Romance Of The Three Kingdom

I must admit I was a little apprehensive about heading to a club called Romance Of The Three Kingdom. It sounded somewhat questionable, not just grammatically. But with the help of the all-knowing Google, it turns out the place is based on a historical novel set during end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in China. So, as expected, the club has a definite Sino theme running through it, evoking glories past.

Walking through the majestic Oriental palace sliding doors, straight past the gatekeepers who didn’t pester us with talk of either promotion or cover charge, definitely gave a good first impression. What was not expected was the staggering 12,000 sq ft of squeaky clean and smoke-free space within. At the time we were there, the crowd numbered 30 at the most, but at least they looked like they were having the time of their lives. To be fair, however, the club is still fairly new and unknown. We give it a couple more months to reach out to its target market.

For a club that references a literary classic, the interior décor was borderline tacky, punctuated with Oriental stereotypes – the walls are draped with red and mustard yellow fabric, while porcelain statues of warriors with random skirts of bamboo and dragon icons are randomly scattered throughout. All of which had to compete with pulsating strobes of green and red laser lights, complimented by retro, R&B, hip hop, soul and funky house beats.

The highlight of the club would be the bar. With the bartenders juggling amid the strobe against the UV-lit array of Tuborg bottles, despite the assault on the senses, there was a pleasant theatrical element to the good service of potent drinks. The extensive drinks menu ranges from cocktails and wine to beer, with the club being the first Tuborg flagship bar in Asia.

The prices aren't too shabby either, with a bucket of four bottles going for RM50 and glasses of hard liquour going for less than RM10. Cocktail prices range from RM18.80 to RM44.80. Our visit to the Romance Of The Three Kingdom was definitely an experience we’ll need some time to recover from. If you’re in need of a sensory jolt, we recommend this place for its cultural incongruousness, yet another of those things that Malaysians have invariably managed to turn into an art form.

TEXT Claudia Low