A defining characteristic of Kuala Lumpur nightlife is that a lot takes place outdoors. In other Asian cities the climate is either unfavourable or dirt, dust and other forms of pollution tend to drive people inside. KLiens enjoy dining, drinking and socialising in the open air. This means that a lot more attention is given to the outer look of KL clubs than anywhere else in Asia. The result is colourful and elegant exterior design coupled with equally commendable interiors. mondo*dr heads for Malaysia and one of THE hot destinations on the global cool clubbing map...

Zouk
Mondo's first exciting glimpses getting out of a cab felt like being in the sudden presence of greatness - a perversely futuristic Flintstone like split monolith - as the sun went down scrambling for a bewildering infinity of angles and positions and somehow managing to bring the protagonists onto the scene at dusk - Cher Ng, Zouk's Exec Director of Marketing / Biz Development, co-founder with Karen Seah, veritable Asian empress of club design, creator / concepter of KL's Nouvo, and Melbourne Australia's legendary, if notorious, SALT.

Zouk Singapore, the original and KL's counterpart, created by owner / chairman Lincoln Cheng in 1991 after experiencing Ibiza and the Caribbean, is generally accepted as being one of Asia's leading international dance clubs. But Zouk KL is not an aspiring imitator, rather a major international venue in its own right as their mission statement attests: "Zouk Kuala Lumpur is not an uprooted franchise of Singaporean culture on Malaysian soil. What the new Zouk KL insists on doing is bringing the Zouk ideals of creating an innovative and forward clubbing environment, and propelling Asia's dance music scene to the helm of global clubbing, this time putting Malaysia on the world clubbing map. Working as an artistic venue that looks at pushing the creative boundaries and creating outlets for promising new talents, Zouk KL will be dedicated to supporting a learning environment - promoting and harnessing local creative talent in various fields of music, fashion, design, film and art - to showcase the country's best to the rest of the world."

Zouk covers 32,000 square feet divided into four distinct areas designed by Philip Connors - The Zouk Mainroom, Velvet Underground, The Loft Bar and The Terrace Bar. With a comfortable capacity of 2,000 max, the Mainroom is the largest area, design is based on an outdoor Moorish courtyard with bars on its perimeters and a members bar or two upstairs. Upstairs in the VIP room there's a handy modular roller wall to cut up the rich and famous. Recent globe trotting DJs to visit include Dave Seamen, Australian Phil K, Hernan Cattaneo, Tiesto and Dave Clark. By the way, Zouk has been open for just a few months. The DJ booth is spacious and includes a Funktion One subwoofer for spinners to perch on and a private vinyl library out back. "Lush, plush and meant for the very flush," Zouk's PR information fairly accurately describes Velvet Underground, referred to affectionately as Zouk's chic little sister, this area still occupies 5,000 square feet including a private lounge with quilted velvet walls and marshmallow soft chaise longues.

Supposedly the hippest area of Zouk, The Loft Bar was inspired by David Mancuso's 70's club of the same name, its interior is apparently intimate and inspiring. Alas during Mondo's visit this area was undergoing fine-tuning to perfect its design and Mr Ng deemed it unsuitable for our critical gaze. There was plenty more to go on with.

Immediately below The Loft is The Terrace Bar which opens before any of Zouk's other areas. This is where patrons come for pre-clubbing drinks and in typical KL style there's an outdoor patio from which to observe the arrival and exit of other guests. What's the next major development on Zouk's horizon? Observing the entire complex from above it's easy to see the vast roof top space and realise that it won't be long before this area is developed, in accordance with Mr Ng's and Ms Seah's masterplan, into Zouk's fifth big space, especially in a city where people are always ready to socialise outdoors.

It's a tragic irony that in a country that executes illegal drug dealers, Zouk's main sponsor is an American tobacco dealing company apparently eager to get young Malaysians hooked on smoking. Despite this, Karen Seah is quick to point out that part of allowing this company to come on board was that they keep a low visual profile. Indeed, their malignant presence is nowhere to be seen, quite unlike a recently opened franchise a few thousand miles further north in Asia where so many sponsors brand names and logos are visible that the big boxy club looks like a trade show. Neither does this distract from Zouk KL's emergence as Asia's leading venue, virtually eclipsing their Singaporean namesake.

Albeit a crown with many jewels, Zouk is without a doubt the most outstanding jewel in KL's club crown and one of the greatest clubs on the planet. How long will it last? mondo*dr has just confirmed that one of Zouk's chief competitors are planning to open right next door within the next six months; only to raise the bar ever higher in club design and entertainment technology. Best of luck, Zouk will be a very hard act to follow.

Thai Cowboy Cafe
The unpretentious Thai Cowboy Cafe, upper half of Thai Club & Bistro, is a popular outdoor / indoor watering spot for travelling business people and locals alike. With its pool tables and casual atmosphere, this spot should have a lot of appeal to trade show attendees, especially considering their 1st anniversary bash will be held on July 12th and running for five days. Just in time to coincide with PALA. This is not the sort of venue where there's much concern for the latest fashions or dance music mutations, instead the music fare is mainly American and Thai pop together with Chinese and local music. Directly opposite is Beach Club, part of Ronnie Choong's vast club collection, it's a very similar venue and the one which Thai Club seems to have been styled after.

Categorised as a sportsman's pub and club, Thai Cowboy Cafe didn't appear to be a disco until (during Mondo's visit) a couple of spicily clad young ladies began to gyrate tantalisingly among the pool table punters and onlooking crowd who suddenly seemed less interested in the balls on the table as they began to make moves of their own. The main dance floor is actually downstairs within Thai Club & Bistro.

Thai Cowboy Cafe was recently refitted by local KL companies PME for lighting and Dynamix for audio featuring NEXO speakers with Camco amplification and lighting by Martin Aliens.

Atmosphere
Atmosphere the club is part of the twelveSI complex which also includes Bliss the lounge, Barfly the bar and Gerai the cafe - It may be just around the corner from Thai Club, but Atmosphere, a lofty cavernous venue with a capacity of 2,000 pax, is far away musically and sartorially. The clientele here are very concerned with the latest dance music mutations and dress is equally sophisticated and fashionable. Recent visiting international DJ/ dance music maestros include Christian Smith, The Youngsters and The Crystal Method. Blessed with one of Malaysia's most talented lighting designers, "Zam" Ghazali is able to instantly whip up stunning colour wash combinations in co-ordination with their recently installed EMG lasers and de rigeur Martin lighting. One thing that Atmosphere does have in common with Thai Cowboy is a Nexo Alpha sound system powered by Camco amplifiers. TwelveSI's Bliss, even though referred to as a lounge and originally concepted as such, has become a popular dance club in its own right with a capacity of up to 1,000 that is regularly filled.

Warp
WARP Dance Club - "Sound at the speed of light" - is just around the other corner from Thai Club and occupies three floors of the Bangunan Life Centre. It's probably as large as Thai Club and Atmosphere combined. WARP caters to a younger more local crowd who love to shake their heads to Canto Techno but not much chop for getting free drinking water. With probably the highest ceiling of any club in KL, WARP is also used as a live venue for major Asian touring acts such as Taiwan's China Blue, Hong Kong's Grasshopper and various Japanese pop acts that are often sponsored by multinational music conglomerates and tobacco dealers wishing to make a lasting impression on Malaysian youth.

This may be one of KL's oldest running mega-clubs but the Martin lighting attached to the ceiling looks like it was installed just yesterday; all thanks to Alan Lee - WARP's maintenance chief. This venue has arguably the best looked after lighting and sound equipment in Asia.

Espanda
Espanda - 'cocktails cuisine parties fashion friends sunsets' - is situated right next door to the twelveSI complex and was known as Emporium in its previous incarnation. Renovated and reborn circa 2003, Espanda is just one of the venues owned and operated by Malaysian clubbing magnate Ronnie Choong. He is also owner of Beach Club which is right next door to Espanda and directly opposite Nouvo, another stunning venue in his vast array of night spots.

The attractive outdoor seating area of Espanda is a great example of the defining characteristic of KL clubbing and nightlife. Creating an exciting exterior didn't mean any time or expense was wasted on the interior. Entering Espanda a calming stone Buddha gazes serenely from the winding stairway that ends as the bar begins. The bar overlooks the mainroom, a stylish restaurant dining area is on the other side and there's another bar and vast seating area above and behind the DJ booth. All these areas are on split levels, a common theme in many of Mr Choong's clubs.

Nouvo
Nouvo faces Espanda from the other side of Jalan P. Ramlee and also has a great exterior look with somewhat more baroque styling. Originally designed and concepted by Karen Seah in collaboration with Ronnie Choong, this is a venue with various rooms and spaces covering Mr Choong's trademark split levels and all exuding an ornate deco/ decadence. From the Closet with its own DJ console and a VIP area with cushioned alcoves from which to view the commoners downstairs in the main room (known as the Living Room), to the elongated Chill Out room behind the main bar, where instead of playing different music, the same sounds are pumped in from the Living Room but at a considerably lower volume. Above the Living Room is a golden shower cage that actually functions, so that overheated punters can jump in for a refreshing public spray down and of course professional dancing girls are regularly immersed. Attached to the ceiling above the upstairs bar is an elegant clean chrome and red bazooka design innovation from an EMG laser who are fast ploughing inroads in the world laser entertainment market. It's no surprise with their great functionality and cutting edge design. Nouvo is above Sangria - another of Mr Choong's clubs.

Liquid
A few streets away from this cosy side-by-side collection of clubs is Liquid, a uniquely funky venue in KL's Central Market Annexe. Run by Jay Subramaniam and Ray Ng. Liquid is one of KL's most enduring and popular night spots and is a club that distinguishes itself from others with creativity as opposed to massive investment. There's a breezy, balmy outdoor terrace area and bar attached to a rectangular interior, upstairs is the disco (known as The Disco). The venue was originally an old theatre and the projection room has become a VIP area from which patrons can observe a sumptuous circle bar with a 'sushi train' style conveyor belt that's strong enough to support gorgeously costumed chaps who love to display themselves as they rotate. The dancefloor has multi level podiums as does the chill out area below - an innovation adopted by many other KL venues. Liquid's 'The Disco' was also one of the first clubs in Malaysia that dared to have white walls and is quoted by one enthusiastic patron as being 'an alternative lifestyle club synonymous with red hot parties and pure hedonistic fun.'

All these clubs, including KL's newest - Zouk, are in fairly close proximity and there are many other fascinating venues in other areas of the city (notably the Jalan Telawi district in Bangsar) plus a thriving underground dance music scene. Alas, so many clubs, so little time.