8 Bars in Changkat Where the Party Never Stops!
If you think Kuala Lumpur is full of life during the day, you should see it at night! Once the sun sets, the city becomes a hot spot for locals and tourists alike who are looking to enjoy a memorable night in the country’s capital.
One particular nightlife hub that I wanted to talk about here is Changkat. As a night owl of KL myself, I consider myself lucky that a street this close to me features a variety of spots where people can drink, dance, sing and bond throughout the night!
So consider this a sign to go out with your friends this Friday night! Here are some top-notch bars in Changkat that will keep you til kingdom come!
The Rabbit Hole
— Media credit: rabbitholekl
Address: 16, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 11-6235 1099
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Cost: $$
The Rabbit Hole is one of the best and most unique-looking night owl spots on the street, boasting fantasy-like design themes. These themes are ripped straight out of stories like Alice in Wonderland and when paired with its pre-colonial building—chef’s kiss!
Its looks aren’t the reason why nocturnals love this place, however, as the real highlight here is the selection of refreshing drinks! For starters, their cocktails are served on tap, which is a surreal experience since you’d typically see beers being served this way but never cocktails.
Nonetheless, they’ve nailed this gimmick and customers can choose from 13 different taps, with each one containing a special concoction from the bar. Don’t worry though because they also serve a wide range of draught beers!
Pro tip:
If you’re in need of a scrumptious post-drinking meal, you can head to The Bamboo Forest, which is located by the bar’s entrance. Here, you can treat yourself to delicious food such as sandwiches, fish and chips, pasta and more.
Havana Bar and Grill
— Media credit: havana_kl and avrlptr
Address: 2 & 4, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 3-2142 7170
Operating hours:
- Sunday: 1:00 PM to 3:00 AM
- Monday to Thursday: 4:00 PM to 3:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 2:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Cost: $$
Havana Bar and Grill isn’t just a great nightlife spot, as it’s also a fantastic restaurant thanks to its wide array of authentic Latin dishes. Some of the dishes you can indulge in before your drinking session include nachos, charcoal grilled steaks, ribs, burgers and more.
You won’t be disappointed with their selection of drinks as well, as they offer tons of cocktails that can accompany you throughout the night! There’s no wrong choice here but if it’s your first time, we highly suggest going for their mojito, as it’s equal parts refreshing and buzzing.
However, we feel like you don’t have to drink too much to get in the mood to have a good time here, as the vibes are immaculate! As soon as you enter its vicinity, you’ll immediately be infected with a good mood thanks to its lively atmosphere and upbeat live music.
Pro tip:
Havana Bar and Grill holds regular events and feature live acts throughout the week so be sure to check out their Instagram page to see any announcements that may interest you!
Baan 26
— Media credit: raveliew
Address: 26, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 19-222 0026
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Cost: $$
Baan 26 doubles as one of the best Thai restaurants along Changkat but for this blog, we’ll focus on what makes it such a great hub for night owls in Kuala Lumpur. The real fun in this restaurant begins at sundown when their bar opens in full swing!
This is where you’ll find an impressive selection of wines, whisky and tons of other spirits. Of course, you can also order one of their delicious cocktails for a lighter buzz and a more refreshing taste.
The place itself is worth highlighting as well because of its cosy and welcoming interior. Plus, they have huge TVs across the rooms that either play the latest music videos or live games, the latter of which never fails to get the crowd rowdy.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking to treat yourself to something filling before going on a drinking session with your friends, we recommend ordering their seafood tom yam. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spicy, and the prawns themselves are huge!
Sutraa Kitchen + Bar
— Media credit: sutraa_changkat
Address: 34, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 11-2135 9796
Operating hours: Daily from 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Cost: $$
Right off the bat, you’ll know you’re in for a good time when you visit Sutraa Kitchen + Bar, with its loud live music blasting inside its doors. To be honest, the drinks here are on the more expensive side but its live music truly makes up for it!
It also helps that the drinks themselves are delicious and aren’t watered down to force you into ordering more. In fact, it doesn’t take much more than a single glass of their margaritas to get you buzzed and ready for the dance floor.
Drinking and dancing isn’t the only thing you can do here, however, as there’s also a pool room where you can engage in friendly competition with your friends or other groups! Furthermore, there’s a shisha bar upstairs if you want a more laid-back experience.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking to order some food for the whole table, we recommend opting for one of their freshly baked pizza! They can serve multiple people and come in unique flavours like pepper fried lamb, Hawaiian hot BBQ chicken, seafood sambal and more.
Healy Mac’s
— Media credit: healy_macs_bangsar
Address: 37, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 19-380 6588
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Weekends: 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
Cost: $$
If you’ve always wanted to fill the exhilarating atmosphere of English pubs, then Healy Mac’s should be right up your alley! It’s here where you’ll get to root for teams you may haven’t even heard of before when the game is on and sports fans are in the house.
It definitely offers a different kind of experience as opposed to the usual neon-lit bars that blast loud EDM and pop music but that’s part of its charm! Instead of dancing, you can sit down and enjoy a cold pint of beer while catching up with your friends (we all have different ideas for fun)!
Furthermore, we recommend going to this bar if you’re fond of Western cuisine, as they offer a boatload of them. From fish and chips to steaks, burgers and more, you’re guaranteed to enjoy a savoury and fulfilling meal here!
Pro tip:
If you want to enjoy a unique dining experience before your night out, we recommend checking out the next-door restaurant called “Dining in the Dark”. Here, you’ll get to eat scrumptious dishes while blindfolded, enhancing your tastebuds to the next level!
Rock Bottom Changkat
— Media credit: rockbottom_changkat
Address: 42, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 11-6172 9892
Operating hours: Daily from 3:00 PM to 2:30 AM
Cost: $$
Sometimes, the name of the bar will give you an idea of what you can expect from your night out but fortunately, this isn’t one of those cases. Rock Bottom Changkat will treat you to a whole different level of vibe, one that’s engaging and fun at the same time.
We say engaging because aside from dancing, visitors from all over the world can participate in fun quiz nights. When we first discovered this, we were surprised at just how chaotic it would be to mix thinking on your feet and drinking refreshing cocktails.
If you just want a regular bar/club experience, don’t worry because they also feature talented DJs from time to time who play amazing party music. Furthermore, bands will occasionally take the stage to accompany your night out with heartfelt songs.
Pro tip:
Follow their Facebook account to see all their announcements regarding live acts and ongoing promotions. Who knows, maybe you can score discounts on your night out!
The Whisky Bar KL
— Media credit: thewhiskybarkl
Address: 46, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Contact details: +60 735 6709
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Cost: $$
If you prefer a laid-back drinking experience, then you should pay The Whisky Bar KL a visit! As you may have gleaned from its name, this place serves a wide selection of whisky, ranging from old and rare to blended malt and anything in between.
They also feature whisky imported from different countries such as Ireland, Germany, Taiwan, Japan and more! Now I’m not going to pretend the differences between these bottles, but I know that these go for a lot of money and tons of people will go crazy after them.
If you’re like me and you’re not well-versed in whisky culture, don’t worry! They also offer a myriad of cocktails that you wouldn’t typically find in normal bars as well as bottles of wine for those intimate nights.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something to pair with your glass of whisky, we recommend going for their classic steak bordelaise!
Pisco Bar
— Media credit: pisco_kl
Address: 29, Jalan Mesui, Off Jalan Nagasari
Contact details: +60 3 2142 2900
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday: 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Friday to Saturday: 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Cost: $$
Even if it’s your first time in Changkat Bukit Bintang, we have a feeling that you’ll immediately notice Pisco Bar, as it’s one of the famous nightlife spots on the street. It’s not hard to see why people flock here too, as it can house over 250 guests—how crazy is that?
You may conclude that this many people can make the place feel cramped up but think again! Thanks to the bar’s 2-storey nature, you and your friends can dance freely without restrictions with some room to spare.
The real highlight here, however, is their selection of drinks. Here, you can ditch the usual margaritas that you’ve grown accustomed to, as you have to try their unique drinks that incorporate exotic fruits!
Pro tip:
You can also choose to have your dinner here before the place transforms into a night owl hub! They serve amazing and authentic Spanish and Peruvian dishes ranging from tapas to ceviche and more.