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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h5><strong>Why stay?</strong></h5>
<p>High-rise elegance meets aspects of an urban resort at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur—a dependable downtown property since it opened in 1998. Staff members go the extra mile to make you feel special, starting from doormen in Malay attire who welcome guests into the marbled lobby, to the friendly concierge and attentive restaurant servers. Second only to this personable hospitality are the sweeping city views that set the scene for a truly five-star experience.</p>
<h5><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h5>
<p>Standing adjacent to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the hotel puts you right in the thick of it, from luxury shopping at Suria KLCC to morning walks at the 20-hectare public park next door. Staying in the city center also means better accessibility via public transport: the underground KLCC LRT station, a five-minute stroll away, is an ideal jumping-off point for jaunts to the National Museum, Chinatown, and Bukit Bintang.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-133475 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-6-Club-Lounge.jpg" alt="Inside the Club Lounge at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-6-Club-Lounge.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-6-Club-Lounge-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-6-Club-Lounge-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-6-Club-Lounge-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>The feel</strong></h5>
<p>Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur was one of the final projects by the late Howard Hirsch, once known as <em>the</em> interior designer of luxury hotels around the world. The co-founder of still-influential studio HBA drew inspiration from traditional Malaysian art and culture, incorporating local elements like columns wrapped in pewter from heritage manufacturer Royal Selangor, custom-carved door handles, and Nyonya lattice screens to give the property a strong sense of place. Dark granite floors and wood-accented walls characterize some of the public spaces; make sure to spend time on the cabana-dotted pool deck, which fronts the luxuriant greenery of KLCC Park.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>Waking up to a view of the Petronas Twin Towers, the aforementioned park, or the cityscape is guaranteed, whether you have a key card to a Deluxe room or Park suite. Refurbished in 2016, the tranquil rooms are classic-contemporary in style, splashed in gray hues and pops of blue and gold. All guests receive a welcome drink of fruit sodas from local producer The Tapping Tapir; the spacious marble bathrooms come kitted out with Diptyque toiletries. Those checked in to a Club room or suite have access to The Mandarin Oriental Club on the 24th floor, a wood-paneled lounge where they can sip on evening cocktails with 270-degree vistas of Kuala Lumpur. Other perks include complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea.</p>
<h5><strong>Food and drink</strong></h5>
<p>The MO’s culinary lineup ensures there’s something for everyone. At Mandarin Grill, diners gravitate toward signature mains like the 45-day aged Angus Florentine T-bone steak and Argentinian beef Wellington, but the wagyu beef cheeks and scallop flambé are also worth ordering. Book a table at Cantonese restaurant Lai Po Heen for its popular dim sum brunch: you’ll likely devour baskets of freshly steamed <em>siu mai</em>, sticky rice with abalone wrapped in lotus leaf, and pan-fried shrimp dumplings. All-day dining spot Mosaic tempts hungry guests with its live cooking stations and a standalone dessert section. Come on Fridays to enjoy a tantalizing seafood buffet featuring Boston lobsters, freshly shucked oysters, and baked honey mustard salmon. For drinks, choose between the themed afternoon tea at Lounge on the Park and fancy cocktails at MO Bar.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-133478 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-7-Dishes.jpg" alt="A dish from Mandarin Grill (left) and dim sum at Lai Po Heen (right)." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-7-Dishes.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-7-Dishes-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-7-Dishes-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Mandarin-Oriental-Kuala-Lumpur-7-Dishes-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h5>
<p>Taking a dip in the outdoor infinity pool overlooking the treetops of KLCC Park may sound like perfection, but that’s not the only way to unwind at the Mandarin Oriental. At the on-site spa, seek a quiet moment in the sauna. Then head to a treatment room for the 90-minute Urut Melayu massage: the long rhythmic strokes of this traditional wellness ritual stimulate blood flow and help clear the lymphatic system. If you prefer to work up a sweat, hit a tennis ball on the hard courts or keep your heart rate up at the fitness center.</p>
<h5><strong>Family matters</strong></h5>
<p>Exclusive for in-house guests aged four to 11, The Little Explorer Club provides a selection of fun-filled educational activities. Its ever-changing daily calendars are packed with arts and crafts sessions, music, and magic shows. Junior guests should also splash away in the shallow kids’ pool and then feast on wood-fired pizzas from the breezy Aqua Restaurant &amp; Grill Bar.</p>
<h5><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h5>
<p>A Natura water station was installed in 2016 to refill the in-room glass bottles. You won’t find bluefin tuna and shark fin on the menu, while local ingredients are prioritized wherever possible: restaurants source cacao from farmers in Pahang and sustainable seafood from the fishermen on the island of Pulau Ketam. Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority has recognized the hotel with the top Three Diamond rating in an annual voluntary low-carbon building assessment since 2020.</p>
<h5><strong>What else?</strong></h5>
<p>The Mandarin Oriental offers a number of bespoke experiences to make your stay even more memorable. For a fee, you can craft a pewter dish at Royal Selangor’s visitor center, learn to cook authentic curry laksa or chicken <em>percik</em> at Mosaic, or discover the secret to making Lai Po Heen’s signature durian pancakes from executive chef Michael Wong himself.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Tan Cheng Sim</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/kuala-lumpur/petronas-towers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mandarinoriental.com/en/kuala-lumpur/petronas-towers</a><br />
+60 3 2380 8888<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/D2CoKDQWTEwCxu3b9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</a></p>


The main pool at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur overlooks KLCC Park.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur Hotels