About

Once touted as "the most elusive of George Town's speakeasies" by Lonely Planet, Backdoor Bodega is an overpriced "pin shop" with an award-winning menu titled "The Backdoor Bodega Guide To Penang" that features a roster of specialty cocktails unique to Penang with ingredients such as ulam, belacan, Penang-made soy sauce, nutmeg fruit, and more. Opened discreetly with zero fanfare behind an actual clothing store in November 2016, this owner-operated speakeasy with a small team of self-taught bartenders has since been recognised as one of the city's top cocktail bars, becoming the first ever Penang bar to be listed among 100 of Asia's best bars by Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2022 as well as becoming the first bar from Asia to win the coveted World's Best Cocktail Menu Award as part of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025.