Kuala Lumpur is probably best known as the home of the world’s tallest pair of skyscrapers, the Petronas Twin Towers. But there’s so much more to the Malaysia’s capital city than its dazzling skyline.
Venture past the shimmering high-rises that dot the country’s business centre, and you’ll soon find a stunning network of bustling streets and alleyways that give way to roving flea markets, intriguing roadside stalls, historic attractions, and buzzing nightlife.
In other words, it’s a perfect escape for families, couples, and the solo traveller alike, thanks to its alluring mix of food, shopping, and culture, coupled with great connectivity as an international and regional hub. Read on for a list of attractions well-suited for the tourist who prefers to wander alone, while remaining firmly in the seat of civilisation on the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Photo: Dewakan
EAT
Dewakan
Two MICHELIN StarsMICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2024
Malaysian chef Darren Teoh honours the traditions of his country’s indigenous people, uplifting familiar flavours with fine-dining finesse at Dewakan, Kuala Lumpur’s — and Malaysia’s — highest-awarded restaurant, with two MICHELIN Stars under its belt. His innovative tasting menus bring you on a culinary journey spanning the entire nation, journeying along its lush rainforests, meandering rivers, and coastal beaches before arriving at gastronomic bliss. In other words, a fitting bounty of the heavens, from a restaurant that’s named after two abbreviated Malay words – dewa, meaning "god"; and makan, for "eat".
Must-order Dish: Tasting Menu
Price: RM800 onwards (plus about RM200 to 300 for drink pairings) (around US$170-225)
Photo: MICHELIN Guide
Congkak (Bukit Bintang)
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2024
Congkak (Bukit Bintang) wears its Malaysian identity on its sleeves — literally, as the restaurant itself gets its name from a traditional Malaysian game. It’s no surprise then that its menu comprises largely of bona-fide local eats (that shares similarities with Indonesian nosh), the most popular of which would surely be the magnificent Nasi Ambeng platter — a heaving sharing plate of meats, vegetables, rice, and fiery sambals, prepared in numerous ways for a delightful mix of textures and flavours. This is best enjoyed with good company, though you can, of course, opt for a smaller plate as a solo diner.
Must-order Dish: Nasi Ambeng
Price: RM30 onwards (around US$6.50 onwards)
Photo: MICHELIN Guide
Heun Kee Claypot Chicken Rice (Pudu)
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2024
The first thing that hits you when you walk up to local hero Heun Kee Claypot Chicken Rice (Pudu)’s storefront is the intoxicating aroma of a roaring charcoal flame, over which numerous claypots containing marinated chicken chunks and preserved Chinese sausage are being cooked on a bed of rice. It takes about 30 minutes for your meal to be prepared à la minute — just remember to scrape up that deliciously smoky, soccarat-like crisp that forms on the bottom of the pot.
Must-order Dish: Claypot Chicken Rice
Price: RM16 onwards (around US$4 onwards)
Photo: MICHELIN Guide
Hing Kee Bakuteh (Jalan Kepong)
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2024
One of Malaysia’s most iconic dishes is Bak Kut Teh, which typically features a swarthy, herbaceous broth brimming with pork ribs, belly, tail, and other parts of the pig, including offal. If you’re looking to tick this off your foodie checklist, do make a stop at Hing Kee Bakuteh (Jalan Kepong), a stall that’s been drawing crowds even before its MICHELIN Bib Gourmand nod. There, you can get both the classic soup version, as well as a dry, spicy version in a rich gravy.
Must-order Dish: Bak Kut Teh
Price: RM21 onwards (around US$5 onwards)
Photo: MICHELIN Guide
Sri Nirwana Maju
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2024
A trip to Kuala Lumpur wouldn’t be complete without a meal at a traditional banana leaf restaurant, so-called for the age-old tradition of serving white rice and a dazzling array of multi-hued, spice-rich curries, chutneys, and pickles on — well, a banana leaf. And there’s no better place to get it at than Sri Nirwana Maju, a South Indian establishment well-loved by tourists and locals alike. If you’ve still got space after, home in on their chicken biryani, which boasts moist meat along with balanced flavours.
Must-order Dish: Vegetable Meal Set
Price: RM10 onwards (around US$2.50 onwards)
Photo: Else Kuala Lumpur
STAY
Else Kuala Lumpur
Located in the 1930s Art Deco Lee Rubber Building in grungy Chinatown, Else Kuala Lumpur stands in stark contrast to the polished modernity of typical high-rise hotels. That said, you can still expect modern amenities inflected with a welcome dose of urban charm within — think minimalist, comfortably appointed rooms, supported by amenities like an outdoor pool with cabanas and sensory deprivation pods.
Cost of Stay: Prices start at RM810 (about US$175) per night for its lead-in Mantra Room category
Photo: The Chow Kit
The Chow Kit
The Chow Kit perfectly captures the essence of the eponymous district it is housed in, turning its transformation from seedy neighbourhood into hipster paradise, and translating it into a boutique hotel experience. Case in point — rooms thoughtfully designed to invoke the gambling dens that once dotted the district’s backrooms, given a makeover with the ethos of simplified luxury at its centre.
Cost of Stay: Prices available on request only
Photo: The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel
The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel
Effortlessly chic and laid-back with a dash of edgy funk is how we’d describe The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel, a boutique hotel poised for the action in the lively district of Bukit Bintang, just a couple minutes’ walk away. It comes equipped with everything a discerning solo traveller might need — an outdoor swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, and even a work station with printer access for digital nomads.
Cost of Stay: Prices available on request only
Photo: Penrose Kuala Lumpur
PLAY
Nightlife
If you’ve only got one night set aside for bar hopping in Kuala Lumpur, let it be a night in Chinatown, where many of the city’s hottest watering holes can be now found within its conserved shophouses. There’s modern craft cocktail joint Penrose, which hides its intriguing programme of elevated classics and bespoke creations behind a heavy, industrial-styled door; as well as the ever-popular PS150, the first cocktail bar to lay claim to Chinatown in a pre-war shop lot, where it now dishes out Southeast Asian flavours and liquors.
Photo: Putra Mosque via Shutterstock
Art & Culture
Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of Southeast Asian cultures and religions, which means it’s easy to find religious sites both deeply spiritual and picturesque within the vicinity of the sprawling metropolis. The most notable examples include: the pastel-pink Putra Mosque sitting on the edge of the beautiful Putrajaya Lake; the Thean Hou Temple, a riot of auspicious gold and red, and one of the largest temples in Southeast Asia; and the Batu Caves, where the outsized 42m-tall statue of Hindu deity Lord Murugan lays high in the limestone mountains, accessible only by after a flight of 272 multicoloured steps.
Photo: Batu Caves via Shutterstock
Nature
The Batu Caves also has something to offer nature lovers and adrenaline junkies, as it is a popular spot for outdoor rock climbing — don’t worry, there’ll be experienced guides to help you safely ascend the area’s beautiful limestone cliffs. Else, there’s always Malaysia’s national zoo, the 100-acre Zoo Negara, where you can find rare and endangered animals like the Malaysian tiger and black-and-white tapirs, among the over 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish housed there.
