The Southeast Asian cocktail scene did not simply bounce back after COVID-19. It went through a distinct cycle: 2020–21 was about survival, 2022 became the great opening boom, and the following years saw more cocktail bars expand throughout more cities and countries. Cambodia and Thailand were among the earliest movers to remove restrictions in late 2021, followed by the Philippines (Feb), Vietnam (Mar), Singapore (Apr), Malaysia (Apr), and Indonesia (Apr) in the first half o

Kuala Lumpur’s drinks scene is evolving rapidly, and few embody that shift quite like Tracia Chan: an entrepreneur, barista, and bartender who has spent over a decade straddling coffee, culinary, and cocktail cultures. “I cannot take caffeine… and I can’t drink alcohol even though I make drinks,” she says wryly. It’s a contradiction that underscores her approach: one rooted less in consumption and more in craft. Since entering the industry at 18, Tracia has built a portfolio