Every so often, it feels really good to splash out and live the high life by checking into a five-star hotel. There’s nothing like the feeling of putting on a plush cotton bath robe and strolling down the corridor to the spa for a swim and a steam, before heading to the breakfast room for an indulgent buffet. That’s the right way to start the day!
Kuala Lumpur has a fantastic selection of hotels that can provide just that – and we’ve hunted down the coolest, most luxurious hotels from around the city centre here.
1. Mandarin Oriental, KLCC
With arguably ‘the best seats in the house’ for location, this hotel is next-door to the Petronas Towers. The property has 632 rooms, 41 suites and 51 executive apartments, and an outdoor infinity edge swimming pool and children’s pool, two outdoor tennis courts and indoor golf. Dining options include Cantonese at Lai Po Heen, a poolside bar, Californian-Japanese cuisine at Wasabi Bistro, a cake shop, as well as Cigar Divan, a La Casa del Habano cigar lounge.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
2. Doubletree by Hilton, Jalan Tun Razak
Inside the impressive Intermark building near Ampang Park LRT, this property’s restaurants and bars offer, among others, Italian fare and Malaysian cuisine at the signature restaurant, Makan Kitchen. There’s an outdoor saltwater pool and 24-hour fitness centre, and a 37,000 sq ft meeting space including the Grand Ballroom with a capacity of 1,300 guests. Guests can also take advantage of the complimentary shuttle bus service to tourist sites like the nearby KLCC.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
3. Grand Hyatt, Jalan Pinang
This hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows ensure that all guests get to enjoy the view over Kuala Lumpur at its best, from one of 380 rooms or 42 suites. For those who want to eat, options include local Malaysian cuisine at JP teres restaurant, as well as steaks and sushi – served poolside or at THIRTY8 panoramic bar if desired.The meeting space includes the Grand Ballroom, which has crystal chandeliers covering the entire ceiling.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
4. GTower, Jalan Tun Razak
With perhaps the coolest hotel drinking venue in KL, the Bridge Bar has glass flooring and is intended to look as if it ‘floats’ between the two large towers of the hotel. With 180 rooms, a pool and fitness centre, the property also has good environmentally-friendly credentials as Malaysia’s first internationally green-rated hotel. Its restaurants offer European cuisine with an Asian twist and an ‘under the stars’ fine dining experience.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
5. Hilton, Jalan Stesen Sentral
Next to the Nu Sentral shopping mall, and so usefully linked to Kuala Lumpur’s airports – KLIA and KLIA2 – this 35-floor hotel has 14 meeting rooms, including level7even, a multi-event space. Accommodation includes lake view rooms, a duplex penthouse and a presidential suite, plus the 10 bars and restaurants provide Asian and European options, a grill, a poolside terrace and an executive Lounge on the 33rd floor.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
6. Intercontinental, Jalan Ampang
Claiming to be one of KL’s most sought-after wedding venues, this hotel’s event space includes one Grand Ballroom, one Junior Ballroom, and eight meeting rooms. Dining options range from a classic English pub to a contemporary Japanese restaurant to a buffet brasserie. Room types include ‘Classic’ and ‘Executive’ rooms, plus suites – some of which contain pianos! There’s a large swimming pool and the list of spa treatments includes massages, facials and signature treatments.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
7. Istana, Jalan Raja Chulan
Perhaps the best city-centre hotel for local décor and heritage, this hotel has 515 rooms and suites, a Grand Ballroom, 19 function rooms, and a Surau prayer room. Of the five restaurants and bars, the Songket Lounge serves cocktails, the Sports Bar hosts live screenings and the Taman Sari Brasserie offers international and local cuisine. There’s also a fitness centre, a Greco-Roman style pool, and spa with Jacuzzi and treatment rooms.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
8. JW Marriott, Jalan Bukit Bintang
Right in the centre of the ‘Golden Triangle’, the shopping and entertainment district, this hotel is 29 storeys high and has 561 rooms, and is connected to the gorgeous Starhill Gallery, an enormous high-end shopping mall. It features 491 rooms, a pool, meeting rooms, florist, a fitness centre and spa, and tennis courts.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
9. Majestic, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
The most historic hotel of the bunch, the original neo-classical hotel property was founded in 1932 and has 51 rooms. It fell into disrepair and closed as a hotel in 1983, before being completely restored and reopening in 2011. It now offers five types of suite, including ‘Colonial’ and ‘Governor’. There’s a rooftop garden, pool and gym, restaurants and a cigar bar – plus a barbers and a tailor.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
10. Palace of the Golden Horses, MINES Wellness City
Calling itself ‘Asia’s most extraordinary hotel’, this property is 15 minutes from Kuala Lumpur city centre. It is best known for the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah conference centre, which has 15 meeting rooms, a ‘theatrette’ and two ballrooms with a 1000-person capacity. There are 472 guest rooms including 72 suites, and restaurants offer Chinese, Japanese and international fare. Previous guests include Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and the Sultan of Brunei!
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
11. Park Royal, Jalan Sultan Ismail
In the thick of things opposite Bukit Bintang LRT station, this hotel claims to know all the hidden gems to help visitors discover the best local experiences. It features Superior and Deluxe rooms and Family Suites plus ‘Orchid Club’ membership perks. There’s a live music bar, two Asian cuisine restaurants and a brasserie, a spa with treatments rooms, and a pool and poolside bar.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
12. Renaissance Hotel, corner Jalan Sultan Ismail / Jalan Ampang
Billed as ‘one of the premier convention hotels in Kuala Lumpur’, this hotel has the largest pillar-free ballroom in Malaysia. But it also caters to leisure travellers, with an Olympic-sized pool, the Mandara Spa and seven restaurants, which serve Asian cuisine, international buffet fare, and poolside snacks. Accommodation is split over two high twin towers, some with complementing views of Petronas, and rooms have marble bathrooms.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
13. Ritz-Carlton, Jalan Imbi
Boasting some of the ‘largest suites in Kuala Lumpur’ and a limousine service on request, this Bukit Bintang property has 365 guest rooms, including 30 one-bedroom suites, plus 25 meeting rooms reaching 30,000 sqft of space. Its four restaurants include the Li Yen Cantonese restaurant and the Lobby Lounge which serves 40 types of tea, and the Spa Village offers its own day suites as well as a sensory exploration package.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
14. Shangri-La, Jalan Sultan Ismail
The KL branch of the Shangri-La chain has 662 rooms and suites, which come in Deluxe, Executive and Premier styles. Facilities include an outdoor pool, a gym, health club, spa, function rooms, and a banquet hall. There are seven restaurants and bars, including the Lemon Garden Café, which serves international cuisine, the Shang Palace restaurant with Chinese traditional fare and Arthur’s Bar and Grill with signature cocktails.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
15. Sheraton Imperial, Jalan Sultan Ismail
With an impressive selection of business amenities and services, including 23,000 sq ft meetings and event space, this hotel also has guest rooms in Deluxe, Club, Ambassador Suite and Imperial Suite categories. There’s a fitness centre, an outdoor pool, 38th-floor lounge and the Mandara Spa which offers Malay treatments, a Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.
Check out the website here or book a room on Agoda.
Did we miss something?
This has no doubt whetted your appetite for a weekend away somewhere special – or perhaps you have already stayed in one above the above properties? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below. Alternatively, do you think that there is a hotel that we’ve missed from this list? Be sure to let us know and we’ll do our best to add it.
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Another Marriott opening soon in PJ
where is westin KL?
Herain Malani Ramanan Nadarajah