After a successful debut last year, Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week (KLCW) is back for its second edition.

Happening from April 22 to 27 across five zones in KL and Petaling Jaya, KLCW will bring together not only the best of Malaysia’s cocktail bars and bartenders, but also some of the world’s best as well.

This will all culminate with the day-long Festival Village celebration on April 26, which will be happening at Sentul Depot.

Organised by a group of local industry leaders and stakeholders with the objective of highlighting the art of cocktails and promoting the city’s growing cocktail scene, this year’s KLCW promises an even more exciting schedule of events and guest shifts for cocktail lovers.

Here are five reasons why you should be getting excited about it!

Like last year, the event has been divided into five “zones” across the Klang Valley – Bangsar, Petaling Jaya/Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Damansara Heights, Chinatown, and Kuala Lumpur City Centre – with each zone featuring its own events, and guest shifts.

Local bars that will be hosting international guest shifts include bars that have been featured in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, such as Penrose, Bar Trigona, Three X Co, Reka, and JungleBird.

Bar Trigona will be one of the participating bars again.

But that’s not all, there’s A LOT more bars involved this time around.

After an Opening Party on Sunday (April 20) at Pickle Social Club, KLCW officially kicks off in the Bangsar zone on April 22 (Tues), with guest shifts at Three X Co, Astor Bar @ St Regis KL, Ba By Kinugawa, and Rakh, and the first ‘daily closing party’ at Here & Now, featuring Hong Kong’s Bar Leone and Singapore’s Sugarhall behind the bar.

Expect more international guests shifts during KLCW this time around.

Day 2 takes us to the Damansara Heights zone, with Humboldt, Reka:Bar, and JungleBird setting the heights, before ending with a Malaysian Takeover at Record Speakeasy on April 23 (11pm), where some of the best bars OUTSIDE of the Klang Valley will be mixing it up, namely Good Friend’s Club (Penang), Haiiro Usagi (Johor Bahru), Budi (Malacca) and No Bar Here (Penang).

PJ folks, take note, as you won’t need to travel far for drinks on the third day, when KLCW heads to the PJ/TTDI zone, with Remedy, Soma, Moon Bar among the bars taking part, with the closing shift by Hong Kong's Penicillin at Bar Terumi.

Jann is one of the participating bars in Chinatown.

Looking for some Friday night excitement? Head for the KL City Centre Zone, where Frank’s Bar, Joloko, Living Room at W, and Ver Bar host a stellar lineup of guest shifts, ending with Handshake Speakeasy and BKK Social Club at Bar Trigona.

Think Sunday is a rest day? Not at all, as KLCW ends with a bang in Chinatown, with events at Jaan, Jao Tim, Pahit, Cabinet 8 KL, Concubine, and of course, Penrose.

But wait! There's a final surprise... the closing party for KLCW will be held at the newest bar by the brains behind Penrose – Lavantha!

Ever wondered what the drinks at the best bars in the world and Asia are like? Well, wonder no more, for you will get the chance to try them at KLCW, with guest shifts by 27 of the world’s and Asia’s best bars.

Among the international bars that at KLCW are the No.1 and No.2 bars on the current World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list – Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico; and Hong Kong’s Bar Leone, which is also the reigning No.1 on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list.

Mexico's Handshake Speakeasy is one of the acclaimed international bars that will be in town for KLCW. — Photos: Handout

Bar Leone will close off the first day’s events alongside Singapore’s Sugarhall at Here&Now on April 22 (10pm); while Handshake Speakeasy will take over Bar Trigona together with Bangkok’s acclaimed BKK Social Club on April 25 (10pm).

Other acclaimed bars that will be having guest shifts in KL include Jigger & Pony, Night Hawk, and Offtrack from Singapore; Dentree and Pony Up from China, Hong Kong’s Argo, Lockdown, Gokan, and Penicillin; Vender Bar and Wu from Taiwan; Thailand’s Firefly, Mahaniyom, Nuss Bar, Opium Bar, and The House On Sathorn; Le Chamber and Soko Bar from South Korea; Japan’s Ritz-Carlton and Bee’s Knees; as well as Phillipines’ Flora Bar, Mongolia’s Nomad Lab, and The Modern Hausm from India.

If you only go for one event throughout the entire week (but why?), then save your quota for this day-long Festival Village extravaganza, where almost all the participating local bars will be mixing and serving drinks at Sentul Depot on 26 April, from 2.30 pm to 11.30 pm.

This year’s Festival Village is set to be even bigger than last year’s event, and we’re not even talking about the change in venue. 

The Festival Village will take place in Sentul Depot this year.

Besides the drinks booths by many of the participating bars serving a diverse selection of cocktails made with renowned brands, there will also be live music performances by local artistes Dasha Logan, Peot, Irama, and Aidaho, masterclasses, games, and other activities for punters to enjoy.

It’s no surprise that influences from Malaysian food, ingredients, and flavours feature a great deal in many cocktail creations in Malaysia.

One unique aspect of KL’s Cocktail Week is its focus on how the two industries cooperate and collaborate in order to bring out the best out of each other.

This time around, there will be thirteen, yes THIRTEEN exclusive KLCW cocktail pairing dinners happening, featuring some of Kuala Lumpur’s best restaurants, namely Akar, Barkar, Beta, Bistro Lea, Chipta, Esca, Fifty Tales, Ignis, Jwala, Jus, Okaju, Upperhouse, and Yellow Fin Horse at Raw.

There will be 13 cocktail pairing dinners this year.

This is a chance to not only try exclusive one-night menus from some of Malaysia’s finest restaurants and chefs, but also to taste for yourself how a well-curated cocktail can enhance or even bring a different dimension to a certain dish, ingredient, or flavour.

This one’s for the industry folks out there. If you own a bar or are planning to open one, you should check out the three seminars that will be taking place during KLCW

The first, titled ‘Breaking The Paycheck-To-Paycheck Cycle’ takes place on April 22, 2.30-4.30pm at Here & Now. The seminar will have Peter Yong (Mr Money TV) talking about the practical steps you can take to take control of your finances without giving up the lifestyle you love, from budgeting hacks to smart investing.

Topics that will be covered include money habits, networking on a budget, simple investment strategies, affordable insurance and your own personal action plan.

Industry folks will not want to miss the three seminars lined up this year.

If you’re interested in learning about ‘The Art Of Hospitality’, then don’t miss this seminar by one of the most influential names in the industry – Philip Bischoff, Beverage Manager of the award-winning BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok,  taking place on April 25, 2pm, at Bar Trigona.

Named one of the world’s top bar talents by Drinks International, Bischoff will delve into the nuanced world of leadership behind the bar, and also explore how intentional leadership shapes team culture, empowers bartenders, and ultimately creates unforgettable guest experiences.

Last but not least, discover the power of scent in cocktails with Hadrien Moudoulaud of Bar Nouveau, Paris as he leads an immersive workshop called 'Scents & Spirits: Olfactive Mixology' (the art of using aroma to elevate the drinking experience) together with Perfumer Alexandra Mettetal, on April 27, 2pm, at Lavantha.

What does olfactive mean exactly? It is everything relating to the sense of smell. Explore how scent can enhance storytelling, deepen flavor, and create lasting emotional connections in every sip. This is a must-attend seminar for bartenders, creatives, and curious minds ready to reimagine the sensory world of cocktails.