Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia
Asia

The Experience

Literally in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur's premier office space (not to mention the city's symbol and biggest tourist attraction), the 88-story twin Petronas Towers, the Mandarin Oriental offers excellent accommodations, several of the city's top restaurants and simply the best location in the capital. Designed throughout to reflect both traditional and modern Malaysia, the hotel is adjacent to the towers, overlooks the 50-acre KLCC park and sits just a short walk from the city's convention center, principal concert hall and finest shopping. When you return to your room, this 30-story high-rise offers some of the best views in the city.

The Rooms

Interiors are a clever mix of traditional and contemporary influences, emphasizing Malaccan wood tones and large amounts of natural light. Every unit is equipped with broadband access, marble-floored bathrooms and walk-in showers and separate bath. Park suites are spacious, with spectacular views. Club suites add access to a business center, meeting rooms and complimentary breakfast, tea and cocktails in an upscale lounge with a panoramic vista. For VIPs, the 3,600-square-foot presidential suite is full-on extravagant, loaded with Oriental antiques and western paintings, a baby grand piano and a private dining room overlooking the twin towers.

The Service

The Vitality Club features a gym, an aerobics studio, tennis and squash courts and a park-facing infinity pool. The spa offers numerous beauty treatments including six kinds of facials, plus Swedish, Chinese, Thai and Malaysian massage. (The latter is highly recommended--but be ready to have stress removed from you by force.) Room service runs 24/7, and there are six good food and drink choices on site; tops are Lai Po Heen, a Cantonese restaurant styled after the homes of early 20th-century Malayan tycoons, and the Pacifica Grill & Bar, where the eclectic mix of European and Asian cuisine is prepared in an open show kitchen.

The Highlights

Thanks to the prime location, people-watching is a top activity here. Malaysia is a meaty stew of Malay, Chinese, Indian, British and numerous other influences, and the hotel's location is at ground zero of the ongoing interplay. Walk the halls, stroll the park, move around the mall under the twin towers and watch as multiple worlds collide, coexist and make peace all at once, all the time. Then take a second look at the hotel. Notice how all of this is reflected many of the building's details? From door handles fashioned with a traditional Kris design to handrails adorned in antique Nonya gold leaf--this is a modern, Western-influenced business hotel with traditional and Islamic motifs. The Mandarin Oriental is itself an object lesson in this young country's past--and its future.

 

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