Damansara Heights among world’s top 10 coolest neighbourhoods

KUALA LUMPUR: Damansara Heights has been named as one of the world’s Top 10 coolest neighbourhoods by travel publication Lonely Planet.

In the top 10 list revealed last Friday, Damansara Heights, an affluent suburb in the western part of the federal capital, was listed along with New York City’s Sunset Park district and Borgo San Frediano, in Florence, Italy.

The other Asian neighbourhoods in the list were Seongsudong, Seoul, and Business Bay, Dubai.

“Bangsar may be better known, but Damansara Heights has the buzz,” said Lonely Planet.

“One of the richest addresses in Kuala Lumpur, this neighbourhood has retained its personality despite its recent revitalisation.”

The travel website also mentioned several restaurants and places as must-visit locations.

It added that post-facelift, Jalan Batai had developed into a community-focused street replete with eateries and cosmopolitan conveniences.

“While the road has yet to draw KL’s cool kids, the offerings — farm-to-table restaurant Sitka, Ben’s Independent Grocer (including a great coffee bar) and the elegant Torii yakitori and whiskey bar — deserve attention,” Lonely Planet said.

“Swing by Plaza Damansara, a beat-up area seeing an uptick of shiny shops and restaurants such as café bakery Huckleberry, the Skullduggery speakeasy and Flour, a North Indian restaurant that peddles a knockout biryani,” it added.