Trip review to Kuala Lumpur: City with sky-high ambitions

This trip was completed in November 2024.

Kuala Lumpur is not a city that comes to our mind when we think about an exciting and tourist-friendly destination. However, a short weekend trip changed our mind, largely due to the convenience and affordability of getting around the city.

Like Bangkok and Singapore, the weather in Kuala Lumpur can be temperamental. There can be unpredictable afternoon showers or scorching heat throughout the day, disrupting outdoor street exploration or day trips to tourist spots near the city. That said, taxi is relatively cheap and the public transportation train system is comprehensive within the city center.

Below are our reviews of notable parts of our trip.

Airport Lounge: Capsule Transit MAX and Airside Hotel

Rating 8.1/10

Situated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2, this is a premium landside concept with an eye-catching bar and futuristic bright orange cushion seats. Dubbed Malaysia’s first luxury airport transit hotel, this new space opened in September 2024.

Separated from the private area for hotel guests, there is a lounge for passengers who did not book a room. For the lounge, apart from an a la carte menu, guests can also help themselves to a side buffet and beverages. The menu features many of the local mains such as mee siam and prata, but it is important to note that all of the food are plant-based.

Under the same branding, but on the airside, there is also a standard Capsule transit hotel for some quick shut eye. These are double-deck single pod rooms, and we are pleasantly surprised with the comfort of the bedding. In addition to some simple toiletries, an amenity kit with earplug and eye mask is also offered to all guests.

Transport: KLIA Express Train

Rating 7.6/10

With the notorious traffic jams leading into Kuala Lumpur city, the KLIA Express Train is a good alternative for travellers looking to get from Kuala Lumpur International Airport straight to the central train station in the city.

There is a normal service, as well as the Ekspres service which is a non-stop journey to KL Sentral in about 30 minutes. This is a rather straightforward option, and most people will not find it hard to buy a ticket or find the train platform given the clear signs leading travellers through a connecting mall called Gateway@KLIA2.

It is an air-conditioned railway train service which runs every 20 minutes so there is ample capacity and no rush to catch the train. The interior of the train carriages is considerably modern although we would have liked to see more charging points around the seats. Most of the views throughout the journey will be plantations and low rise houses, so there is a visible transition in the last few minutes of the train journey entering the city where the scenery changes into glass buildings and dense skyscrapers.

Accommodation: Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur

Rating 8.0/10

There are no shortage of hotels in Kuala Lumpur city center. However, we find this hotel to be in a suitably prime location because it is between Pavilion KL and The Exchange TRX. It is within walking distance to both shopping malls and there are plenty of food options around the area. The nearby Bukit Bintang station also allows access to the MRT as well as the monorail to other parts of the city.

Although Pan Pacific Serviced Suites KL and Parkroyal Collection KL shares the same vehicle driveway, the two hotels have separate entrances for pick-up and drop-off. The hotel lobby itself is spacious and the check-in counters have the same open standing layout consistent with the hotel brand.

We do feel that the staff can be more well-trained in the hotel policies and operations as our key card was not programmed correctly initially. That being said, the doorman, check-in staff and concierge were all rather friendly and hospitable when interacting with guests.

Our room comes with access to their COLLECTION club lounge on Level 6. As a result of this, rooms with this access are on the low floors of the hotel to facilitate convenience with a separate lift and staircase up to Level 6. There is also no window view from our room. Apart from that, the room itself is spacious and comes equipped with two tables and a cushioned bench. Room rates are around MYR580/night.

As for the facilities, the hotel pool is quite small and more suitable for dips than actual laps swimming. Surrounding the pool and poolside bar is the gym, which is likewise small but certainly well-maintained. However, there is a separate fitness studio beside the gym with more empty spaces for doing conditioning or mat exercises.

What we found to be a positive surprise was the food served in the club lounge. Breakfast and evening cocktails are served there, and the quality of breakfast we had during our stay was good.

There are both buffet spread and mains in the a la carte menu for ordering. The local items in the menu are definitely worth trying since the serving portion is not large.

Accommodation: Ascott Kuala Lumpur

Rating 7.9/10

For travelers who prefer the Petronas Twin Towers and surrounding KLCC area, this serviced aparthotel is ideal given its proximity. Being more of a serviced apartment than a hotel, you can expect a less grand entrance and lobby but a much more functional room for staying.

Check-in was more no-frills to us but the staff was still attentive and professional. What makes this place extra convenient is the small convenience store just beside the entrance with quick snacks and drinks.

Before moving to the room itself, we have to mention that the pool is of a decent size with loungers around, surrounded by a garden and BBQ area. The gym also comes with a nice view of skyscrapers and the KL convention centre. The amenities here are generally better and larger because the building caters to both shorter-term hotel guests and longer-term residents staying in their serviced apartments.

Also for this same reason, the floor area of rooms here tend to be large. Our specific room comes with a kitchen with counter, dining table, living room and a bedroom. Space will not be an issue and for this particular unit, we do not find the interior to be that dated or heavily-used.

Furnishings are quite modern and the bathroom is generously-sized. Perhaps the one strongest point for them is the amount of cabinet space designed into the unit, perfect for travelers who may require more than what a standard hotel room can adequately provide. Room rates are around MYR730/night.

Dining: Village Park Nasi Lemak

Rating 8.7/10

Located at Damansara, this restaurant selling nasi lemak with their famous fried chicken is best reached by taxi from central area of Kuala Lumpur. The ride itself took about 30 minutes from Bukit Bintang (where we stayed) but booking a private-hire ride from the Grab app was fuss-free.

The restaurant is very well-known among both locals and tourists alike. We recommend avoiding the peak meal timings because the queue can be off-putting when you see it snakes along the length of four shops. We arrived just before lunch time and managed to only wait for 10 minutes before being allocated a seating. Despite occupying a few shop spaces, the restaurant can still be packed and so it is normal for diners to share tables with others.

It operates on a manual ordering system, with a physical menu and paper chit. Not all staff speaks English, so tourists may face some communication difficulties when making certain custom requests or their orders. Other than that, the menu offerings are pretty standard so there will not be much issues ordering the more popular dishes.

The nasi lemak with fried chicken was amazing and lived up to the restaurant hype. Despite the high expectations we had, the dish was not a letdown. The chicken was especially soft and the spices that coated the chicken paired very well with the rice. In addition, the sambal chili was fragrant and complemented the ingredients well. If coming in a big group, it is worth trying other dishes but the fried chicken should definitely not be missed.

Dining: Sun Fong Bak Kut Teh

Rating 8.1/10

Bak Kut Teh is one of the most popular Malaysia local cuisine, where there are both soup-based and dry version now. It is mainly pork rib simmered in a soup broth that can be either peppery or herbal.

Sun Fong is a popular restaurant serving the dish alongside other seafood items and stir-fry meat and vegetables. Located along a row of shophouses opposite Parkroyal Collection KL, it is only a stone’s throw away and therefore very much accessible within the city center.

Tour buses and coaches can be seen dropping off tourists at the restaurant at certain times of the day, but usually the restaurant has capacity to handle walk-in customers. The original store offers a more authentic local dining experience, while those who prefer an air-conditioned environment can walk a few meters to their newer store down the same street.

We dined in the newer store but one thing to note is that the expanded menu will only be available at the original store. If you are mainly trying the signature and popular dishes, this will not be an issue since both stores carry them on their menus.

On the pork rib soup, it is of the herbal spice base. The claypot ensures that the dish stays warm throughout the meal. The broth is flavorful and packs a punch due to the ingredients used to simmer it. That said, some may find the dish to be a little salty, so it will be suitable to order a refreshing drink to go along with it. We did not try the dry version of the Bak Kut Teh, but that is likely to be even more flavorful due to the sauce.

Finally, ordering a few greens along with a bowl of rice can help to balance the meal. We find the stir-fry vegetables to be tasty too, showing that they also execute decently well with their non-signature dishes.

Dining: Fuiyoh! It's Uncle Roger

Rating 7.5/10

Riding on his internet fame, Youtuber Uncle Roger opened his first physical restaurant at Elite Pavilion KL. There was much fanfare and we decided to give the place a go. Arriving slightly before dinner time, we queued for about 15 minutes before getting seated.

The restaurant decor is cheeky and colorful, and from our observation, the restaurant caters to quite a wide range of dining audience. It is certainly appealing to younger diners, but also couples and families.

The menu seems to be highly curated at this point, with a list of standard highlights such as their signature fried rice with egg. With a few base mains, diners can customise add-ons and side dishes. Personally, the fried rice tasted above average at an affordable price point of around MYR20. The pickled cucumber also deserves a mention as the sauce is very appetising. Overall, the restaurant is worth a try (if the queue is not too long) though we very much prefer the menu to be more extensive.

Activity: Thai Odyssey massage (The Exchange TRX)

Rating 8.4/10

Thai Odyssey massage outlets can be found in a number of locations across the city. There is also an outlet right within Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the landside of Terminal 2. Given its reputation, we decided to go for a foot massage at the branch in The Exchange TRX.

As a relatively new mall, the Thai Odyssey there is also decked out in a modern soothing interior. Located on the higher floors together with sports-related stores, the entrance may not be that noticeable as it only occupies a small real estate front.

Reservation was not necessary during our visit but there may be a few hours of waiting time before the next available slot on the same day. Therefore, we suggest making a reservation in advance, or walk in and have in mind alternative plans to explore nearby places if there is no immediately available session.

Regarding the layout, the front of the shop comes with a handful of lounge chairs for massages in a shared space as well as a washing point. Body massages will be done further into the shop, as per common practice. In this case, on busier days, the shared area for foot massages can be a little noisy since there is no actual partition separating it with the reception area except a thin cloth/curtain.

The foot massage turned out to be exceptional, mainly because the masseuse uses consistent strength and not overly forceful in general. It also ends with some neck, shoulder and hand massage with stretching. It was one of the better experience we have had and at around MYR100 for 60 minutes, it was certainly value-for-money.

Activity: uroot massage (Marc Residences KLCC)

Rating 8.1/10

Another popular massage chain is UROOT, and a plus point for this is that there is an outlet located in a residential condominium just beside our hotel, Ascott KL. It is quite a hidden gem, tucked away in a quiet corner on the ground floor of Marc Residences KLCC Suites.

There are more administrative steps in the registration process for UROOT than Thai Odyssey, including filling up a personal particulars form as a new first-time customer. That adds a more personal touch and to some customers, that can translate into better attention paid on their personal massage preferences.

This massage session was generally quieter than the one we had at Thai Odyssey. We prefer the masseuse skills at Thai Odyssey, although this is highly subjective and greatly differs across outlets and conditions. The routine for foot massage is quite similar but there is less shoulder and arm massage at the end for UROOT. However, there was an added step of inhaling a scent before the massage for UROOT. Pricing is similar to Thai Odyssey, but for customers who are more selective on the overall massage environment, UROOT is likely a better choice.

In a nutshell, Kuala Lumpur turned up a few positive surprises for us. It can cater to travelers seeking more modern city comforts yet also displays a raw melting pot of culture unique to Malaysia. Staying in a central location also means that most of the top-class shopping malls like Pavilion KL and The Exchange TRX is within walking distance. A relatively new option called LaLaport BBCC is also a good modern destination mall with lesser crowd.

What is arguably more exciting to us is the upcoming full opening of Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur's latest attempt at a mega skyscraper which ranks as the second-tallest building in the world. Having been delayed, Park Hyatt which occupies the top floors of Merdeka 118 will finally be opening their doors to guests in September 2025. That is a perfect excuse for us to revisit Kuala Lumpur in 2025.