Blending zero-waste mixology, local Malaysian ingredients, and W’s cosmopolitan outlook, Living Room at W Kuala Lumpur makes its cocktail play in Malaysia’s capital city.
While Kuala Lumpur — well known for its vibrant street food and a rooftop bar scene that rivals the best in Southeast Asia — isn’t quite considered a cocktail capital like Singapore or Bangkok, a burgeoning cocktail culture has begun to take hold in recent years. But the incredible success of the second edition of Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week, which took place in April earlier this year, proved how ready Kuala Lumpur is to be gunning to emerge as one of Asia’s most exhilarating cocktail destinations.
It’s one of the reasons that Living Room at W Kuala Lumpur has recently emerged from a facelift as a chic, consciously-curated contender in the capital’s cocktail scene.
Formerly known as Woobar, Living Room — located in one flank of the lobby on the 8th floor of the hotel — has been newly-reimagined into a futuristic dreamscape, a bar-café hybrid that combines the warmth of a communal living space with the sleek lines and ethereal blue hue one expects of the interiors of a fictional starship.
The space is a plush all-day setting, good for anything from casual midday meet-ups to stylish nightcaps come evening.
Living Room is certainly full of W’s signature swagger. But it’s really the drinks, not just the decor, that deserve your attention.
At the heart of its transformation is ‘Cocktail Series Vol.1’, a wholly-new cocktail menu that fuses Malaysian terroir with global technique and a fierce commitment to sustainability. From fresh Cameron Highlands strawberries to starfruit from Perak and watermelon from Johor, Living Room’s bartenders source their ingredients directly from local producers, dramatically reducing carbon footprint even as they celebrate Malaysia’s bounty.
Their zero waste ethos means that every part — rind, pulp, juice — is reimagined into something drinkable. The First Drop, for instance. This riff on the classic highball is made with blended Scotch, the full spectrum of watermelon, a saline solution, and soda for a bright, smoky-sweet profile that’s as refreshing as it is responsible.
Then there’s the Strawberry Highland Tour — here mezcal meets strawberries, balsamic, herbs, and a crisp chocolate tuile in a high-concept cocktail nod to Cameron Highlands’ berries… dipped in chocolate.
And don’t forget The Last Drop, the companion cocktail to The First Drop. A punchy wet Martini, this leans on the brine of pickled watermelon for a moreish sweet-savoury note. A bonus? You get to chomp on the pickled watermelon garnish too.
Living Room also serves up artfully-executed bites to match. It’s a playful, if tightly-curated selection that run from finger-friendly furikake-spiked hand cut chips and spicy chicken wings to an entire heavily-laden Belgian waffle stack that’ll sate your sweet tooth.
Ultimately, Living Room at W Kuala Lumpur is not just a stylish addition to Kuala Lumpur’s bar scene — it signals the potential of the city’s nightlife and where its cocktail scene is heading.
[Photo credits: Joel Lim Photography | W Kuala Lumpur]
Living Room, W Kuala Lumpur
Address Level 8, W, 121, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 11am to 11pm Sundays to Thursdays; 11am to 12am Fridays and Saturdays
Tel (60) 12-347 9088
Web www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/kulwh-w-kuala-lumpur/dining
Facebook WKualaLumpur
Instagram @wkualalumpur
Reservations book here
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