Created in the style of the iconic “private parties” that American DJ David Mancuso used to throw in 1970s New York, Rentak Bar is all about “Rhythm and Booze” and functions as a space for people from all walks of life to dance, drink or just chill – no invitation required.
Speaking with FMT, one of the owners says, “We hate segregation of any kind. So we wanted a space where people of all races and class can come together with the unifying element being the music.”
Dancing to the beat of their own drum, the four friends conceptualised “Rentak” meaning rhythm in Malay, as a music and dance space that breaks away from the overplayed commercialised tunes of today and pays homage instead to music greats of decades ago.
Rentak Bar’s theme is decidedly 70s, with disco funk and soul featuring heavily.
The four friends also share a love for “black music” from the era of the civil rights movement, and highly regard the works of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sam Cooke, and Billie Holiday so be prepared to chill to some pretty haunting tunes.
Needless to say, it’s easy to lose oneself while here. Besides the music, this spot was created to replicate a tropical sanctuary despite its location right smack in bustling, concrete-laden Kuala Lumpur.
The old-world charm of Petaling Street no doubt plays a key role in its ambience and the distinctly tropical garden feel flooding the upper deck of this pre-war building is soothing to the senses and tired bones.
With much of its original architecture intact, the deep orange-painted walls are adorned with bold paintings of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic peoples and the soft pockets of light in the open space beckon one to lounge inside amongst the greenery.
One of the four friends, a part-time DJ and a familiar face to those who know the pub circuit, is the real genius behind the music. A huge fan of the DIY-sound system culture, he’s big on vinyl records which he swears delivers the best quality in terms of sound.
“There’s been a huge revival of vinyl records. So I bought a pair of 1960s speakers for RM500 and played around with them until they delivered the sound I wanted.
“This table suspended from the ceiling,” he proudly explains, “is the perfect platform for our decks and turntables and to play our vinyl records as it isolates all the room’s vibrations. It doesn’t bounce when people are dancing on the wooden floors.”
Besides the music, there are the glorious cocktails that regulars stream in for time after time. The cocktails here are priced at least 10-20% lower than other bars in the vicinity. And the added bonus? Absolutely no hint of SST – now that in itself is a good reason to down a cocktail or two more than planned.
It’s cocktails galore
Mixologist Chan is a rascal behind the counter, concocting a slew of mischievous and fascinating cocktails that marry the most outlandish flavours, both local and foreign, to great effect.
For those of you who like living on the wild side, here are three superb cocktails that will thrill and one classic that will forever remain a favourite.
Bo Diddley: Gin, lavender, elderflower, lime, lemon
This cocktail is named in honour of the famous rhythm and blues musician and his eponymous invention.
Joget: Gin, Malay herbs, cili padi, kaffir leaves, lime, lemon, sweet vermouth
The name Joget alludes to the fun and carefree two-to-three beat that Joget girls back in the late 50s and 60s used to full advantage.
Fela! Rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, curry leaves, ginger syrup, lime
This cocktail was named in honour of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian saxophonist whose lyrics were brave, hard-hitting and political.
Manhattan: Whisky, Cinzano Rosso, Angostura Bitters, cherry
This classic was concocted at the Manhattan Club in 19th century New York by Dr Iain Marshall. It was made in honour of presidential candidate Samuel J Tilden.
For eats, the café downstairs named ETC, serves up some pretty hearty bar food until 9pm. Plans are in the pipeline for Rentak Bar to open their own kitchen, but for now just place your order with the waitress and food will be delivered straight to your table upstairs.
The Coney Fries are delicious down to the very last, and the deep-fried calamari is a no-brainer crowd pleaser. There are pastas and burgers on the menu too, so they’ve pretty much got everything covered.
If you’re into more traditional bar snacks, knock yourself out with the muruku, peanuts, broad beans and munchies that Rentak Bar stocks up on.
So there you have it – the perfect haunt to saunter into after a long day at work or a place to live it up with friends over a leisurely long weekend. There’s even an outdoor parking space just a short distance away, so if you have a designated driver in your group, drive on over.
Rentak Bar
1st Floor, 198
Jalan H S Lee
Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 6.00pm-1.00am
Mondays closed.