From The Chow Kit to KLoé Hotel, staycations at 4 of Kuala Lumpur’s latest boutique hotels that celebrate the city’s famous old districts
Neighbourhood hotels like Four Points by Sheraton and The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel channel local flavours of Bukit Bintang, Chinatown and Chow Kit to offer colourful stays for local post-pandemic tourists starved of travel experiences
As Kuala Lumpur enters the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) phase and the city’s bustle returns, consider taking a breather after months of isolation at home by treating yourself to a welcome staycation. While international travel plans are still on hold, these local retreats will help indulge your wanderlust.
In a city dominated by towering skyscrapers and shiny new developments, the latest boutique hotels in Kuala Lumpur aim to hold on to heritage while breathing new life into the city’s historical neighbourhoods. From the buzzing streets of Chinatown to the notorious Chow Kit district, each establishment offers intimate insight into its locale, taking guests on a journey back in time through its architecture, artisanal decor, and culinary offerings – but not without the contemporary touches that serve to elevate the KL-centric experience.
The Chow Kit – An Ormond Hotel
Newly opened in February and located in one of Kuala Lumpur’s most notorious neighbourhoods where underground businesses and counterfeit goods abound, The Chow Kit embraces the convivial energy and distinctive characteristics of the eponymous street steeped in history. Inspired by the late-night revelry that lurked in the shadows of Chow Kit’s alleys and bars in the 1970s and 1980s, the boutique hotel exudes an old Kuala Lumpur charm, from the rich fabrics and textiles of its romantic lobby to the spacious guestrooms with timber floors and plush upholstery.
While the Towkay Suite (“boss” in the Hokkien dialect) is cosy and comfortable, Kitchen + Bar should prove enticing enough to draw you away from the luxurious solitude upstairs. Reminiscent of a casual social parlour, the open dining area is the perfect spot to catch up with friends while indulging in Malaysian delights reimagined by award-winning restaurateurs Christian Bauer and Eddie Chew of Troika Sky Dining.
1012, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Chow Kit, 50100 Kuala Lumpur
Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur
There is a revival happening in Chinatown, and Four Points by Sheraton is the latest establishment to join the charge since its December 2019 unveiling. Despite carrying a chain-hotel name, this property, with its exposed walls of burnt brick and traditional tiles, is rooted in local culture. Inside, the hotel is decked out in artisanal decor either sourced from or inspired by Chinatown’s Petaling Street; every art piece, fixture, and even choice of tableware references the livelihoods, crafts and trades of the neighbourhood.