International mixologists will be taking over the city’s watering holes (All photos: Penang Cocktail Week)
While a little social lubricant can certainly help us ease into a new crowd or room, it is often the connection that keeps us there and the hospitality that brings us back. This holds especially true for Penang Cocktail Week (PCW), which has lured master bartenders, industry veterans and cocktail enthusiasts to its shores for the past three years, putting the island on the global mixology map.
The scene was not always this vibrant, though. True-blue Penangite Koh Yung Shen of Backdoor Bodega spent years watching locals migrate to greener pastures — a path he, too, once walked. “I realised that without a solid blueprint and a visible career path in bartending, we will always succumb to losing our talent to other cities and industries,” he reflects.
To turn the tide, he launched PCW in 2023 to showcase the island’s small yet spirited cocktail scene to a wider audience while bringing in international heavyweights to spur home-grown talent, elevate techniques and spark inspiration. “Today, not only are Penangites eager to stay and represent the city, we are witnessing non-local bartenders moving to the island and operating their own spaces. This is an amazing turnaround in just three years.”
The fourth edition of PCW is set to take place from Sept 15 to 20. Under the theme “Welcome Home”, the festival extends an invitation to all, greeting seasoned stalwarts, long-time regulars and first-time visitors to the island alike with open arms.
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Attendees can look forward to a curated line-up of events anchored by five hospitality pillars. Kaki Lang (One of Us) celebrates international and local bartenders with exciting collaborations, Makan Angin (To Explore) invites guests to discover the island beyond its watering holes, Jiak (To Eat) offers exclusive cocktail pairings and unique dining experiences, Kongsi (To Share) connects professionals and enthusiasts through educational sessions and Lau Juak (To Celebrate) brings the festival to a triumphant close with a grand finale at Hin Bus Depot.
Whether you are an early riser or a night owl, the schedule delivers. Sunrise crowd-pleasers include Sip & Sweat rallies, organised in partnership with wellness festival Sun Fun Fest, at Pickle By The Sea and boozy Bartender’s Brunches across the city. As evening approaches, drift into happy hour with cocktail and dim sum pairings at Four Hands or soak up the coastal vibes at Ferringhi Heart Beach Club. At Communal Table by Gēn, MasterChef alumni Therese Lum from Sydney and Marcus Low from Kuala Lumpur will join forces for an exclusive five-course pairing dinner celebrating their Teochew and Hokkien roots.
Koh is personally looking forward to his tribute to a late friend. “This year, together with Shawn Chong [of Bar Mizukami], we are putting together an evening to celebrate Karl Too, one of Malaysia’s pioneering bartenders who passed away in 2024, by showcasing ‘Persau’ — his final bar project.” The event at Steep Social also features Shirmy Chan of KL’s Bar TeRu.Mi and TJ Antony, brand developer and sales manager at Giffard.
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“For me, the future of the Malaysian cocktail scene is not only about creating better drinks or better concepts, but also about building better people, stronger communities and something that can last,” Chan notes.
“What I would like to see next is more depth, such as stronger craftsmanship and leadership, and more development from the bars themselves. We have spent many years learning from global trends and international venues. I think the next stage is to understand who we are, build our own identity and create more opportunities for the next generation to grow into leaders.”
This year’s edition will once again welcome top bartenders from around the globe, including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Look forward to the Taiwan Takeover, featuring the likes of Lacuna from Taichung, Silk Road from Taipei and Treelight from Kaohsiung.
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For Bisou Bisou’s Gregory Buda, coming all the way from Montréal, Canada, to Penang is all about discovery. “There are a lot of amazing bars globally that get missed because they aren’t located in central cocktail cities like London, New York and Singapore. There are also a lot of bartenders who don’t have easy access to the networking and education that the major bar shows offer. I think the move over the past few years to more regional festivals and cocktail weeks throughout the year is amazing because it gives access to more people and highlights cities and regions that don’t otherwise get the spotlight,” he says.
Élise Hanson, formerly of Civil Works in Toronto and Canada’s Bartender of the Year 2025 shares the same sentiment. “Where I’m from, Penang isn’t exactly a name people would recognise, so having the international bar community travel here and see the talent this island has is huge.”
She is especially eager to see a different hospitality community in action and how other city bars run service, treat guests and build culture. “It’s easy to get tunnel vision running your own bar day to day. PCW is a chance to step outside that and come back with fresh eyes. And honestly, I’m just as excited for the food and to make some new friends along the way.”
For the full programme and tickets, visit here.
This article first appeared on Aug 17, 2026 in The Edge Malaysia.
