Hi there, so you’re thinking about going to Kuala Lumpur. I think it might genuinely be one of the easiest cities in the world to feel rich on a normal budget. Rooftop pools, incredible food, and luxury hotels cost a fraction of what they would in Europe. It’s a great gateway into Asia, and KL has so much to offer. There are so many places to see, the food is amazing, some of the best in the world and the people are so kind and friendly. They are always so happy to see new faces experiencing their culture.
The value you get for your buck in Kuala Lumpur is insane. They use Grab over there, similar to our Uber in the UK, and the trips are so cheap. You can go from Bukit Bintang to Central Market for under £3. The MRT is so easy to use, clean, and on time, but for the price you pay, Grab is hard to beat, and it’s a great 10-minute air-conditioned break as you navigate the Malaysian humidity. The hotel rooms are huge and so much better value than you’d get in other capital cities, and the Airbnb apartments are arguably even better value than the hotels. You can get a huge 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment for under £80 a night.
Here are some of my favourite places to stay in Kuala Lumpur. I would always recommend first-timers stay near Bukit Bintang, as it’s the perfect spot to set up base.
Pavilion Ceylon Hill Suites, Bukit Bintang
St Mary’s Residences
Berjaya Times Square Hotel
The swimming pool at Pavilion Ceylon Hill is amazing. You get a great view of the Petronas Towers, and it’s a great spot to spend an afternoon or even an evening having a relaxing swim and taking in the views. They also have a bar there, so you can have a drink whilst you’re chilling after a long day of exploring.
Kuala Lumpur has some great rooftop bars and clubs. Me and my friends got talking to some locals on our recent visit, and we were recommended Mesa on 51 for the amazing view. Sky51 also has a great view of the city. I personally went to Mesa, and it was a great experience. The vibes there are great, the drinks are good, and the staff were super friendly.
Now let’s get to my favourite part: THE FOOD. You can get any type of cuisine in this city. I’ve personally had Malaysian, Chinese, Korean, Syrian, Italian, and Tunisian food here.
In Chinatown, there is a great restaurant called Nam Heong Chicken Rice that’s featured in the Michelin Guide. It’s been open since 1938, and it’s an institution for Hainanese chicken rice. You can get a Michelin-recommended meal and a drink for under £4. You can’t even get lunch at work for that amount anymore.
Some other great places I highly recommend are Mon Chinese Beef Roti, you can’t skip this. It’s probably my favourite thing to eat in KL. I recommend the beef one; it’s like £1.20. They have a couple of spots in the city, but the main one is next to Jalan Alor, and it gets very crowded. I’d say go to the one in the food hall in Pavilion, as the queues are basically non-existent there.
Next, let me tell you about Jalan Alor. Please don’t miss this street. It may seem overwhelming, but it’s so, so worth it. We did some research before going, so we knew which restaurants to eat at. Sai Woo and LDS Restoran Chao Zhou were the ones we ate at, and both were really nice with a great atmosphere. The owner of Chao Zhou came to speak with us, and he was so kind and gave us some tips for travelling around the country. Jalan Alor is full of amazing smells and not-so-amazing ones (Durian!!). They have all sorts of food on this street, mostly Chinese-Malay food, but you really can’t go wrong there.
I know finding good places to eat when you’re in a new city can feel overwhelming sometimes, so let me list some of my favourite restaurants.
* Oriental Kopi (they have loads of these around the city)
* Yaki Soul
* K Fry Urban Korean
* The Sai Hills Corner
* Dragon I
* Havana Bar & Grill
* TG’s Bistro (the cheese naan was amazing)
* Big Boss HSP (great if you want a takeaway)
* Halab Gate Shawarma
* Al Sultan Restaurant (a great alternative to Damascus, as the queues there get crazy long)
KL is one of the few cities where you can genuinely travel comfortably, eat incredibly well, and still spend less than a basic weekend in many European cities.
Go to the malls !! they are amazing. Pavilion, Suria, Berjaya Times Square, and LaLaport are all worth visiting. You can genuinely get lost in these malls. They are like indoor cities, with loads of floors and endless shops. If you love shopping, these malls are a must-visit, but they are also a great way to break up the day from all the outdoor exploring. These malls are all air-conditioned, and it’s so nice to go grab a refreshing drink in there.
I would say it’s very realistic to do Kuala Lumpur on a daily budget of £50, and you’ll probably still have change left by the end of the day. One thing I will say that isn’t cheap in Kuala Lumpur is alcohol. It’s very similar to our prices in the UK. If you are interested in drinking, happy hour is your best friend. It’s usually from opening until 9pm. I would recommend a street called Changkat Bukit Bintang there are loads of bars to get lost in.
Before I end this, there is one more place I want to mention: REXKL. I didn’t realise how cool this place was until we visited. It’s not spoken about enough online. It has such a great vibe and multiple floors. One floor has this crazy-looking library that you should definitely visit. If thrifting is your thing, there was a pop-up on the first floor that was worth checking out, and on the ground floor there is the Rex Bar. I also spotted a couple of food places that looked great Deckers (a burger joint) and Battered Fish and Chips (a little taste of home).
I hope you find this useful. Kuala Lumpur is a beautiful city, and I hope you have a great time there. See you in the next one.
