Backdoor Bodega

Opened with zero fanfare in November 2016 behind a clothing store on Jalan Gurdwara, Backdoor Bodega bills itself as Penang's 'overpriced pin shop'. Inside is a small, owner-operated speakeasy run by founder Koh Yung Shen and a team of self-taught bartenders, with a warm, irreverent sense of fun.

The menu, The Backdoor Bodega Guide To Penang, doubles as a travel guide to the island and uses local ingredients such as ulam, belacan, Penang-made soy sauce and nutmeg fruit. Signatures include the Kelapa Hotak, Ulam Mojito, Georgetown Gimlet and the RBS, inspired by Malaysia's late-night ramly burger. Classics and alcohol-free drinks are also available.

It was the first Penang bar to make Asia's 50 Best Bars 51–100 (2022), ranked No.52 in 2024, No.64 in 2025 and No.66 in 2026, and won the World's Best Cocktail Menu award at The World's 50 Best Bars 2025. Reservations are handled through the website's contact page. A must for any cocktail lover visiting Penang.