By CLARISSA SAY and SAMUEL LEE
THERE’S something magical about partying by the pool at night. Maybe it’s the way the lights bounce off the water’s surface , or maybe it’s the countless American movies we’ve been exposed to as teenagers. Either way, these three pool-side venues we’ve checked out over the past week would put you in the mood for some chillaxing.

Luna Chill Out Bar
A reflection of its name in every sense, Luna has an easy going ambience with laidback couches, smooth lounge music and an amazing view of the Petronas Twin Towers.

Getting there took a bit of navigational dexterity, with one lift transit and a flight of stairs to overcome, but the view is worth it. The bar comes sans roof, meaning you get an unhindered view of the Twin Towers and the cityscape below.

Luna Bar’s munchies (clockwise from top left) – calamari rings, Luna Potato Skins and Signature Chicken Wings.

If you come early enough, make sure you snag a window lounge. The four-seater nooks extend slightly outwards from the building, and are walled by sturdy panes of glass. There is also a mezzanine where people who’d like to evade the crowd can hide away and watch from above.

If you’re planning on having a private party, you can book the entire mezzanine, which seats around 60 people.

The food and drinks menu is pretty reminiscent of college pool-side parties, only much classier. Their pizzas come highly acclaimed, but our personal favourites are the Signature Chicken Wings and Luna Potato Skins.

For reservations or enquiries, call 03-2332 7777.

SkyBar
This is another iconic venue with a spectacular view of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, famous particularly for its front-row seats to the Twin Towers.

True enough, we were mesmerised by the breath-taking view the moment we stepped in. Located on the 33rd floor of Traders Hotel, SkyBar doesn’t just offer a great view; it offers a generous selection of finger food and drinks.

Even the atmosphere here was fantastic as the bar features specific genres of music on different days to keep the mood lively and active.

SkyBar boast not only a pool, but also front row seats to the spectacular Twin Towers.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, guests get to tune in to the General Retro, where songs from the 1960s all the way up till the 1990s are played, while on Wednesdays, you’ll get to dance to disco tracks from the 1970s. Thursdays are reserved for the New Wave, featuring songs from the 1980s, and Classic Rock favourites on Fridays.

As for beverages, we tried their signature drink Mata d’or (RM36), a mocktail made from passion fruit and pomegranate syrup, mixed with Red Bull to create a refreshing finish.

Too bad its other signature mocktail, the Serai Collins (RM20), was sold out; otherwise we’d have a minty lemongrass drink topped with soda to end the night.

Let’s not forget the SkyBar Bucket, SkyBar’s signature tasting platter with buffalo wings, fried seafood, satay and cross-cut chips, priced at RM66 per bucket.

While priority is given to guests of the Traders Hotel, walk-in guests are also welcome at SkyBar, as long as you’re above 21 years of age.

For more information, head to skybar.com.my or call 03-2332 9888 for reservations.

Mai Bar
Mai Bar could well be described as a combination of the two other venues mentioned here – unassuming Tiki lounge in the day; a neon-lit, futuristic world at night. The indoor portion is dimly lit with streaks of neon colours lining the walls and furniture. Even the bar is tiered and curved to resemble molten lava slogging its way through the dark.

Mai Bar’s interior is an ethereal display of Tiki-themed furniture and modernistic lighting.

Everything here seems to have been given extra pizazz. Even their drinks are served in really cool earthen Tiki statues.

By the pool, people lounge away and enjoy a great view of the heart of KL. But the most popular seating area is the garden-like nook, hidden in a corner between the pool and indoor area, where people can sit on bean-bags and couches. The entire outdoor portion of the place is walled by glass, so you get an unobstructed panorama to go with your drink.

Beverages are priced from RM20 to RM40, and if you’re planning on a night out on Fridays or Saturdays, make sure to call ahead for reservations at 03-2723 1188.