If you’re looking for a boutique stay in Malaysia’s vibrant capital, look no further. Kuala Lumpur is the one. And it has so much to offer. We say skip the fancy hotels (and even fancier prices) for a chic weekend getaway in these small, boutique hotels in KL instead. Trust us, it’s well worth the experience. From restored houses to minimalistic bed and breakfasts and decidedly Malaysian hotels paying tribute to local culture, these stylish hotels guarantee an unconventional stay you won’t forget. Ready to start packing your bags yet? Great, let’s take a look.
The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel
The Kuala Lumpur Journal is a hotel that’ll make you proud as a Malaysian: 555 notebooks are used as hotel notepads, while art installations reference local culture such as the Pop Pop firecrackers and Malaysian road signages. It’s impossible not to be swept up by KL’s charms as each room is decked out with a blown-up photograph of the city by local street photographer Che’Ahmad Azhar. Sterile boardrooms are replaced with a creative communal space named ‘Workers Union’, and you can always sneak in a mini-break between meetings at their alfresco ‘The Shack’ beer garden. If a dancefloor is what you’re after, Changkat is just a seven-minute walk away.
Take advantage of: The rooftop infinity pool set against the dramatic city skyline.
Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon
If you’re looking for a home away from home in the heart of Kuala Lumpur amid a hotel setting, this is the place for you. Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon offers fully furnished serviced apartments to its guests – with free Wi-Fi, plush bedding, flat-screen TVs and modern fittings. The ensuite bathroom includes a hairdryer and handy bathroom amenities while many restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance. There’s also an on-site gym for keeping up with your workout routine and a playground for the kids if you need to catch up on some emails.
Take advantage of: the Olympic-size swimming pool.
10, Jalan Ceylon, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur (03-2725-8888).
If your idea of a vacation is checking into a hotel and not leaving it, then Villa Samadhi should be at the top of your list. Operated by the same group that runs Japamala Resort in Pulau Tioman and Tamarind Springs restaurant, Villa Samadhi operates on the ‘villa-in-a-room’ concept with contemporary, Asian-inspired accommodation that includes everything you need for a getaway, particularly a romantic one – an outdoor Jacuzzi, showers, private gardens and a balcony that opens directly to the swimming pool are just some of the features on offer. A stay at the 21-room resort doesn’t come cheap though, but the rooms are spacious, with the smallest starting at 51 sqm, and the largest at 83 sqm, complete with a private pool.
Take advantage of: The shuttle service to Tamarind Springs for a romantic night out.
8 Persiaran Madge, Taman U Thant, KL (03 2143 2300/villasamadhi.com.my).
Located at the corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Bukit Bintang, WOLO (which stands for ‘We Only Live Once’) Bukit Bintang is ideally placed to explore the heart of KL. Not only are shopping malls like Lot 10, Sg Wang Plaza and Pavilion KL within walking distance, but the building also houses two of KL’s most talked about dining and drinking venues: Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar on the penthouse floor and the all-day dining Brasserie Fritz on the ground floor.
WOLO’s rooms are designed to be stylish, simple and practical – it even bagged the 2015 Southeast Asia Property Awards for Best Interior Hotel Design – with pale wood panels and tatami-style beds making most of the space within each room. The prices are fairly reasonable for such a great location, with weekday room rates starting from RM210nett per night, and seasonal promotion rates going as low as RM180nett per night.
Take advantage of: Partying the night away at the bar upstairs, and waking up to freshly made croissants from the bakery downstairs.
Corner of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, KL (03 2719 1333/thewolo.com).
Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection
This luxury hotel is a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotels, a list of independent hotels that includes The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Pier One Sydney Harbour and Edinburgh’s The Glasshouse Hotel – so you know you’re in for a great stay. Located on Jalan Kamunting, the city luxury hotel is just a stone’s throw away from Yut Kee and The Row, providing ample dining and drinking options from day to night.
Not that the dining options within are anything to be scoffed at – Mantao Bar, located by the rooftop swimming pool offers a great view of the city skyline; while Brasserie 25 on the ground floor is known for its ‘Le Gouter’ afternoon tea set, and serves classic French dishes like bouillabaisse, l’entrecote du boeuf and escargots in a casual and chic setting. The 184 rooms are designed with all the amenities you’d expect of this calibre of hotel – free Wi-Fi, HD TV, complimentary minibar and espresso coffee machine – and start from the 30-sqm Deluxe room to the 38-sqm Executive Studio room.
Take advantage of: ‘Le Gouter’ afternoon tea set, where you can enjoy unlimited servings of French tea-time treats from 3-6pm at RM80 per person.
25 Jalan Kamunting, KL (03 2038 0000/stripeskl.com).
The Mesui Hotel
The hotel’s exterior is evocative of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, which resembles an enormous series of washing machines. The Nagakin Capsule Tower painted a ’70s vision of the future – where Metabolism architecture would be possible – while turning the hotel into a crashpad for people who work late. The Mesui Hotel peddles a rather similar concept of the latter, except it caters to partygoers who need a place to bunk down after a late night out. Facilities here may be limited but the vibe still feels flush: Large circular windows provide a snapshot of Mesui’s calmer nightlife; compact but functional rooms get natural light from the interior courtyard, and bars are just a hop away – your hen’s party is pretty much sorted.
Take advantage of: Their cooler neighbour No Black Tie for live jazz.
9 Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang (03 2144 8188).
The new generation of hotels are all about creating restful, well-appointed interiors that maximise space. Chaos, with 33 guestrooms ranging from 90 to 345 sq ft, is that and more. The hotel also houses the design studio that built it, and you can find their inspiration in every nook, from modern industrial decor to wooden furnishings. While guests, charmed by hotel experiences, clamour for high thread count sheets and silky pillows, Chaos eliminates the glitzy fripperies, providing just a simple but functional room and a cosy café/working space downstairs.
Take advantage of: The free high-speed WiFi, and their prime location (Chaos Hotel is smack dab in the Golden Triangle).
Lot B-1 Fahrenheit 88, 179 Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL (03 2148 6688).
There’s theatricality in Lantern Hotel’s stillness: The calm, sun-drenched central courtyard is hemmed in with meticulous brickwork along the building’s exterior that brings dappled light inside. The dark brown clay bricks, locally manufactured in Johor Bahru, are uniquely arranged to create a façade with a three-dimensional texture. Lantern Hotel is designed with Petaling Street’s heritage in mind; the building isn’t ostentatious, allowing guests to soak in the sights and sounds of Petaling Street at a leisurely pace. The hotel designers draw maximum impact from minimum means: rooms are pared down, but they have all the pampering essentials you need. Meanwhile, the decor is wood-heavy, adorned with dangling bulbs overhead and plants crawling up the walls.
Take advantage of: The café with an open-air terrace that overlooks the busy Petaling Street.
38 Jalan Petaling, KL (03 2020 1648).
Unless you’ve stayed at Sekeping Tenggiri multiple times, you may not notice that the renovated backyard is in fact new. Landscape architect Ng Sek San, also the designer of the Sekeping retreats, converted a 200 sq ft space at the back of the Sekeping Tenggiri guesthouse into Sekeping Backlane, a self-contained unit, equipped with just one loft room that sleeps two people, a small kitchen and a bathroom. While lorong belakangs are commonly neglected as just abandoned walkways, Sek San has cleverly transformed Tenggiri’s back lane (hence the retreat’s name) into a shady garden.
Take advantage of: The rooftop garden with a view of the Pantai Valley.
48 Jalan Tenggiri, KL (017 207 5977).
The architecture of this repurposed colonial house is only half of what stands out: white cast iron outdoor benches, and trees illuminated by hanging lanterns in the courtyard all lend a romantic vibe. Staycations have transitioned toward spaces that feel more residential, and The Yard fulfils it – the 11 deluxe guest rooms, equipped with a huge bed, TV and a spacious shower area, are comfortable enough to make you feel at home. The hotel is parked in the most enviable location in the city – Bukit Bintang – so you’ll know where to go when those barbecued chicken wing cravings kick in.
Take advantage of: The courtyard. Even if you’re not here for a stay, it’s still a good place to throw a party.
51 Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang, KL (03 2141 1017).
By TimeOut
