Gin-soaked vintage vibes in Sect 17, PJ

The Star

09-05-2025

Sanctuary beckons with unique menu and nostalgic ambience
MENTION Section 17 in Petaling Jaya and it conjures up images of an upscale neighbourhood filled with interesting, whimsical eateries and bars.
Along Jalan 17/10 lies a cafe called Tujoh, well-known for its eclectic menu and ambience. It even has a display of TV sets and radios from yesteryear.
The sense of nostalgia takes you to another level as you ascend the narrow staircase next to Tujoh, to Mrs Jones' Parlour.
Since its inception in 2017, this speakeasy bar has carved a name for itself as a place reminiscent of your grandma's house.
Instead of neon lights and booming music, you are greeted by a gentle hum of conversation, cosy corners of what were once people's bedrooms, and louvre windows that creak softly in the breeze.
The rattan chairs and beaded string curtains welcome you with a familiar hug.
The place is replete with old clocks and a retro TV box in the corner which looks like it once played Sunday cartoons for a room full of children.
A leopard tree grows in the central courtyard of the cafe and bar.
A graceful leopard tree grows in the centre, between the two floor levels, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors.
It is framed by a light metal fence that gives the area a gentle courtyard feel – intimate yet open, like a family patio that has been lovingly reclaimed as a bar.
Soft purple lighting casts a glow over a weathered wood table, and the bar itself sits just beyond, inviting you to wander over for a chat and a sip.
This leafy heart of the space is what makes it feel like a sanctuary.
But, who is Mrs Jones?
That is a story best told over a drink or three.
Just ask any of the friendly faces behind the bar, and they may share the lore of the matriarch whose name now graces this charming gin parlour.
As the buzz from the busy street outside recedes, the mood in Mrs Jones' Parlour becomes slower and more sentimental.
That Ribena Feeling (top left) and Mary Me.
Time feels like it's paused for a moment, just long enough for a quiet conversation and a perfect gin and tonic.
Mrs Jones' Parlour is, at heart, a love letter to gin.
Bottles from around the world – Australia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal and Scotland – line the back wall, each with a little story behind it.
You'll find classic gin and to­­nics, house-infused gins and signature cocktails that taste like they were made just for you.
The four recommended tipples were Ah Ma's Prune and Tonic, That Ribena Feeling, Mary Me, Rose and Gin Daisy.
I immediately took to the prune tea-infused gin and tonic as it is one of those super refreshing cocktails in our humid weather.
Rose and Gin Daisy (left) and Ah Ma's Prune and Tonic.
It may taste like it, but not one drop of that blackcurrant drink from our childhood is in That Ribena Feeling.
Instead, it's a clever concoction of lemon juice, hibiscus syrup, egg white, violet liquor and gin.
For fruity lovers, Mary Me, Rose is a fun, cheeky swirl of strawberry purée, lemon brightness, and silky egg white foam –lifted by a fragrant duet of rosemary and strawberry-infused gin.
And, in true grandma's house-fashion, you won't go hungry either.
Thanks to its spot above Tujoh, you can bring up a plate from downstairs to pair with your drinks, just like raiding the kitchen mid-visit.
MRS JONES' PARLOUR, No.617a, Jalan 17/10, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. (Tel: [phone]). Business hours: 4pm - 12am. Closed on Sunday.
This is the writer's personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.