Notte KL – Bar, Lounge & Event Space, Kuala Lumpur
Words: Jacob Weber
Photos: Han Sen Hau
Notte KL might be the new nightlife destination you never knew you needed. (Try saying that after a few Negronis.)
This premium lounge bar, an ice cube’s throw from the KL Tower, originally opened as “V’s Lounge” a couple of years ago and is making a stylish comeback. You’ll find it directly above their partner restaurant, Zenzero, an Italian fine dining institution in KL. Notte completes the experience with a comfortable and classy space upstairs, where you can sink into a plush sofa and enjoy a digestif, or a nightcap, or a tray of shots, or … you get the picture. Oh, and if you dine at Zenzero, you get a 10% discount on your drinks at Notte, which is always nice.
It might be fine dining downstairs, but there is nothing pretentious about this place. It’s a brilliant balance between the elegant and the easy-going; you could be scanning one of the best Italian wine menus in the city with one eye while picking out shots on the bar drinks list with the other.
Notte KL is very much not a nightclub but nevertheless caters to the crowd with resident DJs (two on weekends) and live bands. After all, people still want to go out for a drink and a dance — just not necessarily to ear-splitting techno in a sweaty mosh pit. Notte knows this and gives the people what they want. And what do they want? Well, Saturday “Retro Nights” are growing more and more popular by the week …
Talking of catering to the crowd, Notte really comes into its own as a private event space. The venue can easily host around 100 guests for private parties, networking, and corporate functions. The private dining room can be turned into a buffet area with carving stations. Finger food or a la carte options are also available. Everything, of course, is immaculately prepared by the outstanding kitchen team at Zenzero. And, there’s no private hire or minimum spend. Round some people up, set a budget, and the team at Notte will do the rest.
That’s an initiative that we can drink to. And our cocktails have arrived, so we do.
Drinks Menu
There are the usual suspects on the cocktail menu, including some Italian classics like Aperol Spritz (RM 44) and Negroni (RM 44), and some house specials which sound interesting. We opt for a wide selection, for the sake of research.
The Dolce Netto (RM38) features Amaretto and a double espresso shot with cocoa bitters and whipped cream, topped with a chocolate stick flourish. I like this a lot; it’s well-balanced and not too sweet, with the bitterness of the espresso toning down the honeyed liqueur.
The Luna Notte (RM38) is on the other end of the spectrum but no less delicious. This recipe calls for gin infused with chrysanthemum tea, fresh lemon juice, and a Prosecco top; it’s light, floral and refreshing with a pleasant effervescent finish.
As soon as we see a house Negroni, we have to try it. The Truffle Negroni (RM38) is made with black truffle-infused Campari alongside the gin and sweet vermouth and garnished with more truffle. It’s luxuriously smooth, beautifully bitter, and earns The Yum List’s seal of Negroni approval.
The Green Ginny (RM48) is Notte’s tropical twist on a whiskey sour. At least, it would be if it had any whiskey in it. This version features gin, Midori, egg whites, lemon juice, simple syrup and Angostura bitters, and it’s probably my favourite cocktail of the afternoon.
And of course, we have to try an Aperol Spritz (RM44). No tweaks on tradition here; just a very well-prepared and generously poured glass of Aperol, Prosecco, bitters and soda water. Bellissimo.
Notte Food Menu
At first glance, the food menu at Notte isn’t the most exciting we’ve ever seen. For a second, I thought I was looking at the kid’s menu: French fries, tuna meatballs, cheese sticks and chicken nuggets?
Turns out the team here knows exactly what they’re doing.
This menu is deliberately designed for fast cooking, quick service, and easy sharing — which works very well in a comfortable lounge environment designed for large groups. And they might sound like any old bar snacks, but the quality of the ingredients and the execution is more five-star than fast food. It’s Notte in a nutshell.
The Tuna Meatballs (RM24), with their generous fillings and crispy breadcrumb exterior, are delicious, disappearing quickly after a couple of drinks. The Mac & Cheese (RM58) is classic, creamy comfort food with a gourmet twist, featuring no less than four types of cheese: Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Formaggio Ubriaco, and Gorgonzola. The artfully presented Beef Lasagna (RM58) uses premium Australian beef, béchamel and Grana Padano cheese in its recipe.
Thankfully, we’re not too full to try some of the signature dishes from Zenzero as well. You can order a la carte from downstairs until 10:30pm, so we make the most of that opportunity.
The Homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi (RM66) pairs earthy, sweet pumpkin perfectly with a gorgonzola sauce and toasted walnuts; the spectacular texture gets rave reviews from everyone at the table. Pescatarians (and everyone else) will rejoice at the beautifully pan-roasted Norwegian Salmon Trout (RM92) and its sophisticated sides, including celery cream, beetroot and gooseberry, and an orange sauce finished with caramelised orange zest.
Talking of crowd-pleasers, the Strozzapreti (RM75) — whose name translates to “priest strangler,” for reasons I shall leave mysterious — is a collective favourite. Homemade pasta with a unique, thicker texture, it comes with a serving of spicy sauteed lamb ragu, which we’re all fighting to finish.
Last but absolutely not least, the Braised Black Angus Beef Cheeks (RM138). I just have to wave my fork in the general direction of these generous chunks of premium beef, and they fall apart in the breeze. Luckily, they’re on a bed of pillow-soft ‘organic mash’ made with pumpkin, purple potatoes and carrot ginger. Highly recommended.
To go with the mains, we can’t resist a glass of red from Zenzero’s menu, which really is quite something (ask your server for available wines by the glass). Today, we go for a Primitivo I Muri from the Vigneti del Salento winery in Puglia, a soft yet bold red that’s bursting with ripe black and juicy red fruits and more than a few hints of vanilla and chocolate.
As easy as it would be to remain in one of these comfortable chairs for quite some time, we (reluctantly) have other places to be. But we know where to come back for a good night that won’t break the bank or ruin our shoes — and Retro Night does sound like a lot of fun …
Reasons to visit Notte KL: elegant yet easy-going lounge bar in the heart of KL; comfortable upstairs area suitable for large groups and private parties; classic cocktail menu with house specials and Italian classics; a la carte dining and bar snacks available from the Zenzero kitchen; live entertainment, resident DJs and themed nights for livelier occasions.
Notte KL
Amplewest@Menara 6, Jalan Puncak
50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Link to Notte on Google Maps
@nottekl
Notte KL Opening Hours
Daily: 12 pm-late (open for dining from 12 pm; bar opens at 5 pm)
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