City guide: Kuala Lumpur
Stay cool at air-conditioned Camp5 (camp5. com), the largest climbing gym in Asia, where state-of-the-art climbing walls have over 400 routes to suit both beginners and experts.
ESCAPE
The popular Perdana Botanical Garden (klbotanicalgarden.gov.my) was founded in the 1880s and remains a green oasis for boating, early morning tai chi and contemplative strolls. There are also colourful butterfly and bird collections.
On the northern outskirts of the city, the limestone Batu Caves (tourism.gov.my) house an important Hindu religious site especially noted for its annual Thaipusam festival in January or February. A 272-step climb rewards you with views over the city.
A 2.5-hour drive north of Kuala Lupur, the Cameron Highlands (cameronhighlands.com) are the traditional cool-climate escape from the city, offering a landscape of jungle and tea plantations and villas fronted by rose gardens.
PILLOW TALK
The Yard (51D Jalan Tengkat Tongshin; theyard. com.my) is a well-priced, cheerful boutique hotel in a mix of colonial and contemporary styles.
Bright, spacious and family-friendly Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre (2 Jalan Kia Peng; novotel.com) is a good choice in a city short of mid-range options.
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur (Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre; mandarinoriental.com) could hardly be in a better city-centre location, with commanding views from guestrooms and its infinity-edge swimming pool..
WATERING HOLES
Despite its name, Passion (181-183 Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur City Centre) is a laidback, loungelizard venue where low lighting, plush sofas and smooth music encourage chilling out either inside or on the outdoor terrace.
For a glamorous rooftop bar, Sky Bar (Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur City Centre; skybar.com.my) has long been one of the city’s coolest venues, with great finger food, inventive cocktails and light-twinkled views.
Kuala Lumpur’s luxury hotels have surprisingly funky bars, none more so than The Sultan Lounge (Mandarin Oriental, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre; mandarinoriental.com), where designer opulence meets a taste of Morocco.
EATS
Enak (LG2, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang; enakkl.com) provides inventive, finedining interpretations of Malay dishes; its threedessert sampler is a delight.