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Written by Beverley Lennon

So you’ve been to the best bars and clubs around Robertson Quay, Boat Quay/Circular Road and Clarke Quay in Singapore or the ones along TREC and Changkat in KL; by now you surely must be so tired of them right? Always the same crowd and atmosphere, plus it’s costing you a lot to simply have some fun and booze with friends!

Now, what if we told you that you could drive to JB with your squad to uncover secret bars hidden behind easily-missed entrances? Time for a night out at the inside track – JB has been swimming in speakeasy bars tucked in darkness and it’s no surprise that you’ve easily walked past them on your multiple trips around the city (especially with Ah-Ma for grocery shopping😉)!

Some of them require a password to enter while others are shrouded behind curtains and wardrobes but one thing is for sure – they all guarantee a sneaky night out under the radar! Now, it’s time for us to reveal the top hidden speakeasy bars in JB with secret doors and most importantly, clues to find them!

Can you find all of them? You’ll have to read in between the lines to decipher all the clues we’re giving below and put your detective glasses on to spot some with real secret entrances! Your mission begins!

Update: Due to the pandemic, some of these bars may have changed their opening hours. Do give them a call before heading down just in case!

Do you know of any nice places? Share with us unique/hidden spots and get paid!
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1. This is not your regular tailor shop – 90 Tailor Bar (90洋服.龟来bar)

Getting your wedding suit done in JB might be a good option to save some bucks, right? You can rent a suit for just RM 50 per day here (approximately SGD $16.50). But that isn’t all! Besides being deemed as Malaysia’s cheapest suit rental shop, 90 Tailor Bar might also be another good spot to chug down some booze! Pssst! Over here! Yes, this tailor shop hides a bar in its closet!

Photo Via Ninikkoysng
Photo Via Ninikkoysng

We simply adore its run-down look that quite reminds us of “The Kingsman” – interiors are shabby chic and hipster retro at the same time; plus you get some hot guy welcoming you before being transported to ancient times!

Photo Via Then_iesha, Eelean-Chong

Clue: 

1. Once at the shop, suit up and “Mirror mirror on the wall who’s the most handsome of them all”? The answer’s often in the place you least expect it to be!

90 Tailor Bar (90洋服.龟来bar)

Price range: Cocktails from RM 25 (Approximately SGD 8)
Address: 21, Lorong Ismail, Taman Kulai, 81000 Kulai, Johor Bahru (Coordinates here)
Contact: +60 12 778 8501
Opening hours: Fri & Sat 7.30pm-1am; Sun 7.30pm-12am

Website

2. This cafe by day turns into a bar by night! – Cabinet 8 by JWC

Coffee shops serving alcohol might be the new trend in JB as this cafe by day turns into a bar by night! And this one is hidden in a closet!

During the day, the place is commonly known as The Bear And Fish, so it takes a whole new label at night to become Cabinet 8 by JWC – it’s so hidden and secret, with few people in, that you might feel as though it is an almost-illegal place to hang out at. Yet, its atmosphere will get you trapped for hours as the magicians behind the bar serves up some unique concoctions. There’s no menu here, so you’ll have to order based on your taste and which flavour you prefer – some are topped with red chilli and other spices or come with a coffee base.

Photo Via Baristabear.boi, _evonlim_
Photo Via Ronson_ngkp, Carine_diong

In here, they want you to escape to another world – be it after work on during the weekend. It is quite like stepping in wonderland as you open up the cabinet to enter a whole new dimension. To say the least – it is almost as if you’re coming to refresh yourself as you only step out of the bar/closet once feeling restored and ready to confront life all over again! A complete makeover for all your senses!

Photo Via Aiaiyuki, Chris_peilee
Photo Via Eileentyl_402

Oh and we’ve also heard that the bar changes its wine menu every three months so it’s never quite the same to visit again and again!

Photo Via Raphael_discovery, Totoginko, Cielkizuna, Jionghui

Clue: Come after 7 pm and don’t forget to touch up your makeup in the mirror – but make sure to look a little closer!

Cabinet 8 by JWC

Price range: Cocktails from RM 38 (Approximately SGD 12.50)
Address: 65, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor
Contact: +60 13 234 1018
Opening hours: Mon 7pm-12am; Tue – Thu 7pm-1am; Fri – Sat 7pm-2am; Sun 7pm-1am

Website


3. Get transported from childhood to adulthood – S.S.H.H.H at MERAH Kitchen and Bar

From the outside, MERAH Kitchen and Bar looks like an old provision shop (or commonly known as your ”kedai runcit”) selling everyone’s favourite childhood candies (like eye glass candies) along with toys – except that it’s not really a candy shop, but rather a top-secret cocktail bar serving up artisanal cocktails and real good authentic food as well!

Photo Via Aijean_, Vivianleeyw

During a chat with the owner, I was also told the story and meaning behind ‘MERAH’. The bar itself is known as “S.S.H.H.H.” which stands for “Secret Society of Hong Hua Hui (红花会)” paying homage to “The Red Flower Society” from the famous fictional wuxia novel “The Book and the Sword (书剑恩仇录)” which features underground secret societies back in the days. Intriguing, isn’t it?

Per an inside look, MERAH Kitchen and Bar has vintage interiors but if you wander deeper down the second floor, you will end up in a swanky space that calls for booze! The hidden bar is all #vibes, right down to the cocktails.

Photo Via Jyllj, Patricia0116, Ryeobin_daily
Photo Via Yennetin, Shirleyleewv20, Totoginko, Aliceting118
Photo Via Smackyourlips, Scarlett_1222

The venue also offers free walking tours around JB and brings you to locals’ top hidden gems as well as to their Merah Ais Store that sells local desserts.

So rather than just a bar, you can opt to drop by during the day for several other experiences here and stay till night to track down their biggest secret!

Clue: Just like the truth comes out of children’s mouth; the best places are very often the ones where your inner child screams (for haw flakes)!

MERAH Kitchen and Bar

Price range: Cocktails from RM 25 (Approximately SGD 8.25)
Address: 17, Jalan Ibrahim, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Contact: +60 16 962 8126
Opening hours: Tue – Wed 10.30am – 11pm; Thu – Fri 10.30 am – 2am; Sat 10.30 am – 12am; Sun 10:30 am – 11pm. Closed on Mon.
Bar opening hours: Sun, Tues and Wed 6pm – 11pm; Thu – Sat 6pm – 2am. Closed on Mon.
S.S.H.H.H. Bar

Website

4. Jump into the rabbit hole! – Haiiro Usagi

It’s useless to ask the locals nearby for this bar location as there’s barely any signage for it. From the outside, it looks like a poorly maintained shop lot – all part of the game though!

Photo Via Decondrinks

What’s exciting here is that you will have to try your luck pressing on doorbells until you finally find it. Walk in and find yourself a seat at Haiiro Usagi (which means ‘grey rabbit’ in Japanese) – a speakeasy-style bar pouring top-notch cocktails with contemporary Japanese vibes and feels!

Photo Via Missmoss, Ericadezucca
Photo Via Mayc0630, Janicehojj, Juinyie

The bar welcomes only 40 people and you’ll find Joe – the owner serving up drinks of excellent quality with years of experience from Switzerland, China and Singapore. There’s a lot to learn from him – in fact, he finds pleasure in teaching the art of cocktails to his guests too! And more than just cocktails, you’ll also get to learn about your future with their Tarot card reading!

Photo Via Lawrence.xiao, Decondrinks, Sophie_ng88

Clue: Tonight, your lucky number is “75A”… We hope you press the correct doorbell!

Haiiro Usagi

Price range: Cocktails from RM 45 (Approximately SGD 14.90)
Address: 75a, Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor
Contact: +60 7336 0209
Opening hours: Mon – Thu 6pm-1am; Fri & Sat 6pm-2am (Sun closed)

Website

Ready to conquer JB’s best hidden bars? Know of any more underground gems that belong on this list? Let us know below!

PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you!
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