The Flavours Of Chinatown: Darwin Ng of Jann, Four Points Chinatown

Concoctions of Chinatown | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

Jann located within Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown, is a hotel that pays homage to the colonial days and the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Beautifully designed with its jade wrap-around bar, the beautifully tiled bar takes inspiration from the food and drinks that bring Chinatown to life. We speak to Assistant Manager Darwin Ng to learn more about the bar.

Bartender Darwin | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

Jann: Cocktail Bar With Flavours Inspired By Chinatown

Jann is a hotel bar located within the heart of Chinatown, on the 7th floor of Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown. The drinks here are based mainly on flavours that touch on the Malaysian childhood, including the likes of bak kwa, tau fu fah, and mata kucing ( a Malaysian longan), just to name a few.

Dear Jann | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

Tell us a bit about Jann?

A place to unwind with inventive cocktails dedicated to the traditional trades of Chinatown while taking in panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. The history of Kuala Lumpur would not be the same without the emergence of Chinatown. This is where a girl named Jann grows up. She’s young, full of life and mesmerized by the symphony of sights, sounds and smells of the neighborhood. Her enthusiasm is contagious and here at Jann, we too draw inspiration from historical figures, traditional trades, local culture, and legends that make Chinatown a heritage destination.

Dragon Back | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

What is the philosophy and approach to cocktails?

Our cocktails take inspiration from the various elements surrounding Chinatown; not only in terms of ingredients but also architecture, which we then convert into flavours. Some examples of the two methods would be our Tau Foo Fah, where we make our own version of the sweet treat spiked with a mixture of cream liqueur, spiced rum and gula Melaka; and the Dragon Back, which takes inspiration from the roof of Petaling Street itself, which is reminiscent of a green dragon’s back, we used Long Jing (Dragon’s Well) Green Tea in the cocktail which also includes Whisky and Sake.

Bak Kwa | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

What are 3 cocktails that we should be looking out for?

Visitors should try our Dear Jann, a cocktail served with a packet of preserved orange peels, it is the ultimate boozy throwback to our childhood. With the Bak Kwa, theatre is the name of the game here. The piece of jerky is torched to rend its fats and make it more tender, before being skewered and placed on top of the drink, which contains Bak Kwa infused Mezcal. And then there’s the Kopi O, where the main ingredient of this twist on the Espresso Tonic is local ‘Kopi’ mixed with Whiskey and fat-washed with Planta.

Jann Night | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

Tell us something about the bar that people might not be aware?

You can see all 4 skyscrapers of KL from here (Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, Merdeka 118 and TRX). We are also suitable for groups as we serve Half Bottle (300 ml) of spirits.

Jann Outerdeck Night | Jann | Marriot Bonvoy Double Points | Food For Thought

Double Up On Your Points! Marriott Bonvoy is now offering members Double Points in addition to a 20% discount at selected participating restaurants and bars from across Malaysia from 18 February 2022 to 20 March 2022. Remember to make your reservations today to double up on your points!

To find out more, visit https://marriottbonvoyasia.com/doublepoints.


Jann
Level 7,
Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown,
No 2, Jalan Balai Polis,
50000 Kuala Lumpur
+60 3 2035 7333
Opening Hours:
Daily, 4.00 pm to 12.00 am

| PHOTOGRAPHY: MARRIOT BONVOY | WEBSITE: JANN |

Nicholas Ng

Nicholas Ng is a restaurant critic and drinks writer and is the editor of independent publication Food For Thought. He has been a freelance journalist for the 15 years and has previously worked as a lawyer and in digital marketing. He currently is the Principal Consultant of A Thought Full Consultancy, a food and beverage marketing consultancy.