Work today, fly tomorrow • December 2014
Kuala Lumpur: seven reasons to stay on
Malaysia’s buzzing capital is an important business link between Asia and the Middle East, but Kuala Lumpur offers much more than the Petronas Twin Towers. Thanks to its diverse Chinese, Malay, Singaporean and Indian population, it’s a melting pot of experiences – especially when it comes to food. If you have a few days to spare after business deals, resident Surekha Ragavan suggests you spend them discovering the city like a local
Village in the city
Kuala Lumpur may be a traffic-choked hotspot, but in a small corner of downtown you’ll find Kampung Baru, an authentic Malay village in the city centre. Besides a good range of Malay and Indonesian food, the district preserves village-style houses in pretty pastels with zinc roofs, surrounded by frangipani trees, coconut palms and banana trees.
Shop local
KL is a shopping haven, but to see the local talent, head for Bangsar. The upper middle-class suburb is home to local and regional high-street labels – look out for Chiyo, By Invite Only and Cheese Denim in spaces such as Bazarro and 17a Select Store (previously The Off Day).
Art house living
If you want to stray from hotel chains, then pencil in a night at Bangsar’s hidden Sekeping Tenggiri. Owner, architect and environmental champion Ng Sek San deliberately left the bungalow with a raw and unfinished look, which adds to its charm. The house is also home to Sek San’s eclectic private art collection.
Secret bars
Visitors flock to Changkat Bukit Bintang, the city’s unofficial nightlife strip, but it’s more fun sipping on cocktails where no one will find you. Track down the speakeasy Omakase + Appreciate – located in the Bangunan Ming Annexe in central KL – which operates an omakase (Japanese for “I’ll leave it to you”) bar. Leave your order in the capable hands of mixologists Shawn Chong and Karl Too.
Market breakfast
It’s a Malaysian tradition to have toast slathered with kaya (coconut-egg jam) for breakfast, washed down with thick, black coffee (pictured). Get your fix at Imbi Market in Bukit Bintang, always filled with friendly locals willing to share recommendations on their favourite stalls. Leave room to sample popiah – thin, wheat-flour skins wrapped around crunchy vegetables and hoisin sauce.
Paddy adventures
For a quick getaway, head to Sekinchan, a 90-minute drive from the city. When you hit the sleepy town, rent a bike and ride past the sprawling paddy fields, or visit a rice factory to learn how rice is processed. At lunch, crack crabs at one of the many seafood restaurants, such as Jiann Chyi. Be sure to buy sweet local mangoes from the roadside stalls on the way back.
Late-night snacks
After a couple of nights in the capital, you’ll find there’s no such thing as a meal too late. Aside from the 24-hour mamak stalls (offering local dishes such as nasi goreng and roti canai), Jalan Alor is a popular spot for midnight snacks. While it’s easy to pick a random restaurant along the street, Wong Ah Wah is the most credible. Go for the atmosphere and stay for the sticky, sweet chicken wings grilled to a near-blackened char.
British Airways will fly to Kuala Lumpur daily from May 2015. Use the Avios calculator to see how many Avios you need to get there
This article has been tagged Destination, Travel Tips