Kuala Lumpur’s city centre has no shortage of places to drink, but far fewer that people treat as a social space rather than a stop along the way. Hidden in plain sight along Jalan Ampang, LandOn by Tatto sits beneath Wisma Central as a bar designed around presence, where the pace of the city recedes and the evening opens up differently.

Accessed through a discreet entrance just around the corner from the building’s main lobby, the descent into LandOn immediately alters perspective. The visual language draws lightly from the London tube, but the effect is less about transport and more about separation. Once inside, the flow of time warps and you exist in the now.

A Social Space Beneath the City

The space is arranged to carry that feeling. Seating is low and generous, encouraging people to sit back and stay engaged with one another rather than orienting themselves toward the room. The open plan keeps the energy collective and social throughout the night. Everyone occupies the same space, and that shared presence gives the bar its character.

Design details pull the language back to Kuala Lumpur. Shelving made from repurposed durian wood and tables crafted from trees once rooted in the city introduce a sense of familiarity and continuity. The room carries the feeling of bars from an earlier era, when nightlife revolved around meeting people, talking for too long, and letting the evening take its course. Colours and textures are warm without leaning into ornament, and nothing distracts from what happens at the table.

Cocktails Crafted by Mood

At LandOn, cocktails begin with conversation rather than routine. Under the direction of head mixologist Buyung, guests are encouraged to describe how they feel or what they want to experience, particularly if they are less inclined to articulate those feelings directly. Shoutout to the unnamed rum, pandan and coconut concoction that spoke volumes to my personal affinities.

The speciality cocktail menu speaks to that curiosity, offering drinks designed to evoke sensation rather than familiarity, while a dedicated classics menu sits alongside it for those who know exactly what they want.

What becomes apparent early on is the generosity of the pours. Spirits are measured confidently, with standard shots sitting at around 45 millilitres and some drinks pushing closer to 60. It is noticeably more than what some bars in the city serve, and it is not subtle right from the first sip.

What prevents the drinks from tipping into excess is the level of craft behind them. The balance is deliberate, and the composition of each is designed to carry the alcohol rather than showcase it. Velvet Dawn, with its composed gin base, drinks smoothly despite its strength. Magenta Blitz leans brighter and more expressive without feeling sharp. Madagasia, built around cinnamon and pink peppercorn, delivers warmth and spice in a way that masks what would otherwise be a formidable kick.

These are cocktails that reward pacing. They sit comfortably on the table and suited to an evening where drinks are sipped throughout conversation versus disappearing quickly.

The food follows in the same way. Loaded nachos with guacamole and salsa are generous and easy to share. Chicken wings provide comfort without distraction. Truffle fries often find their way back to the table as simple comforts. Everything is designed to be eaten casually, picked at while conversations continue, how bar bites need to be.

Where there are drinks, there is music. Early evenings favour familiar, nostalgic selections that allow guests to ease into the night without competing for attention. As the hours progress, the vibe shifts toward funkier rhythms, with themed nights coming soon that introduce jazz, Cantopop, Latin, or R&B into the mix. Lost from many bars, LandOn holds space for those with the moves—so I say: dance the night away!

Wisma Central has long been part of Kuala Lumpur’s nightlife fabric, having housed bars that shaped earlier chapters of the city’s social life. LandOn carries its legacy by adapting the idea of a neighbourhood gathering place to how people socialise today.

This is a bar we’d suggest casually and return to without occasion. It works as a meeting point, a place to stay, and often a reason not to move on. The consistency of that role, night after night, is what gives LandOn its tantalising pull.

LandOn
Lot 0.10, Wisma Central,
Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur (Maps)

Tue–Thur & Sun: 5.00PM–1.00AM
Fri & Sat: 5.00PM–2.00AM
Mon: Closed

@landonbytatto

For reservations, call or text +60 11 6521 2600

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