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<h2><strong>Why Stay?</strong></h2>
<p>Luxury boutique hotel <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/?DestinAsian">Else</a> can claim a truly immersive stay; it’s a stylish sanctuary amid Chinatown’s sensory overload of shops, food, heritage, and modern transformation. Fusing historical charm and contemporary comforts, the design-led property is located in the restored Lee Rubber Building, a dignified four-story art deco structure from the 1930s. Once the tallest building in <a href="https://destinasian.com/category/malaysia/kuala-lumpur">Kuala Lumpur</a>, it stands on a site previously occupied by a holiday home of the city’s last Chinese <em>kapitan</em> (a high-ranking official) Yap Kwan Seng. During World War II, this landmark served as the local headquarters of the Japanese secret police. The brainchild of Singapore-based entrepreneurs Justin Chen and Javier Perez, Else embodies Chinatown’s ongoing renaissance, with young creative energy breathing new life into this historic neighborhood. The ripples of change are transforming the enclave into a budding capital of cool. Set aside an evening to sip, savor, and shoot the breeze at the wine bar, aptly named Unwined Cabana, on the fourth-floor’s landscaped terrace.</p>
<h3><strong>The Neighborhood</strong></h3>
<p>Location is the ace in <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/?DestinAsian">Else’s</a> pocket; mere steps away from the famed Petaling walking street, across the road from an ornate Taoist temple (Guan Di) and a block from the country’s oldest Hindu temple (Sri Mahamariamman). A five-minute stroll away, the area’s youthful fervor is evident at <a href="https://destinasian.com/kuala-lumpur-attractions-rexkl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RexKL</a>, an old cinema turned cultural and community space. In the opposite direction lies Lorong Panggung—along with an Insta-famous alleyway nicknamed Kwai Chai Hong (“little demon alley”) formerly an infamous vice den—punctuated with decades-old shophouses that have morphed into swanky new eateries, bars, and curio shops. Else is within walking distance of two commuter train stations (LRT and MRT Pasar Seni).</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-141596 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Else-Kuala-Lumpur-Sunken-Living-Room-Facing-Pocket-Garden.jpg" alt="The cozy Sunken Living Room at Else Kuala Lumpur, a boutique hotel in the Chinatown district." width="1200" height="800" /></p>
<h4><strong>The Feel</strong></h4>
<p>Behind <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/?DestinAsian">Else’s stately facade</a> is a sophisticated mix of contrasting accents. Soaring ceilings, bare concrete columns, and brick flooring are softened by the warmth of rattan and leather loungers, all veritably rustic-chic. Throughout the property, statement pieces add more visual appeal; striking antique timber columns (salvaged from Armenian mansions in India) stand behind the bar at Raw restaurant, where the centerpiece is a 100-year-old solid hardwood dining table nearly five meters long. For a nostalgic touch, the original terrazzo garden benches (emblazoned with the building’s Chinese name) grace the concourse near the fourth-floor pool. An air well punched through the historic structure floods the interior with natural light, evoking a sense of spaciousness. The prevailing mood at the reception lobby—designed to resemble a living room decorated with art pieces from the owners’ private collection—is one of cozy elegance.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest Quarters</strong></h5>
<p>The 49 guest rooms—spread across six floors (a two-story extension was added during the restoration)—are serene and inviting, feeling more like a home than a hotel. Sleek contemporary aesthetics in soft, earthy tones are matched with wood, rattan, and artistic touches (the woven headboards owe their intricate patterns to indigenous weavers in Sarawak); the overall effect exudes relaxed urbane cool. Standard room sizes start from 25 square meters (<a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/rest/mantra-room/?DestinAsian">Mantra</a>) to 41 square meters (<a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/rest/sanctuary-room/?DestinAsian">Sanctuary</a>, with a super king-size bed and private balcony), while most suites measure 69 square meters. The largest is the penthouse <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/rest/else-suite/">Else Suite</a> (84 square meters), with a balcony stretching from the bedroom to the living area. Each is designed in varying hues, furnishings, and artwork. Some like the <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/rest/urban-room/?DestinAsian">Urban</a> rooms are kitted out with bean-bag-like sofas for long languorous lounging. Guest rooms on the lower levels afford views of the comings and goings on the street below, but expect absolute bliss thanks to double-glazed windows.</p>
<h6><strong>Food and Drink</strong></h6>
<p>The allure of <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/yellow-fin-horse/?DestinAsian">Yellow Fin Horse</a> (beside the whimsical name coined by chef Jun Wong, who helms the restaurant) is undeniable: it takes the dining journey back in time when each dish was prepared from scratch (no pre-mixes) and cooked over an open-flame charcoal fire. Wong and her team even undertake the painstaking work of preserving, curing, fermenting, and aging ingredients, right down to making the butter that accompanies the superb longan sourdough. The wagyu steak is outstanding, as is the Malaysian single-origin chocolate cake. All-day dining spot <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/raw/?DestinAsian">Raw</a> plates up dare-to-be-different twists of Asian classics, such as Prata Waffles—Indian flatbread (better known in Malaysia as roti canai) reinterpreted as waffle-crepe pieces with flavorful dhal—and Nasi Mamba, a bold reimagining of the ubiquitous nasi lemak with squid-ink fried rice. Unwined Cabana excels in natural sparkling wine, grower champagnes, unfiltered nats, and burgundies.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-141598 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Else-Kuala-Lumpur-Yellow-Fin-Horse-Interior-and-Food.jpg" alt="A view of the seating area at Yellow Fin Horse, a restaurant at Else Kuala Lumpur; some of the venue’s dishes and cocktails." width="1200" height="800" /></p>
<h6><strong>Wellness Factor</strong></h6>
<p>While there isn’t a spa, wellbeing is very much catered for: Two “floatation” therapy pods provide 60 minutes of deep relaxation in complete solitude, a perfect antidote to a day of pounding the streets. While some might find the pods claustrophobic, there’s the Gratitude Space, a marble-clad sanctuary designed for prayer or meditation. The more socially minded can look to a sunken lounge to chill out with others.</p>
<h6><strong>Family Matters</strong></h6>
<p>There is no age restriction for stay-in guests, but the hotel does not provide any special services for children.</p>
<h6><strong>Sustainability Cred</strong></h6>
<p>It’s a delight when eco-conscious efforts extend beyond simply avoiding single-use plastics. Guests can enjoy pure-tasting still and sparkling Nordaq filtered water in reusable glass bottles, the use of a hand-dyed tote from local ethical fashion brand Muni, and sustainable bath products by Omno.</p>
<h6><strong>What Else?</strong></h6>
<p>Travelers who are keen to discover more about the country can leaf through an extensive collection of Malaysian literature at the Library. For those needing a space to work, a private meeting room dubbed the Business Den is at their disposal. Live music is on at Raw during Sunday brunch and at dinner on Wednesdays. Else is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Angela Goh</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.elseretreats.com/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elseretreats.com</a><br />
+60 3 2300 3700<br />
<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/1YQCwhdDLgkWj9yG7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">145, Jl. Tun H S Lee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</a></p>


The cozy Sunken Living Room at Else Kuala Lumpur, a boutique hotel in the Chinatown district.

Else Kuala Lumpur: a Stylish Sanctuary