Cocktail Bar Chinatown KL – Jann’s New Menu
Words: Jacob Weber
Photos: Monica Tindall
The bar team at Jann at the Four Points by Sheraton have pulled off something rather miraculous.
They’ve managed to turn liquid into fabric. Cocktails into cloth.
Because every ingredient in every signature cocktail here is a delicate piece of thread that weaves a fascinating tapestry of tall tales and short stories about Chinatown – painting a rich, vibrant picture of one of the more colourful parts of Kuala Lumpur.
Jann is a stylish, sophisticated seventh-floor bar in the heart of Chinatown. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto a wide patio with sweeping views across the city while allowing an abundance of natural light to gleam off the black-and-white floor tiles and golden brass fittings. We sit on stools of dark green velvet against the signature jade wrap-around bar. The exposed brickwork and rattan chairs give the place a Manhattan-meets-Malaysia feeling, and it’s a pleasant one. You could have a great Gatsby-themed party here, that’s for sure.
Jann’s New Cocktail Menu
Traditional Tales & Local Legends
Jann is unique amongst Four Points bars worldwide, which usually focus on craft beer – KL’s version focuses on the craft of cocktails. We’re here to sample the third edition of the menu, which is thoughtfully designed with a distinct ‘drinking experience’ in mind (as opposed to classic cocktails for casual drinking). Lots of variety, complex techniques, and unique ingredients that truly tell a story – we’re very excited to start turning the pages.
We start with the eponymous Dear Jann (RM50), the star of the show, named after one of the owner’s daughters. There was a Dear Jann on the first menu, and the new version replaces the original gin and apricot liqueur with tequila and vodka – it seems Jann is growing up! It’s a refreshing, sour, and punchy cocktail with preserved orange peel to bring a little balance of bitterness to the citrusy tang.
Chok (RM48) swings the scales back in the other direction towards earthy, savoury, and rich. Ginger and sesame are commonly used ingredients to enhance congee, a famous food of the nearby Jalan Hang Lekir, and both take centre stage here. Ginger spice, ginger ale and century quail egg complement the Beefeater gin with a touch of sesame oil and citrus. It’s fragrant from the first sip and honestly a little strange – but really intriguing.
Jalan Hang Lekir also provides the inspiration for the next chapter, Bak Kwa (RM48), a homage to a famous local meat jerky stall. Jann’s version is topped with a skewer of chicken in place of the traditional pork, but quite honestly, you can barely tell – it’s a delicious, rich morsel that’s blowtorched to tender perfection. The cocktail itself, featuring vodka, honey, soy sauce and milk, is a strangely comforting mouthful loaded with umami.
Trip Down Memory Lane
The Hawthorn (RM50) is a heady hit of hardcore nostalgia. Hawthorn flakes, which anyone growing up in Malaysia will be familiar with, are the star of the show. Jann uses their own homemade hawthorn puree, too. The watermelon works well with the Chivas 12 whisky – there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write – and it’s a refreshingly balanced trip down memory lane.
The Hawthorn takes you back to your childhood – and the Horlicks (RM50) will tuck you into bed. This creamy, comforting concoction is a nightcap in the purest sense. Horlicks powder is turned into a syrup base, and the maltiness still shines through – and it also goes very well with whisky.
We’ve covered famous faces and favourite foods – now it’s time to tour some iconic Chinatown buildings. REX (RM50) pays homage to a historic local landmark that opened in 1947 and was rebuilt as a cinema in 1976 (and today, one of the trendiest lifestyle hubs in KL). This cocktail is the classic Chinatown cinema experience in a glass; sake and Maker’s Mark bourbon are the main cast, supported by corn and popcorn, paired with jasmine tea-infused caramel. It’s sweet without being too suffocating.
Hu Li Jing (RM48) is named after a Chinese mythological creature with the ability to transform and create illusions – and Jann’s cocktail version has a trick of its own. Squeeze the lime into the butterfly pea-tinted blue liquid and watch it transform into a rich purple! We like this rum-based cocktail a lot, and there’s substance behind the style; a punchy sweet and sour number with a hint of herbs.
The Dan Tart (RM50) is inspired by and named after another local delicacy and a family favourite. The ingredients read like a boozy cake recipe: butter, milk, egg yolk, vanilla and Martell NCF, served with a cute little croissant on the side. It’s delicious. Creamy, rich, eggnog vibes; it’s like something James Bond would order for breakfast.
Several cocktails down, we need something to fortify ourselves – which arrives in the form of another cocktail. But with a name like Vitality (RM50), it sounds like just the tonic. Quite literally, as this drink was inspired by the Chinese medicine shops of the old neighbourhood. Traditional Oriental ingredients chrysanthemum and angelica root have been incorporated into a martini – and like every good martini, this one is served and enjoyed ice-cold. A very satisfying cocktail.
Cocktail Bar Chinatown KL – Jann’s New Menu
As you’d expect from a menu inspired by the most interesting part of the city, Jann’s new signature cocktail offering is filled with twists and turns and treats, surprises and unsung heroes. Whether childhood memories or subtle metaphors, you quite literally get a flavour and feel for Chinatown with every sip. Pretty soon, Jann KL will be a local landmark in its own right.
Reasons to visit this cocktail bar in Chinatown KL: stylish bar with city views; creative cocktail menu with unique ingredients and inspired craftsmanship; five-star service; good choice of bar snacks, food and sharing platters.
Jann @ Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur
Cocktail Bar in Chinatown KL
2, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre
50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
www.jannkl.com
+60 3-2035 7333
Opening Hours
Daily: 4 pm -12 am
Happy Hour: 4 pm -6 pm daily
Find more KL bar recommendations here, and stay up-to-date on the latest gourmet and travel happenings around Malaysia here and here.
Used to stay at Four Points in Kuching but it has closed down now.