By Sarah W

Sarah W – our resident dating (non)expert (read her column on p56) – takes her cue from the new ‘Sex and the City 2’ film and goes on a man-mission at KL’s drinking holes with her own single-ladies clique

When given the opportunity to do so, I firmly believe it’s best to be brazen when one hijacks another section for one’s own personal gain. Nothing brings out the inner yahoo of great cosmopolitan ladies like a Saturday night out on the lash and my good lady friends have graciously accompanied me; a mix of women in their twenties with varied jobs (a brand manager, an advertising exec and a BBC correspondent, oh my!)

 Our first port of call – in the interests of research of course – is Bentley’s, a token Irish pub that feels oddly comforting for a hotel pub. The reason we’ve picked this spot – our only reason, if we’re being honest – is their generous Ladies’ Hours. Name your poison (vodka-based drinks, wine or beer) and it’s utterly free, for four hours (4pm-8pm). The quantity of men seems scarce so we hijack the pool table as the topic of conversation turns to Boyfriends of Christmas past. Intention: grist for merciless ridicule. The pub’s leather sofas, mahogany interior and scent of cigar smoke wafting through the air screams ‘Argh, we are men’ so it feels appropriate to be dissing our exes. The waiters tend to our every need and their free-flow gives us the chance to sample everything. I’m leaning towards the vodka tonic: simple and delicious.

We move on for drinks at dusk at ultra-swanky Teeq – part of the rooftop bar craze that we seem to be fond of at the moment. We steer clear of the interior in favour of its picturesque outside drinking area, with its high counter-top tables and seemingly out-of-place skinny trees. Tables and couches sit in close proximity in each other, enabling us to chat with other people and see if anyone catches our eye. Teeq screams ‘chic’ and it shows in their clientele: young business men and handsome mat sallehs all lit up against the outside lounge’s blue lighting and KL’s skyline. Their Coconut Paloma is a must: a mixture of pandarus essences, coconut rum and more rum. The Starry Starry Sparkle is a winner too. It’s a very beautiful drink and its contents (prosecco, lychee nectar and blue citrus schnapps) aren’t too shabby.

I attempt to speak to a hottie at the next table and hope against hope that the two of us stroll off like French lovers thrown together by capricious fate. I mumble some gibberish and I’m turned down abruptly. Blushing, I think: I used to be charismatic in person, back when tequila-fueled exchanges were my raison d’être. No longer; I now have the personality of a cushion.

The girls rally behind me and we hustle over to The Manor. Formerly Bar Savanh, this fairly new locale started out its life as a ‘mobile club’ and is now planning on opening additional branches throughout the city. Months ago, the club broke out onto the scene by hosting several fabulous fashion parties and if industry gossip and hype is anything to go by, I figure it’s worth a visit. However, first impressions are iffy: fairly nondescript and ordinary from the outside, we almost pass it by. Once we head inside, impressions go steadily downhill: blood-red furniture and booming I-can’t-hear-myself-think R&B is a massive misfire for us.  We head straight to the bar and I gulp down an Electric Lemonade – blue and fizzy with vodka, citrus and lemonade. Their margaritas are nothing to shout about and the crowd is, unfortunately, very much the same. Three sheets to the wind, I get on my (metaphorical) soapbox and declare out loud that I want to be fetishised by an entire generation of dysfunctional losers who can’t get dates.

Enough of this self-pity. I make a decision to end our night at Neo. This luxe lounge is gorgeous and romantic – all soft lighting, mood music and rushing water installations. It’s all the delicate touches that grab my attention: the lights embedded in the bartop, the suspended DJ console and the strangely shaped cocktail glasses. The sophisticated setting attracts a certain type of crowd: a group of men we make friends with are friendly, charming and very easy on the eyes. Things are definitely looking up. We also take advantage of their Stiletto Saturday night. Strap on your highest killer heels; each inch gives you ten per cent off a cocktail. My four-inch heels give me forty per cent off my Neo signature cocktail - Behind the Spring, a sharp and tangy mixture of cognac, berry and citrus gin, blueberries and fresh lime. The Black Forest (dark cacao, vodka and baileys on the spoon) might look similar but its taste is completely different: syrupy and overpoweringly sweet. Opinions, however, divide on the Siam Sunray’s. Playfully getting its inspiration from the Thai tom yam dish, its contents include vodka, citrus and coconut flavours. Not to everyone’s taste, it has a spicy bite that is memorable and gives you a slight dizziness if you take too much at once.

Late into the night, we lose a fellow singleton to the arms of a gorgeous bartender and the rest of us soldier on, dancing until they kick us out. My man-mission may have ended in vain but my romantic impulse is still alive and kicking. A friend gives me some succinct advice: ‘Hang in there. Your prince is right around the corner – he'll show up just as soon as you stop craning your neck to see him. It's not the most attractive look for you, you know.’


A qualitative look at the male crowd in:

Bentley’s (Nikko Hotel, 1st floor, Jalan Ampang. 03 2161 1111/www.hotelnikko.com.my)
Scarce, unless you’re in the market for an older man with a penchant for cigars. Try it out on a weekday where I hear young professionals stop by for after-work drinks from nearby offices.

Teeq (Lot 10 rooftop, KL. 03 2782 3555)
Promising, provided you put in the effort. Throw in the romantic vibe and laidback ambience and you’ve got yourself an impromptu rendezvous for two.

The Manor (Jalan Doraisamy, Asian Heritage Row. themanor@live.com)
Empty, empty, empty. Its interior consisting of so-dim-it’s almost-dark lighting, red silk hangings and dodgy beds do not an amorous hook-up make.

Neo (19 Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL. 03 2148 3200/tamarindrestaurants.com)
Our favourite of the bunch shows potential. Elegant yet cozy, you can chat someone up at the twinkly bar and then wander over to the couches for a more intimate conversation.