Penang Cocktail Week 2024: Full schedule and bars participating

Experience Penang Cocktail Week 2024 from 1 to 8 September, featuring 80 over guest bartenders, world-class bars, and exciting events.

Penang Cocktail Week is back, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more intoxicating than ever. For one whole week, George Town will transform into a vibrant playground for cocktail aficionados, bringing together a dazzling mix of talent and flavour from all corners of the globe.

What began in 2023 as a passion project by Koh Yung Shen of Backdoor Bodega has now blossomed into an 8-day fiesta that promises to shake up your senses and stir your imagination.

Penang Cocktail Week returns for the second year this September 2024

This year, the festival pours in over 80 guest bartenders hailing from 17 cities, mixing it up across 60 over events. Picture this: world-class bar takeovers, cocktail parties that stretch into the wee hours, masterclasses where the alchemy of drink-making is laid bare, and seminars that dive deep into the art of hospitality—all set against the backdrop of Penang’s most iconic bars and hotels.

Expect to be dazzled by some of the most celebrated bars on the planet. Coa from Hong Kong, the reigning champion of Asia’s Best Bar for three years running, will be there, along with Singapore’s legendary Jigger & Pony, which has held the crown as the city’s best for five straight years. Sydney’s Maybe Sammy, a darling of the World’s 50 Best Bars list, will add a touch of Aussie flair, while Taiwan’s Vender and Vietnam’s The Haflington bring their own award-winning magic to the mix. And that’s just the start—bartenders from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and beyond are ready to take Penang by storm.

But this isn’t just about drinks; it’s about redefining what it means to work in the world of cocktails. Enter Bar Banters, a fresh addition to this year’s program. This open forum will gather industry titans to discuss everything from wellness in the world of bartending to the explosive growth of Southeast Asia’s cocktail culture. Expect insights from the likes of Simon Ford of Ford’s Gin, Jay Khan of Coa, and Colin Chia of Nutmeg & Clove, among other luminaries.

The excitement doesn’t stop there. On 6 September, George Town will host a Taiwan Takeover night, where six Taiwanese bars will show off their best behind Penang’s bars. Then, on 8 September, the PCW Cocktail Garden returns in collaboration with Hin Market, offering a lush escape filled with craft cocktails and artisan vibes. Take notes for this one because 5 September marks the Malaysian Invasion, where 17 bars from across the country will converge on the city, bringing their unique flair to Penang.

For those who crave a bit of adventure, the PCW Party Yacht, presented by Jameson, Chivas, and Martell, will set sail, offering guest bartending shifts with a backdrop of the city’s stunning skyline. And of course, the festival’s signature showdown, the PCW Ford’s Gin Battle of the Bartenders, will heat up the competition on 4 September.

With over 20 bars hosting this year’s Penang Cocktail Week, PCW2024 is set to elevate Penang’s bar scene to new heights, showcasing the extraordinary talent that makes this city a rising star on the global cocktail map. So, get ready to sip, savour, and celebrate in a festival that promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

Dive into the full schedule to make sure you don’t miss a moment of this spirited extravaganza!

Penang Cocktail Week 2024: Full schedule and all the bars participating

1 September 2024

PCW2024 Opening Party featuring Jigger and Pony @ Ascott Gurney

Bar Banters: Delivering Wow Through Hospitality with Guoyi Gan @ Ascott Gurney

Fun Brunch featuring Jordan Lim and Su Kim Hock @ Shokudō Niban

PCW2024 Day 1 After Party featuring The Spirits Library @ The Cellar, Macalister Mansion

2 September 2024

Bar Banters: Health In Hospitality with Jay Khan @ Ascott Gurney

G.O.D. Bar Takeover @ Good Friends Club

The Haflington Bar Takeover @ The Nest

COA Bar Takeover @ Backdoor Bodega

3 September 2024

Bar Banters: Beyond Bartending with Niks Anuman @ Ascott Gurney

Masterclass: Low and No-ABV Cocktails with Tracia Chan @ Ascott Gurney

Bee’Znees Bar Takeover @ BaoBae

Carrots Bar Takeover @ Nomad

USE Bar Takeover @ No Bar Here

F*nkytown Bar Takeover @ Backdoor Bodega

ASMR Bar Takeover @ BISO

4 September 2024

Bar Banters: Crafting A Cocktail Career with Simon Ford @ Ascott Gurney

Nutmeg & Clove Bar Takeover @ Good Friends Club

Last Word Bar Takeover @ Backdoor Bodega

Smoke & Mirrors Bar Takeover @ Round

Bar Sathorn Takeover @ Chez Chez

5 September 2024

Bar Banters: Cocktails In Asia, The Rise Of SEA with Colin Chia & Tariq Widarso @ Ascott Gurney

Malaysian Invasion: Ikiya 2.0 @ The Mandarin

Malaysian Invasion: Shui @ Round

Malaysian Invasion: Penrose @ The Nest

Malaysian Invasion: OG’s Takeover @ Backdoor Bodega

Malaysian Invasion: Cabinet 8 @ Good Friends Club

Malaysian Invasion: Three X Co @ BISO

Malaysian Invasion: TERUMI @ BaoBae

Malaysian Invasion: Haiiro Usagi @ Nomad

Malaysian Invasion: Soma @ The Cellar

Malaysian Invasion: Bar Trigona @ Chez Chez

Malaysian Invasion: Here & Now @ No Bar Here

Malaysian Invasion: Reka @ BISO

Malaysian Invasion: Rākh @ BISO

6 September 2024

PCW2024 Sunset Sessions: Pool Party featuring The Daily Tot and Tell Camellia @ Ascott Gurney

Taiwan Takeover: Vender @ Round

Taiwan Takeover: Tender Cocktail Bar @ The Mandarin

Taiwan Takeover: Book Ing Bar @ The Cellar

Taiwan Takeover: HiBoRu @ Backdoor Bodega

Taiwan Takeover: Bar Lonely @ Nomad

Taiwan Takeover: WA-SHU @ BaoBae

7 September 2024

Bar Banters: The Unconventional Art of Maybe Sammy Hospitality with Sarah Proietti @ Ascott Gurney

Party Yacht featuring Employees Only SG and EPIC

Maybe Sammy Bar Takeover @ Backdoor Bodega

Sammy Junior Bar Takeover @ No Bar Here

The Shady Pig Bar Takeover @ Chez Chez

The Wrap Up: Ganesh and Mattman Bar Takeover @ Magazine 63

8 September 2024

PCW2024 Cocktail Garden @ Hin Bus Depot

Fun Brunch featuring Jordan Lim and Su Kim Hock @ Shokudō Niban

PCW2024 Closing Party featuring Modernhaus and Offtrack @ lyf Georgetown

Save the dates and grab your tickets here. 

(All images used courtesy of Penang Cocktail Week)