Mantra, Bangsar Village II
Mantra is poised to be the newest and hottest place to be, any night of the week. The rooftop bar at Bangsar Village 2 affords breathtaking views of the KL City skyline and attracts an equally glittering crowd. Indoor seating is available for those who want to escape the never-ending tropical heat, but al fresco is the way to go if you want the best view.
Mantra brings in DJs to spin at their in-house deck every day of the week and the music ranges from easy lounge to light house beats.
The place is already packed on week nights and is normally fully booked. So be sure to make a reservation to avoid disappointment. Mantra has done little marketing on their end but word of mouth seems to be spreading like wildfire for this hotspot.
Come for the ambiance, stay for the cocktails and food.
The cocktails are creative and are served in incredibly Instagrammable presentation styles. The drinks can be rather costly, but do it for the 'gram, amiright? I'm kidding, I mean, it's great for the 'gram but the drinks are so well mixed and executed. We tried (clockwise) the La Unica, a Pulau Panjang (great play on the name, if you don't know Malay, that means Long Island) and my cute Japanese teapot containing a blend of Jasmine tea and gin (I wished I could just overturn the lid like I normally do in Chinese restaurants to get a refill).
Food is still in its infancy at Mantra, according to one of the co-owners Warren, but for the first rendition of its menu, it is pretty damn good. Though much of the dishes are served bar food style, the level of expertise in executing it is unlike any bar I have ever been to. Mantra lives up to its hype and will continue to do so if it maintains it's high standards for both drinks and food.
Mantra @ Bangsar Village 2, rooftop