3 Natural Wine Bars To Try In The Klang Valley

Natural wine has gone from niche curiosity to a pretty familiar sight around the Klang Valley, bringing with it plenty of funky bottles, questionable labels, and very good drinking. Here’s where to start.

Where natural wine used to be something of a niche curiosity, it’s now a pretty firmly established part of the Klang Valley drinking scene. These days, you don’t have to know your pét-nat from your skin-contact to find a bottle worth drinking either. So, if you’ve been meaning to dip your toes into the whole natural wine thing, here are three great places to start.

Unwined KL / Unwined Plus

Unwined is probably the first name you’ll come across when looking into the natural wine scene in KL, and for good reason too. Its original APW Bangsar outpost has been serving up a constantly changing selection of natural wines since 2020, while Unwined Plus, a short jaunt away on Jalan Telawi, kicks things up a notch with an extensive collection paired with a modern Asian menu. Whether you’re a complete newcomer or already know what you like, there’s plenty to explore here.

Insta: @unwinedkl / @unwinedplus

Basic Wine Store

Located in Arcoris Mont Kiara and the brainchild of the very same team behind Table & Apron and Universal Bakehouse, Basic Wine Store is about as approachable as natural wine gets. The selection here focuses on small-batch, low-intervention bottles from around the world. Pair that with their European-inspired comfort fare or their tinned seafood and the other assortment of small bites on hand, and you have a warm, fuss-free evening where you can truly let your hair down alongside some good company.

Insta: @basicwinestore

Psychotic Operator

A neighbourhood favourite in Taman Paramount, Psychotic Operator is the sort of place that makes natural wine feel a lot less serious than the term might suggest. With a globally sourced wine list that covers both conventional and low-intervention bottles, the kitchen here turns out an exceptional selection of small plates and crudos to match. Expect a casual atmosphere with a delightful dash of helter-skelter, one that’s in no danger at all of taking itself too seriously.

Insta: @psychoticoperator

So, if you’ve been meaning to give natural wine a go, there’s really no shortage of places to start. Let your curiosity get the better of you and order something funky in Bangsar, then maybe scarf down a few small plates after that in Mont Kiara, or grab a casual bottle in PJ; whichever way you choose to go about it, all you really have to do is pick one, order something that looks interesting, and then see what happens.

Opening image: Adonyi Gábor | Pexels