We Sipped, Slurped & Stuffed Ourselves At Cavell’s, Home To KL’s Deadliest Cocktail

By Lara Kramer  •  13 Jan 2025 in Adult JUICE

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Looking for a night where the drinks hit harder than your last bad decision and the food actually delivers? Welcome to Cavell’s in Hartamas.

Sure, there’s the infamous Tangachi, a cocktail that’ll have you questioning your life choices, but it’s not just about that. They’ve got other solid drinks, spicy fried rice that’ll make you sweat, and a mutton varuval pizza that’s basically a legend. Add in a retro vibe with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis keeping an eye on you, and you’ve got the perfect night.

But yeah, yeah—we’ll get to the Tangachi first. We know that’s why you’re here.

It is the crown jewel of Cavell’s cocktail menu and their ultimate KTFO (that’s Knock The F*ck Out) weapon after all. But don’t let the playful name fool you—this drink means business and is far from sisterly.

Poured fresh while you’re handed a straw like it’s your last lifeline, the Tangachi isn’t just a drink; it’s an event.

Solid enough to put a dent in your ego and your evening plans. Much like an argument with your ex, really.

Here’s the kicker: If you can slurp it down within seven seconds your name (and face) gets immortalised in their Hall of Fame. Think you’ve got what it takes? The current record is 0.5.54 seconds, and the bar’s regulars will happily remind you that mere mortals rarely come close.

What’s in this cryptic cocktail? Nobody knows. Well, somebody knows, but they’re clearly sworn to secrecy. All we have are guesses, ranging from “beer mat sweepings” to “the essence of regret,” but the truth isn’t out yet.

What we do know is that drinking it comes with a bizarre rule: No water for four hours after consumption. Why? You’re better off not asking. Some things are best left unsolved.

Intrigued? You should be. Terrified? Also valid.

Meanwhile, watching someone take on the Tangachi is pure entertainment. Case in point: Josh, our brave comrade who clocked in at 12 seconds. He played it cool—until supper rolled around, and he casually reached out with a trembling hand to let us know, “It hit.” Bloodshot eyes and all, he somehow managed to laugh through it. We’d show you the proof, but Josh insists he wasn’t camera-ready with that untrimmed beard of his. Sigh.

He doesn’t remember much from his perspective. From ours, he was relaxed and way quippier than usual. Extra-fun post-Tangachi Josh for the win.

Before you come at us, we promise he was well-fed before the whole ordeal. In fact, the Tangachi was just the cherry on top of our fun (and mildly dangerous) night at Cavell’s. Dinner’s the part I’m actually most excited to tell you about!

The food here is the GOAT. Like, literally. The mutton varuval pizza is amazing.

There’s a reason they call it the MVP. (OK, that pun is 100% the intellectual property of the owners, not me.)

Trust me, one bite and you’ll be singing its praises like it’s your new favourite indie band. Imagine tender, spiced-to-perfection, melt-in-your-mouth mutton piled onto a crispy, cheesy crust. Just as bold and rich as it looks:

You know how with some pizzas, you end up picking off the crust or avoiding the bland parts? Yeah, not with the MVP. Every single inch is packed with flavour. I’m not one to enjoy a side piece (though I was one for a year), but not in this case! Every bite was a winner.

For the rest of the team, though, it wasn’t the MVP that did the trick—it was the spicy fried rice. We’re talking a heaping plate of crispy, flavourful rice with a generous helping of chicken bits, just spicy enough to make your taste buds feel like they’ve been slapped into a good mood.

Some even say it’s up there with those uber-famous fried rice joints, so yeah, we’ll go so far as to call it the underdog dish of Hartamas.

An actual quote I’m plucking from that night: “This rice itself is enough to pre-game lah.”

Oh, and how were we tipsy before even getting to the Tangachi? Well, Cavell’s also has this DIY bottled cocktail thing going on, where you get to play bartender and make your own cocktail masterpiece. Safe to say, we took full advantage of that.

They’ve got an array of whiskey, gin, and Irish cream served in potion-like bottles with punny names that will make you question your own wit (trust me, I thought my puns were top-tier until I saw these).

The best part? Each drink incorporates Malaysian flavours, so you’re not just sipping on something totally new and unique—you’re getting a little patriotic with every gulp. Sweet, salty, creamy, and bitter all at once, these drinks let you tailor them to your own tastes and, quite frankly, get drunk on national pride. Cheers to that, right?

We personally recommend the Gingy-Bond x Gila Melaka combo for that cinnamon-y, Christmas-y vibe, but honestly, they all taste great on their own. So, no shame if you want to keep things simple and just go with what’s easy.

And that wraps up our very first experience at Cavell’s!

I’m sure there’s more to the night, but damn, that’s all we can remember. Things got pretty blurry after that, and if that’s not enough to convince you to check it out, I don’t know what will.

Cavell’s Restaurant
Operating Hours:

• Monday – Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
• Sunday: Closed

Kitchen Hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 3:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
• Friday & Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

Bar & Tangachi KTFO Service:

• 3:00 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.

Service Options:

• Reservations required
• Vegetarian dishes served

Address:
18, Jalan 27/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Phone:
017-302 3917

Menu:
food.grab.com

See you there! 🍻