friendly spot and a beer garden – would normally threaten the longevity of most watering holes, we reckon that Bricks & Barrels is here to stay.

Thinking of popping by this month? Enjoy the full coverage of the World Cup, screened from various television screens and a XXL screen hoisted behind the outdoor stage. And even if you’re not a sports buff and prefer a quiet one, this one-size-fits-all kind of place is a good bet, with decent service, variety for all and an unpretentious vibe. Can’t go wrong.