The P&C Cocktail Bar in Kuala Lumpur is no new guy on the block. They’ve been around for a number of years, so they know a thing or two about cocktails.
There’s no menu. Just creativity, and a flavor profile know-how.
Every single cocktail created is absolutely customized just for you.
And no two cocktails are the same. I dare you to order the same combination of flavors, and you’ll still get something different.
So how does it all work? Well keep reading on to find out.
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Cocktail Hour at P&C Cocktail Bar in Kuala Lumpur
It was the early evening on a Friday. We made our way to Taman Sri Hartamas in Kuala Lumpur to look for P&C.
Now if you have been following along my past posts, you’ll know that I love exploring the speakeasy bar scene. KL has their share of speakeasy bars, from PS150 to Omakase + Appreciate to The Deceased Bar, and P&C was another one to check off our list.
We arrived at Naughty Nuri’s, as I had read that P&C was somewhere behind the restaurant. A walk through the packed restaurant, we arrived to the back of the restaurant. Hubby and I looked at each other and asked…ummm so where is this bar anyway?
There was a well-dressed staff member standing outside a door to an old shack looking structure who could see that we were a bit lost. Minutes later, the staff member approached us and asked “are you looking for P&C bar?”
Yes! Found it. It was right behind the door of the shack looking structure.
Enter through the door and it was like we had arrived into another world. The setting was small, fitting around 25-30 guests in total. Who would have thought this small yet well-stocked bar, with awesome tunes, and good vibes would have existed in this very spot? Looks were very much deceiving and that was what made the whole experience all the more memorable.
The spirit of the prohibition-era well and truly lives at P&C Cocktail Bar – from a massive wanted poster of Al Capone on one wall, and images and newspaper clippings spread across the other walls, it was like taking a step back in time when alcohol was illegal in America, and your only option to find any alcohol was to make your way to a hidden bar.
Custom-made Cocktails at P&C Cocktail Bar
At first we just stared at the bar and admired the well-stocked collection. And that’s when the nerves kicked in – how do we even start with customizing our cocktail?
Meet Biju, our head bartender for most of the evening. He briefly introduced P&C, its concept, and proceeded to hand us a small piece of paper and a pencil. Biju explained that all we needed to do was to tick our base spirits followed by a flavor profile. Once completed, Biju got straight to it and worked his magic.
A lil’ bit of adventure, a lil’ bit of exotic
For cocktail #1, I went adventurous.
Sake and rum were my choice of base spirits…weird I know, but hey, if I am going bespoke, why not get a bit exotic? For my flavor profiles I checked smokey and earthy.
I handed my note to Biju and asked him “what do you think? Doable?” and he replied with confidence, “of course.”
The fun part was watching Biju at work as he prepared my first cocktail. Voila, around 10 minutes later, there was this smokey concoction in front of me. A cocktail in a copper cup sitting on a small tray and covered with a glass jar filled with smoke.
As we lifted the glass jar away, a gentle wiff of smokey basil filled the air. Biju explained my cocktail as a combination of sake and rum, a trio of citrus, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon. Then finally the cocktail is smoked with dried basil.
Seriously guys, who would have ever thought such a combination of flavors could work. Can I just say…. DELICIOUS!
Our Asian Christmas
As if I was the only one who was going to have fun with bespoke cocktails.
Hubby filled out his form and passed it to Biju. As Biju was busy preparing my cocktail, we met Fox (yes, that’s his name), another bartender at P&C, who got straight to work.
Appearing in a funky looking tall tikki glass, the Asian Christmas cocktail was a milky concoction using rum as its base then combining star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of orange.
And so, the night continues…
It was totally unexpected. At first we planned to stay for pre-dinner cocktails. But cocktail 1, became cocktail 2, and then we met Mark, the owner of this fine establishment.
Mark’s an eccentric guy, and a fantastic storyteller. He shared his stories of the past, traveling around the world and training in bars across Portugal, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and London. He also served his fair share of celebrities – from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Demi Moore to Sylvester Stallone.
Overtime, all his travels eventually brought him back home to Kuala Lumpur. When Mark and his team opened the Naughty Nuri’s restaurant next door, this little shack was a smoking area…until one day Mark suggested to open a pop-up bar. This evolved into P&C, which doesn’t stand for ‘Private & Confidential’ mind you. Here’s a cheeky clue – the logo is adorned by a cat sitting on top of a rooster….and that’s what P&C stands for. Go ahead…use your imagination, and I am sure you’ll figure out what P&C could possibly stand for.
And before we knew it, Hubby and I were onto our 5th cocktail each (and probably 3 or 4th shot), laughing and chatting away with Mark and his team. By the time we made it to dinner, it was nearing midnight.
The Verdict
Don’t let the small setting fool you. The P&C Cocktail Bar in Kuala Lumpur packs a punch.
Prices start at RM45+ for a cocktail with 2 shots of base spirits, RM60+ for a triple shot, ad RM70+ if you want to add Champagne into the mix. When combining the highly-skilled bartenders, quality ingredients, and fantastic atmosphere and tunes, the cocktails are worth the price.
This speakeasy bar in Kuala Lumpur is worth paying a visit to when you find yourself in Taman Sri Hartamas. And even if you’re not in the area, you should totally hop into a cab and head over to the P&C Cocktail Bar for an evening filled with adventure, cocktail tasting, and good fun.
P&C Cocktail Bar is open daily – Sunday to Thursday from 6pm to 1am, and Friday to Saturday from 6pm to 2am. I do recommend making a booking, especially if you plan to visit on a Friday or Saturday as seating is limited. To book, give them a buzz on +6017-363-4396.
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I'm Soraya, travel & food blogger and sunshine chaser at Hello Raya. You know that travel bug? I have been well and truly nipped, infinite times.This is my online nook to share my lifelong experiences of travel & food in hopes to inspire you to explore our beautiful world. 7 Comments on P&C Cocktail Bar – Bespoke Cocktails at this Speakeasy Bar in Kuala Lumpur
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I would love to visit Kuala Lumpur and the cocktail bar seems like the perfect place to spend a lovely evening. On top you get a lot of value for your money. And the design is the best!
I absolutely adore cocktails, but never in my life have I seen any that look like these before! The smoky cocktail surely is unique, as is the glass they serve it in. And I also love the sound of the second cocktail they made for you; what a name too! I won’t forget this bar anytime soon!
The P&C cocktail bar sounds really intriguing. I like how its approach seems so secret and once you are in, you enter a totally different world. Like the retro look of the place with those huge posters of Al Capone. Must have been quite an enjoyable evening.
What fun! I love the idea of a cocktail bar without a menu. I bet they are all delicious!! It sounds like you had a great night there.
This is amazing! I also love Speakeasy bars. I went to one in Mexico city that was hidden behind a refrigerator. Also the idea of customising your drink is amazing. I’d definitely give a go to the sake and rum mix haha
Wow, that certainly is an unique experience! I never been to a Speakeasy Bar but reading your post, I will definitely plan one visit to such bar soon. P&C seems like a perfect place to experiment with cocktails, every single drink you mentioned sounds delicious. Looking this place up when I’m in Kuala Lumpur next.
P&C Cocktail Bar in Kuala Lumpur looks such a cozy place to spend the evening. I can imagine how great must have been the evening. The fusion cocktail with the smoke flavor looks absolutely delicious. Such fun time u had talking with Mark about his fascinating travel tales and celebrity stories. I am bookmarking this. I would love to visit it whenever I am in the city next.