Known for its rich multicultural heritage and strong hawker food culture, this Malaysian metropolis has its fair share of returning fans. Now, there are even more reasons to visit thanks to the chefs, hoteliers and creatives that are integrating the city’s storied past with contemporary appeal in their respective fields.
Here are nine exciting things across Kuala Lumpur to bookmark for your next visit.
1. Wake up and paint at this boutique hotel
This one is for the art lovers, and those with a curious spirit. Kloé Hotel is an 88-key stay in the heart of the city, where each of its five suites is decked out in a unique concept: plant lovers can pick the lushly furnished Room to Grow; music enthusiasts will enjoy the Room to Listen, which comes with a vinyl player and records; while the artsy creatives will love the Room to Draw where an easel and canvas, along with a selection of art books, await your touch.
There are ample other spaces to unwind in the hotel, like at the poolside deck chairs, or in the light-filled hotel lobby. Nurse a flat white at the communal table, or flip through the selection of coffee table books before heading out to explore the many nearby malls.
2. Float and find meditative peace in bustling Chinatown
You’d be hard pressed to find another city hotel that boasts floatation pods as part of their facilities, but at Else Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be able to book a session alongside your stay. These 60-minute sessions in tanks filled with highly concentrated Epsom salt water will cocoon you in a meditative state as you disconnect from the stressors of daily life.
This stylishly designed 49-room boutique hotel also comes with a well-equipped gym and a terrace plunge pool with roomy daybeds.
When you’re done reconnecting with yourself, step outside and you’ll find the famed shopping belt Petaling Street, cultural hubs Central Market and REXKL at your doorstep – not to mention the hip bars and street eats of Chinatown.
3. Experience a visually stunning art exhibition in a new creative venue
Where the beloved REX Cinema once stood, this immersive art gallery is now a part of REXKL, one of KL’s newest cultural hotspots housing a trendy mix of vintage, clothing and lifestyle stores, a labyrinthine bookstore and a rooftop bar.
REXPERIENCE is co-founded by new media veterans Shin Tseng, Sébastien Jurkowski, Shin Chang and Eugene Yeo, who are creating fascinating new art experiences with the use of latest projection technologies.
Here, you can enjoy atmospheric environments created by international visual and sound effects artists, such as the currently showing “Piying Dream” by Danny Rose Studio. This production draws inspiration from the art of Chinese shadow puppetry to invent a Chinese legend that viewers can immerse in. Exhibitions rotate every few months, so that you’ll always have something new to look forward to.
4. Make like the cool kids and hang out with the creatives at this urban hub
Composed from a row of refurbished interconnected shophouses, The Zhongshan Building is a creative hub in the historic locale of Kampung Attap that a community of young artists, artisans and musicians call home.
Enjoy an afternoon wandering through the building discovering bites and local goods. Here, you can enjoy a fan-favourite espresso martini Shakeratoooo from Piu Piu Piu and savour café treats such as the roast ribeye steak sandwich at the French-inspired Tommy Le Baker, who make their own sourdough bread.
Then, shop at artisanal craft stores like stationery wonderland ana tomy and embroidery crafts store takos. Modern apothecary Re{me}dy not only stocks skincare and wellness products, but is also where you’ll find lifestyle goods such as the naturally dyed bags from local brand Muni.
At sundown, enjoy listening parties of diverse music genres at fono. Do note that the opening hours of the establishments vary, so follow them on social media to get the latest news.
5. Discover local indie brands at a pop-up market
The Sunny Side Up Market is a weekend pop-up market located at Slate @ The Row along Jalan Doraisamy. It is a one-stop destination for an alternative shopping spree that even your pets can get in on.
Founded by Aida Salleh more than a decade ago, the urban flea market features local brands and small home businesses that sell a range of curious alternative goods from handmade cheese to plant-based toiletries, as well as treats and accessories for pets. This pop-up community market occurs every month, so check ahead and time your visit accordingly.
6. Choose your own adventure at this interactive horror house
Unlike the escape rooms of yesteryear, Hauntu combines live theatrical performances and participant role play to transport you to a multi-sensorial world where vengeful spirits reign.
In this 60-minute interactive game, you’ll be transported to the past at the fictional Colle Eastern Hotel, where you’ll uncover evil agendas and make decisions that result in a unique end each time. These episodic storylines change yearly, but one thing rings true: these tales are not for the faint of heart.
7. Explore contemporary Peranakan eats
Tuck into hearty traditional meals featuring flavours influenced by the Peranakan community – also known as the Straits Chinese – at this farm-to-table restaurant. Bōl is stationed in a colonial-era terrace house in Bukit Bintang, a lively neighbourhood bristling with pre-war houses, boutiques, hipster cafes and restaurants, so you’ll get a taste of history in more ways than one.
Against the backdrop of a beautiful bucolic wallpaper reminiscent of Peranakan floral motifs, enjoy signature dishes such as the Peranakan staple buah keluak (pangium fruit), lamb shank and itek tim, a crystal-clear pulled duck consommé with sour plums. For dessert, try the hawthorn flavoured sorbet with gula melaka (palm sugar).
8. Check out the new French fine dining kid on the block
Venture off the beaten path to Bamboo Hills, a hip dining enclave a short drive away from the city centre, to discover one of the most exciting new openings in the city of late. Potager is chef Masashi Horiuchi’s – of Entier fame – latest brainchild. Here, he brings his decades of French culinary techniques to bear on Malaysia’s quality produce.
Their recently launched menu is a strong showing that includes Cameron Highlands-grown white corn tuile, jelly, velouté and cornbread that burst with natural sweetness, and truffle-laden escargot with heirloom grain from Sarawak (go with the chef-recommended black glutinous rice).
The breezy experience starts with a stop at the beautiful open-air garden, around which the restaurant’s wine bar, four private dining rooms and main space are organised, and ends with a little souvenir of the experience to take home. The latter includes a serving of cacao husk and osmanthus tea, alongside travel-sized amenities with notes of tomato, basil and black pepper – the restaurant’s signature scent that reminds of hearth and home.
Potager now takes lunch reservations from Fridays to Sundays. Choose between a five- or nine-course meal; reservations are essential.
9. Nerd out with a sustainability-forward cocktail bar
Styling themselves as a flavour lab, Reka:Bar makes use of state-of-the-art distillation and fermentation equipment to create ground-breaking cocktails for patrons looking to kick back and experiment with local-themed drinks amidst its futuristic atmosphere located in Bukit Damansara.
Titled “The Domino Effect”, its signature cocktail menu illustrates how the various drinks are connected to one another. For instance, the main ingredient of one drink is reused as a garnish in another, dialling down on wastage.
They also champion the use of responsibly sourced local ingredients through drinks like Liquid Ambra (made with buah long long, a local sour fruit) and Dusun 2.0 (which uses traditional Sarawakian rice wine tuak, chilli padi and jackfruit).
For our full list on things to do and places to see in Kuala Lumpur, check out our Kuala Lumpur City Guide. For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to Kuala Lumpur, visit the official website.
