Paloma by Ascaro Padel & Social Club KL

Paloma by Ascaro Padel & Social Club KL, 1 Utama Rooftop

Words: Jacob Weber
Photos: Peter Tan

Paloma by Ascaro has to be the sweatiest rooftop dining set-up in Malaysia. In the best way possible.

Because this social club concept takes the world’s trendiest new sport, padel — a tennis/squash hybrid for the uninitiated — and puts it in a shiny new open-air courts-and-courtyard venue on top of 1Utama.

It’s the first of its kind in the country. Soon, it might not be the only one in the district, such is this sport’s booming popularity. But whoever decides they want to put up some padel court competition — there’s one thing they’ll never have.

Paloma.

“Once you play, you stay.”

Paloma by Ascaro Padel & Social Club KL

Paloma is a brilliant and breezy alfresco bar and restaurant that matches the social sports club concept perfectly: healthy and wholesome where it needs to be, and sufficiently indulgent to satisfy a solid afternoon ‘session’ where “well, we’ll definitely play next time, promise. Cheers!”

Co-owner Nico – of Pisco fame – is playing impressive ball with both sides of Paloma’s racquet.

One is a casual, comfortable dining area and hangout spot for any sports enthusiast. There are fruit smoothies and healthy bowls here that could raise the dead. You could play for an hour or two, shower – I’m told the facilities are excellent – and easily spend another few hours here indulging in nourishing food and comfortable chairs. And maybe a refreshing alcoholic beverage, because you’ve earned it.

(You don’t even have to play. There’s easily enough interesting stuff on the menu to keep you occupied while your mates do all that running around and getting sweaty.)

The other is the perfect space for the corporate crowd — and other grown-ups — who might not (always) want to get absolutely hammered at the company event. Or maybe they tried paintballing, but that got ugly, and the on-site catering was awful.

Nico knows a thing or two about hosting and throwing a brilliant party and has set this place up to support any number of events and get-togethers for up to 150 people: networking events, corporate gigs, team-building exercises, birthday parties, you name it. It’s a lot of fun and very inclusive — with its enclosed walls, padel is more forgiving than tennis — and makes for a refreshing afternoon of (hopefully) healthy competition.

(And then you can all get hammered if you want. The cocktails are great. Plus, Nico knows a few good DJs …)

Food Menu

While Mon’s husband is testing out the courts, we’re making our way through the menu. First up, a LIVING Açaí Bowl (RM24), straight out of a “Bali’s best breakfasts” Instagram feed. It’s all very colourful and wholesome and healthy, with kiwi, mango, banana, nuts and pomegranate. Perfect post-padel fuel.

So, too, is the Avocado Toast (RM32), another trendy brunch staple. Paloma’s version is full of taste and texture, with smooth avocado and a perfectly runny poached egg complemented by pomegranates and walnuts on top of crusty sourdough bread. It also comes with potato wedges, which we love — ideal for dipping into that runny yolky goodness.

We get some health-boosting beverages to match our breakfast items. The Living Red Pill (RM24) smoothie is a blend of LIVINGREEN+ supergreen supplement, beetroot, honey and banana, and it’s delicious. You can practically feel your cells rejuvenate with every sip.

The White Tea Kombucha (RM18) from Wild Kombucha also goes down a treat; refreshing and effervescent with a mild and mellow flavour.

Practically glowing with health and vitality, we proceed to the Cheese Platter (RM68). It’s almost as colourful as the açaí bowl, with tasty varieties of cheese rubbing rich and creamy shoulders with goats-cheese-stuffed peppers, caramelised nuts and sourdough bread with an exceptional tomato jam.

Our first main course is the Tuna Tartare (RM48), which has a lovely silky avocado base and crunchy crisps. It’s full of flavour and contrast, and is pleasantly light (tuna) and filling (crisps) at the same time — not the easiest thing to pull off.

The Nicoise Salad with Tuna Aburi (RM45) is as impressive as it is generous as it is delicious. A big, beautiful bowl filled with nice things, like big slices of fresh tuna seared just right to give the soft pink centre a nice crispy edge, and potatoes and anchovies and hard-boiled eggs and other tasty, healthy treats. A salad that might actually fill you up — imagine that?

The Lamb Ragu Pasta (RM45) is equally abundant and appetising: a deeply satisfying portion of well-cooked lamb in a rich tomato sauce with all the right seasoning.

My main course highlight has to be the Wagyu Rice Bowl (RM48), another generous serving of top-quality fare with sliced and grilled wagyu, fluffy brown rice and lots of lovely garnish. If you’ve booked the courts for two hours instead of one (and you’re not a vegetarian), I’d recommend refuelling with this.

For dessert, we get the Cake of the Day (RM15), and either today is our lucky day, or the desserts are constantly this good — because this one is stunning. We get a burnt cheesecake with a soft chocolate layer on top and a rich fruit coulis on the side. It’s smooth and creamy and tangy and sweet and generally irresistibly good.

1 Utama Rooftop – Drinks Menu

Padel is thirsty work. So are restaurant reviews (promise). So naturally, we’re hydrating, too.

An Aperol Spritz (RM 38) is right at home here and made to the classic recipe. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, after all.

We can’t miss the namesake cocktail; Paloma’s version of a Paloma (RM42) is the right amount of sour and certainly the right amount of tequila.

Turns out you can order (white) wine by the bottle, glass, or can. We get a couple of Gatao Cans (RM26), a canned white from Portugal. It feels like a strategic and sensible choice; it’s less than 10% alcohol, light and refreshing — ideal for those sunny afternoons when you don’t want to get too boozy.

And there are bonus Yum List points for sustainability — aluminium cans are 100% recyclable, and because they weigh less than glass, they can be shipped in greater volume for the same cost. A win for the planet — and possibly one’s liver.

For our red, a glass of Los Arboles, a cabernet sauvignon from Argentina with lots of juicy black fruits and some subtle oaky, dark chocolate notes. An absolute winner with the Lamb Ragu and/or Wagyu Bowl. (Insert “‘double’s partner” jokes here.)

We wrap up with lattes and cappuccinos (brewed with Italian beans) and a house special Iced Bumblebee Coffee (RM14), which involves honey and lemon and orange bitters with a double espresso shot – and then it’s time to make an exit, promising to no one in particular that we’ll bring our sports gear next time.

Paloma by Ascaro Review

Even without the allure of the world’s trendiest sport, Paloma works very well as a standalone restaurant and rooftop bar. We love the space and the concept, and the food is genuinely good: lots of variety, generous portions, and quality ingredients.

Whether you’re looking for sustenance after a vigorous sporting session, sustenance for a solid afternoon drinking session, or sustenance for an afternoon’s heavy shopping — you’ll find it here.

Reasons to visit Paloma by Ascaro Padel & Social Club KL: fun social sports concept unique to KL; casual alfresco dining with generous portions and healthy, nutritious options for breakfast, lunch and dinner; great social and sports environment; good cocktails at affordable prices; good space for larger groups and events which can be customised to taste.

Paloma by Ascaro Padel & Social Club KL
1 Utama Shopping Centre, UR601, Bandar Utama
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
@paloma.by.ascaro *Take the Parkson Elite lift to level UR

Paloma by Ascaro Padel & Social Club KL Opening Hours
Daily: 8 am – 12 am

Find more healthy restaurants in KL here and and stay up to date with the latest happenings around Malaysia here and here.