Before The Bar Awards Kuala Lumpur and Penang closes the 2019 awards season, the Top 10 bars and bartenders are announced.

The Bar Awards 2019 will be closing its awards season by celebrating the best and brightest in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and today announces the Top 10 ahead of the awards party on December 8. 

The Top 10 is determined by 55 members of the Kuala Lumpur f&b community. These judges live and breathe KL and have seen the city develop and grow in the last three years of The Bar Awards. These 55 members are selected based on their understanding of the hospitality industry, contribution to the industry and enjoy and explore various f&b experiences. 

Each of the Top 10 is presented in alphabetical order:

The Bar Awards Luminaries presented by the House of Angostura
The inductees to The Bar Awards Luminaries are those that have greatly contributed to the growth and development of the Malaysian bar community. The inductees are nominated by the general public, voted by The Panel and finally decided by the Lead Panel. The 2019 inductees will be announced at The Bar Awards Kuala Lumpur and Penang 2019 party on Sunday December 8, 2019.

The Rising Star presented by East Imperial
Abel Sukal (Skullduggery)
Ahmed Al Imran (JungleBird)
Chris Boon Xiang Ang (Three X Co)
Chris Choon Suen Chung (Beta KL)
Harry Rusho Hasan (PS150)
Joe Wee Kwong Ngui (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons KL)
Kay Kim Koh (Flying Monkeys Bar)
Kah Chun Pang (Coley Cocktail Bar)
Shadrach Shan (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL)
Tracia Chan (Dissolved Solids)

Restaurant Bar of the Year presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Beta KL
Borneo Restaurant & Bar
DC Restaurant
Elements KL
Fuego, Troika Sky Dining
JOLOKO
Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar & Restaurant
Nadodi KL
Pinchos Tapas Bar
TAPS Beer Bar

Beer Bar of the Year presented by Peroni
Ales & Lagers
Delirium Cafe
Farmer’s Bar
Modern Madness
Paus
Sid’s Pub
TAPS Beer Bar
The Beer Factory
The Great Beer Bar
Tom, Dick & Harry’s

Hotel Bar of the Year presented by Lillet
Astor Bar, St. Regis Kuala Lumpur
Aviary Bar, Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL
Pacific Standard Bar, Alila Bangsar Hotel
SEVEN Bar & Lounge, The RuMa Hotel
SkyBar, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The Smoke House, Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Vertigo, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur
WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur
WOOBAR, W Kuala Lumpur

Specialist Concept of the Year presented by Restaurant, Pub and Bar Asia
61 Monarchy (Whisky)
Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL (Honey)
Borneo Restaurant & Bar (Locality)
JOLOKO (Agave)
JungleBird (Rum)
No Black Tie (Music)
Pahit (Gin)
Puro KL (Natural Wine)
The Deceased (Theme)
Tickets Bar KL (Agave)

Hospitality Ambassador of the Year presented by Woodford Reserve
Alvin Lim (TAPS Beer Bar)
Andrew Tan (61 Monarchy)
Angeline Tan (Three X Co)
Arsenio Mariano Jr (Sakura Den)
Ashish Sharma (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL)
Chee Kheong Kho (Coley)
Joshua Ivanovic (JungleBird)
Rizal Junior Joe Utto (WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur)
Shawn Chong (Omakase + Appreciate)
Shirmy Chan (61 Monarchy)

Hospitality Team of the Year presented by Hendrick’s Gin
61 Monarchy
Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL
Coley
JOLOKO
JungleBird
Omakase & Appreciate
Pahit
PS150
The Vault KL
Three X Co

Creative Cocktail Bar of the Year presented by Cointreau
Bar Shake
Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL
Coley
JungleBird
Omakase + Appreciate
PS150
Soma
The Deceased
Three X Co
Tickets Bar KL

New Bar of the Year presented by Campari
Circa
Flying Monkeys Bar
Iki_Ya
Modern Madness
Mrs Jones’ Parlour
Puro KL
Sakura Den
Soma
Tickets Bar KL
WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur

Bartender of the Year, Kuala Lumpur presented by Monkey Shoulder
Alvin Nirmal “Loco” George (Coley)
Ashish Sharma (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL)
Chee Kheong Kho (Coley)
David Hans (Three X Co)
Jason Julian (Soma)
Joshua Ivanovic (JungleBird)
Osam “Sam” Kinugawa (Bar Shake)
Rizal Junior Joe Utto (WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur)
Shawn Chong (Omakase + Appreciate)
Shirmy Chan (61 Monarchy)

Bar of the Year, Kuala Lumpur presented by Monin
61 Monarchy
Bar Shake
Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel KL
Coley
JOLOKO
JungleBird
Omakase & Appreciate
Pahit
PS150
TAPS Beer Bar

The Top 4 for Kuala Lumpur and both Penang categories will be announced on Monday December 2, 2019 right here on DRiNK Magazine.