Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL

Swee Lee Social Club Lot 10 Music Store & Cafe KL

Swee Lee Social Club KL

Words: Monica Tindall
Photos: Rich Callahan

What began as a supplier of brass instruments to the British military in Singapore, has now expanded to include 15 stores across South-east Asia with three of those in Malaysia. Swee Lee Social Club, on the third floor of Lot 10, has built upon the foundation of its predecessors to establish a firm footprint in the present. Continuing to help musicians – from beginners to pros – follow their passion, the concept has now evolved into a fully integrated lifestyle brand.

Swee Lee in Lot 10 provides its core line-up of musical instruments in addition to a café, vinyl section, lifestyle products and second-hand guitars. Close to 5000 square feet composes an inviting space, and the afternoon we visit there are several groups and individuals all about the store. Some are engaged in technical conversations with knowledgeable staff. Others are browsing the vinyl, some are collaborating over coffee, and at various points, one or two people jam with the guitars on couches in the café.

Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL

Swee Lee Social Club KL

The café takes up a bright corner of Swee Lee Social Club with tables and sofas interspersed between dynamic artworks. You might recognize the scene in the wall mural from the streets of Bukit Bintang. In contrast, others could be drawn to the wooden cutaways of celebrity guitarists. There’s a shelf stacked with board games, and, in general, the area invites guests to chill, converse, collaborate or read a book, alone or with a friend.

Swee Lee Social Club

Menu

While the number one reason for visiting Swee Lee Social Club is the instruments, the café offers sustenance for extended periods of browsing. The menu is straightforward and reasonably priced. While you won’t find any gourmet recipes here, most should be satisfied with the fresh, simple food that is all made in house.

Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Menu

Food

We begin with one of Swee Lee Social Club’s most popular orders, the Pulled Beef Pesto Sandwich (RM 22). It’s filled with brisket that has been cooked for eight hours, along with mushrooms (shimeji and button), lettuce and shallots. Panini acts as a worthy holder, and the pesto sauce is surprisingly tasty considering it does not contain pine nuts or Parmesan. Mixed greens and fries turn this sanga into a complete meal.

Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Pulled Beef Pesto Sandwich

Wraps

Carbs are also offered in a simple menu of two wraps, tuna and chicken. The Grilled Chicken Wrap (RM 15) is a tight roll of marinated thigh seasoned with honey mustard and some obligatory green lettuce. Pan-grilled to form a charred edge, the meat is nice and smoky. Fries are sprinkled with paprika and salt and tossed in butter.

Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Grilled Chicken Wrap

Salads

Salads are reasonably priced, and the Chicken Caesar Salad (RM 15) is another one of Swee Lee Social Club’s best-sellers. The standard, romaine lettuce, is used as a base. It’s tossed together with garlic croutons, twirled kyuri, parsley, yellow onion, cherry tomatoes, and shaved Parmesan. Pieces of the grilled breast are plentiful; it’s good value for money. Do, however, ask for the dressing on the side if you prefer to add it to your own liking.

Cafes Bukit Bintang
Chicken Caesar Salad & Banana Mango Smoothie

Smoothie Bowls

I find a vegetarian option in the Harmony Bowl (RM 25). This vibrant blend of strawberries, banana and milk is topped with sliced dragonfruit, strawberries, coconut flakes, roasted sunflower seeds and chocolate chips. It’s a little thinner than I personally prefer but fruity and refreshing all the same.

Cafes Bukit Bintang
Harmony Bowl

Cake Display

You have to get out of your seat to choose a sweet (found in the cake display), which is a good thing as every calorie burned will count if you decide on the Salted Caramel Cookie Cake (RM 15). Decadent layers of dense cake are layered with sticky salted caramel and cream cheese. There’s a cookie crumb topping that’s drizzled again with caramel.

Cafes Bukit Bintang
Salted Caramel Cookie Cake & Latte

Drinks

Coffee is the drink of choice at Swee Lee Social Club, and beans by Singapore roaster Pulp by Papa Palheta (PPP) are an expert blend, the Staple Blend in fact. Panama Red Trogan and Guatemala Finca Isnul beans are full-bodied and offer a balance of acidity and sweetness. This darker roast produces a nutty, chocolatey finish, going well both as straight-up espresso (RM 6) or with milk (RM 8). Their cold brew is darn good too, coming both as white or black (RM 10). Brewed on beans by 4me.coffee, this Santos single origin is a light-medium roast, allowing the natural sweetness and fruity flavours to shine through.

Non-caffeine choices are found in tea, a variety of sodas, juices and smoothies. Superbly thick, the Mango Banana Smoothie (RM 15) is sure to fill a pocket. It’s so substantial that it could make a meal in itself.

Swee Lee Social Club Music Store Lot 10 KL
Cold Brew

Swee Lee Social Club Review

The Swee Lee Music flagship store in Lot 10 is a well-known brand for music lovers. Beginners, professionals and their families, however, can all enjoy some downtime in the café. Coffee is good. Food is reasonably priced, and there’s enough variety in vinyl, lifestyle products, and a fun vintage guitar section to hold attention for quite some time.

Reasons to visit Swee Lee Social Club: music store offering an extensive range of guitars (pre-loved as well), drums and vinyl; good coffee to back it up; fairly priced food menu.

Swee Lee Social Club & Music Store Lot 10
T16 & T17, 3rd Floor
Lot 10 Shopping Centre
50 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang
50250 Kuala Lumpur
www.sweelee.com.my

Swee Lee Social Club Lot 10 Opening Hours
Hours: 10am-10am, Mon-Sun

More on KL’s cafe scene here and find other restaurants in Lot 10 via this link.

3 Comments

  1. KIV this place! Gotta go there when I hop over to KL. Sure I will love it!

  2. Everything looks gorgeous – from the guitars to the Pulled Beef Pesto Sandwich and Harmony Bowl and the Salted Caramel Cookie Cake. I would definitely get a coffee as my beverage of choice.

  3. Wow. My man would love this place. Shop and cafe, all in one. Wonderful place to hang out and enjoy food.

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