For a few reasons, Kuala Lumpur would likely be one of the last places a beer enthusiast would think to prioritize on her or his list of barhopping destinations.
First, there are just two (and a half) commercial breweries in Malaysia, and getting a license to brew is close to pushing a cow into a tree. The alcohol tax in this Muslim majority country is as high as it is in Singapore, which is to say very high. And on top of that, the weak Malaysian Ringgit also means less competitive pricing for imported craft beers against the commercial macro brews.
That said, international craft beer options are still surprisingly aplenty if you know where to go. One can find cult breweries like Omnipollo and Mikkeller, familiar brands like Brewdog and Hitachino Nest, and specialty Belgian beers from the likes of Brouwerij Huyghe, makers of Delirium Tremens. Regional craft breweries like Young Master Brewery, Pasteur Street Brewing, and Brewlander & Co. are increasingly available, too.
Here we round up seven of our favorite Kuala Lumpur craft beer bars. If you’re plotting a proper night out, there are plenty of other bars and restaurants around these venues, too. Getting around KL isn’t hard if you don’t mind the traffic, either, especially when e-hailing services are so affordable—starting at RM5 per ride, they’re far cheaper than a beer!
Remember that Malaysia is a hot country, so “picnic dress code” is acceptable everywhere while you barhop like a boss.
Taps Beer Bar
One of Malaysia’s biggest craft beer importers, MyBeer Sdn Bhd, launched Taps Beer Bar at the end of 2011 as not just the first full-scale beer bar in Kuala Lumpur, but in the entire country. Still going strong, the flagship outlet has 14 taps and fridges full of bottles and cans from around the world.
Located on the city’s outskirts, Taps’ newer outlet at Plaza Arkadia more than doubles its sister venue’s taplist with 30 craft beers on draft. Expect leading brands like Mikkeller, Hitachino Nest, Rogue Ales, Hawkers Beer, and Young Master Brewery at both bars. Small glasses start at RM23, while large ones run RM38 and up.
Related: In Kuala Lumpur, TAPS Beer Bar Maintains Against the Grain
As for food, both venues serve a range of bar bites, pizzas, and carb-fueled fare with a local touch. The live band performances on weekends are among the best in town; kids and pets are welcome, too. Both venues open daily until 1am. Contact details are here.
Ales & Lagers
The brainchild of a one-time beer blogger, Ales & Lagers began as a modest six-seat shop with a limited but exceptional bottle selection, plus one tap during special occasions.
The current venue is a hidden nook that shares space with a print shop, and is a popular gathering spot for local beer enthusiasts who have bonded since the early days of KL’s craft beer movement. Following its move Ales & Lagers has upgraded to two fridges, two six-foot shelves filled with international craft beers, and several permanent taps pouring Modern Madness, the bar’s “in-house” brand that specializes in unique, if somewhat bizarre, infusions of flavors.
Try such experimental brews as Bak Kut Teh Beer—yes, a beer inspired by Chinese herbal pork soup—Dim Sum Beer, Lemongrass Lager, Kopi Stout, and others at very competitive prices. On occasion there may even be a highball or toddy on tap.
There’s no food served onsite, but visitors are welcome to order from the abundance of restaurants located in the complex. D5-G4-3, No 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. +603 6419 0328. Open daily 3pm – 10pm. https://www.facebook.com/AlesLagers/
Delirium Café Kuala Lumpur
Owned by hospitality byACME through a licensing agreement with Brouwerij Huyghe, Delirium Café scored a premium address in Kuala Lumpur just across from the famous Petronas Towers and its musical lake. It hosts 12 taps of Belgian beers, including Brouwerij Huyghe’s flagship Delirium Tremens. More than 150 bottled and canned craft beers complement the taps; the stock changes regularly but often includes gems from small Belgian breweries rarely seen in Malaysia.
With outdoor seating by the bar looking out to KLCC Park, the equally striking indoor blue room is the best place to escape the heat and crowds. Brought in by a father-and-son team who previously owned a Belgian restaurant, the food menu is like a window into the pair’s home kitchen—their mussels and fries are a perfect pairing with the beers.
KLCC, G48 Ground Floor, Suria, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur. +603 2162 7888. Open Sunday to Thursday 10am – 12am, Friday to Saturday 10am – 1am. https://www.facebook.com/deliriumcafekl/
PAUS Craft Beer Bar
The wine importer that owns PAUS also happens to represent more craft breweries than any dedicated beer importer in Malaysia. Gweilo Beer, 8 Wired Brewing, Behemoth Brewing Co, and Feral Brewing Co are just a few of the brands in the importer’s portfolio, so expect those to be most readily available in the bar’s mostly bottled and canned selection.
PAUS occupies the first floor of a shop lot in the high-end TTDI residence area, sitting alongside several wine shops and cocktail bars that collectively make this a great barhopping destination. There are fine-dining and more casual restaurants nearby, too, if you don’t fancy burgers and fries at PAUS. 42a, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur. +603 7731 8006. Open Monday to Saturday 5pm – 12am. https://www.facebook.com/pauscraftbeer/
Farmer’s Bar
This independent bar and retail group offers more than 300 different labels, some of which they import themselves, including Omnipollo, Sunmai, Brewlander, and Prancing Pony Brewery. Online ordering is also available and includes free delivery in KL and Selangor.
Farmer’s Bar currently has four venues. The Kota Damansara, Cyberjaya, and Puchong outlets only serve packaged beers, but patrons are welcome to bring their own food or order from neighboring outlets; the Puchong branch is located in a local street food haven.
The latest joint, in Subang Parade, has 12 beers on tap, an extensive variety of bottles and cans, and spacious indoor and outdoor seating. The ryori kitchen cranks out yakitori and other small Japanese bites. All outlets open daily 3pm – 12am. Contact details are here.
The Great Beer Bar
Originally opened by the same guy behind Ales & Lagers, The Great Beer Bar is now managed by Farmer’s Bar, which has brought along its ryori kitchen from Subang Parade. Eight taps run most of the time, but the fridges are where the real treasures lie, at least when they’re filled. There’s a particularly good range of pale ales, IPAs, and strong Belgian dubbels and quadrupels. 86, Jalan SS 21/62, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. +6016 391 9301. Open daily 3pm – 12am. https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatBeerBar/
Beer Bank
A bottle shop in the city center hidden in the back of a supermarket, Beer Bank stocks both commercial and craft beers. It’s aimed at the everyday after-office crowd, so don’t expect barrel-aged stouts or anything too esoteric here.
As this is essentially a retail shop, no corkage fees apply for onsite consumption. The servers aren’t exactly equipped to provide in-depth recommendations or info about the beers, but Untappd and BeerAdvocate are always there for you on your phone. Bottles range from RM18 to RM50.
Light bites and snacks are available at the shop, and there are other options from the adjacent supermarket and food court. Lot. 7, Wisma Lim Foo Yong, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. +603 2110 1711. Open Monday to Saturday 12pm – 2am, Sunday 12pm – 12am. https://www.facebook.com/beerbank.kl/
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“Asia Beer City” is Beer Travelist’s running series spotlighting notable beer bars, brewpubs, and bottle shops in cities across Asia and Asia-Pacific. Each series entry is not necessarily comprehensive, but rather a curated list of those venues we feel travelers (and locals) should prioritize. Thus far the series also includes Bangkok, Byron Bay, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
All photos taken by author, except Ales & Lagers.
