KL's best bars for live bands

Here at Alexis Bistro Ampang, you can unwind over live music with a glass of wine every Friday and Saturday night. Known as one of the top jazz spots in the city, Alexis consistently has a great line-up of local and international names. The roster changes every week, but you can expect crowd favourites Evelyn Feroza, Michael Veerapen and more. Check out Alexis’s Facebook page or website for the weekly schedule. Note that some performances charge a cover of RM10++.

A cold craft beer with a side of music sounds like a good night out. At Taps, performances begin from 9pm every Thursday to Saturday with no cover charge. Varying between the Changkat and Plaza Arkadia outlets, the line-up covers a range of genres from pop, R&B and everything in between, there’ll be something for everyone.

Boasting the same warm and cosy ambience that has made its outlets a household name and popular neighbourhood watering holes, Tom, Dick and Harry’s Live Oasis Square offers live gigs every Friday and Saturday. Cover bands – expect decent if somewhat anodyne renditions of ‘Wonderwall’ – dominate the music roster at this oft-crowded bar.

Widely known as the city's best jazz venue, No Black Tie regularly hosts live performances almost every day of the week. The line-up boasts a litany of both local and international musicians, and its intimate setting offers a cosy ambience in which to enjoy their music. But it's not just about the jazz here; you can also catch genres like blues and folk music. Check out their Facebook page for more updates.

Tucked away on a street in PJ is this cosy space. Though not exactly a bar per se, Merdekarya's formula of allowing local or Malaysian-based musicians who write and perform their own material allows for a great platform to discover local talent. Music is typically acoustic, but there are the occasional rock bands that grace the stage. Drinks here are really quite affordable; that plus the cosy vibe you can be sure of a relaxing night out over a few drinks with good music.