The best bars and cafés Malaysia

If you want to dance or sit at the bar in an overheated atmosphere, there's no better place than Sunba. The room isn't very big, and it's easy to find yourself pressed up against each other in high season. The atmosphere is all the better for it. The setting is inspired by pre-war Malayan wooden houses, with raw wood featured throughout. Pool tables, live music and a DJ who spins the decks until the wee hours of the night keep things lively. The music draws on an international repertoire from the 1960s to the 1980s.

This elegant, trendy bar is housed in a former shophouse in Chinatown. Gone are the chinoiseries, replaced by a sober, modern setting. The atmosphere is warmed by a clever play of colored lighting. We come here to drink a cocktail skilfully prepared by a mixologist. The Jungle Bird is the signature cocktail, invented here: amber rum, Campari and fresh pineapple. It's served with a bouquet of fresh mint and edible flowers. But you can also opt for a Moscow Mule, served in a copper tumbler... in moderation.

Fancy going for a drink outside, while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Kuala Lumpur skyline? Not so obvious. But this former heliport converted into a rooftop bar offers a most original setting and, above all, a 360-degree view of the capital and the Menara Tower opposite. It's the perfect place to admire the sunset and wait for the stars to come out. Remember to arrive early (access to the rooftop becomes chargeable after 9pm) and, for gentlemen, proper evening dress is required (no flip-flops or shorts).