The field for the city’s first-ever Bar Awards narrows. Which of your favourites are still in the running? By Natasha Hong.

Ahead of the big Bar Awards party rolling out the red carpet this Sunday, we’ve been handed an exclusive look at the Top 4 honourees getting closer to this year’s accolades in Kuala Lumpur.

This list was whittled down from the publicly nominated Top 10s by a panel of 38 key members of KL’s f&b industry – their names will be be shared after the ceremony – who were each asked to rank their picks for the winner across the ten categories. But before the big reveal this Sunday, these are the bars and personalities still in the running. Who are you rooting for?

The Bar Awards Party – open to the f&b industry only – will be held at Publika (White Box) from 6pm this Sunday, October 22. For a full list of guest bar shifts, masterclasses and regional bar stars making appearances around Kuala Lumpur from Wednesday this week, see The Bar Awards’ calendar here.

In alphabetical order, here are the Top 4s in Kuala Lumpur:

The Rising Star, presented by Perrier
Calzeno Clitus (Junglebird)
Janice Lau (The Pawn Room)
Jason Julian (Hyde)
Osmond Bernard (formerly from Ikki)

Best Restaurant Bar, presented by East Imperial
Fuego
Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar
Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar
Ril’s (Bangsar)

Best Beer Bar, presented by Heineken
Ales & Lagers
Sid’s Pubs (all locations)
Taps Beer Bar (Changkat)
The Great Beer Bar

Best Culinary Team, presented by Mancino Vermouth
Bistro A Table
Bonfire Restaurant & Bar
El Cerdo
Fuego

Best Hospitality Team, presented by Gekkeikan Sake
Coley
Junglebird
PS150
The Locker & Loft

Most Creative Cocktail Bar, presented by Cointreau
Coley
Coppersmith
Omakase and Appreciate
PS150

Best New Cocktail Bar, presented by Campari
Jack Rose
Junglebird
Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar
Pahit

The Ada Coleman Award, presented by Havana Club Rum
Angel Ng (PS150)
Kim Choong (Thirst Magazine)
Michelle Loh (TWE)
Shareen Yew (Single & Available)

Bartender of the Year, presented by Jameson
Angel Ng (PS150)
Chee Kheong “CK” Kho (Coley and Pahit)
Rizal Junior Johari (Marini’s on 57)
Shawn Chong (Omakase and Appreciate)

Best Cocktail Bar, presented by The Botanist
Coley
Junglebird
Omakase and Appreciate
PS150

The Barback of the Year prize, presented by Tequila Ocho, will be announced on Sunday, after Saturday’s Bar Back Games.


DRiNK Magazine is the official media partner of The Bar Awards 2017.