Other entertainment in Malaysia
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A
B@92
Hip bar with a laid-back attitude that features some live acts and hosts a pretty large – and mixed – expat and well-to-do locals crowd. Has an atmosphere somewhere between a British pub, American chain bar and small music venue.
reviewed
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B
Golden Screen Cinemas
Book a seat in Gold Class (RM40) for La-Z-boy–style reclining chairs and drinks service.
reviewed
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C
Urban Attic
Shaping up to be CapSquare’s social hub is this partially open-air bar and live-music space. It’s a fine hangout and has hosted KL’s sporadic Pecha Kucha (www.pecha-kucha.org/cities/kuala-lumpur) nights – show-and-tell sessions with local creatives – in the past, too.
reviewed
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D
Quattro
Drift from spring, through summer, autumn and winter at this season-themed bar, lounge, restaurant and club complex. On the hour you can make a dash through an indoor rain shower – umbrellas are provided! They also have live music Tuesday to Saturday.
reviewed
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Sound & Light Show
Held outside the Dataran Pahlawan shopping mall, shows happen only when there’s enough demand, and even then they may not be in English. Melaka’s history is presented from a strongly nationalistic angle; nevertheless, it’s quite good theatre.
reviewed
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E
Palate Palette
Gotta love a place that offers curry popcorn and a drink called Kick in the Nuts. Colourful, creative, quirky and super-cool this cafe-bar is a great place to eat (mains RM10 to RM30), drink, play board games, and check out KL’s boho crowd.
reviewed
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F
Lecka Lecka
Among the several pavement cafe-bars lining Bintang Walk, Lecka Lecka, outside Starhill Gallery, seduces with its wafting chiffon curtains, soft seats and trademark ice creams. Alternatively, puff on a hubble bubble or sip a cocktail.
reviewed
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Horse Races
If you happen to be in town on a Saturday afternoon and want to do something completely out of the ordinary, go check out the horse races where you can sit in the air-con and watch locals go into a betting frenzy.
reviewed
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Don’t Tell Mama
Right on the beach, Don’t Tell Mama is the hippest bar in town and is a great place to stop by day or night to make friends over a cold beer. Impromptu barbecues and parties are the norm.
reviewed
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Ari’s Café
A reggae style bar tucked on the mountain side not far from the trailhead to ABC, this friendly place can prepare packed lunches (around RM6) for the trek over to Juara and has a chilled-out atmosphere.
reviewed
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G
The Apartment Downtown
Imagine you actually live at the KLCC at this convivial lounge-like cafe-bar space with outdoor seating overlooking the park – it’s a lovely spot to revive after a hard day’s shopping at the mall.
reviewed
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Jambu
Jambu? Crookshank? The names in Kuching are pretty weird, but this local fave in a blazing pink bungalow is a hip spot to sling back a few designer cocktails with friends. Closed on Mondays.
reviewed
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H
QEII
Seemingly surrounded by the Straits, QEII serves passable pizza and better ambience; this spot usually snags a good DJ who keeps funk and slow house grooving over the waterfront views.
reviewed
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I
OM
Standing for Old Malaya the breezy OM cafe-bar is decorated with antique painted-tin poster ads and has a bar inlaid with a great collection of cigarette packets from around the world.
reviewed
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J
J Co Donuts & Coffee
The wacky donut creations may have cheesy names (Tira Miss U or Mona Pisa anyone?), but they look so damn tasty that it’s difficult to pass this fried dough and coffee operation by.
reviewed
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K
Cottage
Fitted out along the lines of an English pub (albeit one with no walls), proceedings start gently here with lunchtime and evening meals, leading into live music six nights a week.
reviewed
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L
Skybar
Head to the rooftop pool area of this hotel for a grand circle view across to the Petronas Towers – it’s the perfect spot for sundowner cocktails or late-night flutes of bubbly.
reviewed
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M
Dome
This geodesic dome is one of those structures that looked dated the minute it was finished but, in any case, it still hosts some pretty good rock shows and other live acts.
reviewed
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Alfresco Bar
At the rear of the Mega View Hotel, this sits right next to the river, with a huge TV screen for live sports events. Coupled with ambient music, it’s a very relaxing venue.
reviewed
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Social
Classy sports bar offering pool tables and good food as well as the booze. There’s also a branch on Changkat Bukit Bintang ([tel] 2142 7021; 28 Changkat Bukit Bintang).
reviewed
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Tioman Cabana
This hotchpotch beach bar at the north of the southern beach also acts as a cafe and tour operator offering bike rentals, internet and a slew of sports activities.
reviewed
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O
Shamrock
Well, the Irish have landed in Kota Kinabalu and they’ve brought everything with them (except the bad weather): Guinness, meat stews and Kelly green decor.
reviewed
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P
Hunter’s
A favourite for local guides and expats, Hunter’s offers up karaoke, sport on the plasma TV and balmy outdoor seating in the heart of the action.
reviewed
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Q
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Lots of interesting work is staged at this modern performing-arts complex set in the landscaped grounds of Sentul West in the north of the city.
reviewed
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Hallo Café
This small beachfront watering hole has music and a 5pm to 7pm happy hour (three beers RM10). It’s north of the jetty in front of Nazri’s II.
reviewed
