Havana Bar & Grill
Havana Bar & Grill has operated inside the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur since the hotel opened, making it one of KLCC's most established evening venues. The Cuban theme runs deeper than the decor. A house band plays live jazz, Latin, and salsa music nightly from a small stage near the bar. The rum collection behind the counter is one of KL's most extensive, with Cuban, Caribbean, and South American labels that most Malaysian venues don't carry. The room seats approximately 80 in a layout that combines bar stools, lounge chairs, and small dining tables. Dark wood paneling, ceiling fans, and vintage Cuban artwork create an atmosphere that feels like it belongs in a Hemingway novel. The food menu covers Cuban and Latin American dishes, from ropa vieja to empanadas, designed to pair with the drinks. Service follows Mandarin Oriental standards: attentive, professional, and unhurried.
What to Expect
Enter through the Mandarin Oriental's ground floor, following signs past the lobby. The bar is to the left, partially screened from the hotel corridors. Inside, the lighting is warm and low, the band is setting up or already playing, and the rum bottles glow behind the bar. The atmosphere is relaxed and adult in the best sense. Nobody is rushing.
Warm, musical, and unhurried. The live band transforms a hotel bar into something with genuine soul.
Live jazz, Latin, bossa nova, and salsa performed by a resident band. Sets typically run from 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM with breaks
Smart casual as expected in a five-star hotel bar. Long pants, closed shoes, and a collared shirt for men. Women dress smartly. The hotel's standards apply, though they're not as rigid as some KLCC venues.
Jazz and live music fans. Rum enthusiasts. Couples looking for a relaxed, sophisticated evening without nightclub intensity. Business entertaining.
Cards preferred. The hotel billing system is seamless. Cash accepted. Room charging available for hotel guests.
Price Range
Cocktails MYR 45-65, rum flights MYR 60-120, beer MYR 25-35, food mains MYR 50-90
Cocktails ~$10-15/~9.50-14 EUR, rum flights ~$14-28/~13-26 EUR, beer ~$6-8/~5.50-7.50 EUR
Hours
Daily 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Live music starts at 7:30 PM
Insider Tip
Arrive before 7:30 PM to get a good seat for the live music. Ask the bartender to guide you through a rum tasting if you're interested. The mojitos use fresh-pressed sugar cane juice and are genuinely among KL's best. Friday and Saturday nights get busy by 8:30 PM; reservations help.
Full Review
Hotel bars can feel generic. Havana Bar avoids this through two things: the live music and the rum collection. The band is the soul of the venue. On any given night, a four or five-piece ensemble works through jazz standards, bossa nova, and Latin rhythms with the ease of musicians who've been playing this room for years. The sound level is calibrated for conversation; you can listen actively or let it wash over you.
The rum collection deserves its reputation. Behind the bar, bottles from Havana Club, Zacapa, Diplomatico, and smaller distilleries line the shelves. The bartenders know these spirits well enough to discuss production methods and recommend specific bottles based on what you like. A rum flight is the best way to explore the range, starting with lighter Cuban rums and progressing to the aged Venezuelan and Guatemalan expressions.
Mojitos here use fresh sugar cane juice rather than simple syrup, which makes a noticeable difference. The cocktail menu extends beyond Cuban classics to include the hotel bartending team's original recipes, though the classics are what they execute best.
The room's proportions are comfortable. Eighty seats is enough to create atmosphere without overcrowding. The bar itself seats about twelve, and those are the best positions for watching the bartenders work and catching the band. Tables near the stage suit dedicated listeners. The booths along the far wall offer the most privacy.
Pricing reflects the Mandarin Oriental address. Cocktails at MYR 45 to 65 are premium for KL but standard for a five-star hotel bar, and the quality justifies it. The food menu is secondary to the drinks but the empanadas and the Cuban sandwich are both solid accompaniments.
The Neighborhood
Inside the Mandarin Oriental at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers. Suria KLCC mall, KLCC Park, and the Convention Centre are within a 3-minute walk. Kyo KL operates from the same building complex. Marini's on 57 is a 5-minute walk through the Menara 3 entrance.
Getting There
KLCC LRT station exits into Suria KLCC. Walk through the mall toward the Mandarin Oriental side and follow hotel signage to Havana Bar on the ground floor. Grab from Bukit Bintang costs MYR 8-15. Drop-off at the Mandarin Oriental main entrance puts you 2 minutes from the bar.
Address
Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
Other Venues in KLCC-Ampang
Marini's on 57
Italian-run cocktail lounge on the 57th floor of Petronas Tower 3 with direct views of the Twin Towers. One of KL's most acclaimed bars for cocktails and atmosphere.
Fuego at Troika Sky Dining
Latin American rooftop bar and restaurant on the 23rd floor of The Troika with panoramic KL skyline views and a live DJ on weekends.
Mantra Bar KL
Upscale bar and lounge on Jalan P. Ramlee popular with professionals and the after-work crowd. Strong cocktail program with resident DJs on weekends.
Nao Japanese Rooftop Dining
Japanese-inspired rooftop bar and restaurant on the 23rd floor of The Troika, sharing the sky dining complex with Fuego. Craft cocktails with a Japanese twist.
Blue Bar at Four Seasons
Sophisticated hotel bar on the ground floor of the Four Seasons KL with an extensive whiskey collection and live piano music on select evenings.
Troika Sky Bar
Open-air bar at the Troika Sky Dining complex with unobstructed Twin Towers views. Popular for sundowner cocktails and late-night drinks.