Backdoor Bodega

Penang

A sippers guide to Penang via culture-steeped cocktails

Penang is often considered the food capital of Malaysia making it, unsurprisingly, one of the country's tourist hotspots. For those visiting, knowing the best spots to eat, drink and visit can be a daunting task. Cue The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang.

Launched in 2023 by Penang's star bar and 'overpriced pin shop' Backdoor Bodega, the tucked-away cocktail spot's menu does exactly what one would expect from its name. Driven by narrative and function, it operates trifold: as a history lesson into the many chapters of the island's storied past, as a flavour map to the must-visit spots to dine like a local and, crucially, as a list of delicious drinks.

The first pages of the menu introduce the island with a brief overview of its history and the inspiration behind the drinks list, before launching into a taste tour proper with the likes of the Georgetown Gimlet and Tanjong Sour, which are packed with emblematic island flavours such as torch ginger flower, galangal, lemongrass, belacan and more. 

Many pages act as a straight-forward guide, such as the Backdoor Bodega team's favourite spots to grab plates of char kway teow (Chinese-Malaysian noodles) in hawker centres post-shift, or cooling ais kacang (shaved ice) on one of Penang's balmy summer days. Each page also comes with a handy glossary for any potentially unfamiliar Malay or Hokkien words, ingredients or phrases, alongside eye-catching photography to provide visual aids showcasing the island's vibrancy. 

In the Chulia section, the menu takes inspiration from Georgetown's Little India and the history of immigration from Tamil Nadu, with the Rasa Rasam (whiskey, tamarind, turmeric, cumin, lime, clarified milk, bubbles, papadom) offering a fragrant homage to the neighbourhood. The final chapter is a selection of evergreen fan-favourite Backdoor Bodega classics, including the Kelapa Hotak, a clarified, tropical concoction of rum, coconut, pandan and kaya.

A true labour of love, The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang surpasses the traditional drinks list idea to create an all-singing celebration of its unique locality. Impressing 50 Best's global panel of Academy Chairs, the all-encompassing menu is named winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award 2025.

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