Maria may look serious behind the bar, but don’t be fooled — when martinis are involved, Maria can quite literally drink anyone under the table. She is the bar manager of Penrose, and while she may be relatively new to the bar world, her rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Formerly a professional dancer — and a Miss Universe Malaysia 2018 finalist — she brought discipline, stage presence, and grace into bartending, where she underwent rigorous training under Jon Lee wh

She might look fierce with her tattoos and that semi-permanent long-sighted squint, but behind the bar Shirmy turns out some seriously mean cocktails. Shirmy is one of Kuala Lumpur’s pioneering female bartenders, a trailblazer who has spent years proving her mastery of the craft. After cementing her reputation as a cocktail maven, the pandemic pause gave her the chance to recalibrate and finally realize a long-held dream: opening her own bar. Today, she helms Bar Terumi, wher

Jon is best known for putting Penrose — and Kuala Lumpur — on the cocktail map, thanks to his steadfast commitment to elevated classics (and never selling just bottles). Jon brought his Singapore-honed cocktail experience home to Kuala Lumpur when he opened Penrose in 2022. The bar quickly earned a place on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, cementing his role in pushing KL’s cocktail scene forward. His mission hasn’t slowed since. With the launch of Lavantha, Jon continues to introduce ne

With a firm dislike of Fernet shots and a soft spot for cats, Amanda’s playful spirit hides the depth of her experience as a globetrotting veteran of the bar industry. Amanda’s bartending journey began in Malaysia, where her talent quickly set her apart before taking her across the world. She went on to hone her craft in Singapore, New York, London, and Hong Kong, building a global résumé shaped by some of the industry’s most dynamic cities. Now back in Kuala Lumpur, she’s ch