Where to Stay in KL? Check Out These Best New Hotels in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is fast becoming a popular destination for travellers looking for adventures in a vibrant city filled with different ethnics and extremely delicious food, as well as modern lifestyles mixed with a good balance of historical and cultural variety. Therefore recently, many new hotels popped up around KL, including some exciting first time’s brands in Malaysia. I had the opportunities to check out and stay at some of these new hotels, so I’d compiled a list of the best new hotels in Kuala Lumpur for those who are looking for ideas on where to stay in KL, as well as those who love a staycation once in a while.

1. Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara

The 1st ever Sofitel in Malaysia, Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara opens its door in August 2017 at Damansara Heights, with 312 luxurious rooms within the massive 8.5-acre integrated development which include the lifestyle mall, DC Mall.

This 5-star hotel has the best luxury hammam Spa in Kuala Lumpur, and plenty of dining options across Nizza, a French Riviera looking restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine; Kwee Zen, the all-day dining restaurant; Wan Chun Ting, the in-house Cantonese and Imperial cuisine restaurant; Le Bar, the lobby lounge which serves light meals, Afternoon Tea or a typically French goûter (snack), or the Sofi’s Deli which serves healthy baguettes, ciabattas, paninis, sandwiches and salads.

What did I love about Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara?

• Their signature MyBed™, which gave me a great night sleep in the firm mattress and silky smooth linen.
• the access to Club Millésime for exclusivity,  which include evening wine tasting canapes and cocktails from 6.00pm to 8:00pm, afternoon tea/ Le Gouter from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, ala carte breakfast from 6:00am to 11:00am.
• So Hammam Ritual at So SPA was the best spa experience I had in Kuala Lumpur.

2. Element Kuala Lumpur by Westin

Opened merely a year ago in May 2017, Element Hotels brand made its debut in Southeast Asia through Element Kuala Lumpur with 252 rooms with views of either KL City Centre (think Petronas Twin Towers) or the rolling hills of Ampang in a distance. Element Kuala Lumpur by Westin is the tallest eco-friendly hotel in the heart of Kuala Lumpur located on the 39th-53rd floor of Ilham Tower (5th tallest building in Malaysia) on Jalan Binjal.

In order to minimise plastic wastes, the Hotel provided the NSF Certified water filter in each and every room, so that the guests could safely drink from the tap water whenever they want to, rather than throwing away mineral water bottles after finishing them. As food choices, TRACE Restaurant & Bar is the all-day dining option and the only restaurant in the Hotel.

What did I love about Element Kuala Lumpur by Westin?

• Amazing heated indoor swimming pool overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers.
• Eco friendly concept.
• Signature Westin’s Heavenly Bed which guarantees a great night of sleep.
• Large window panes and natural lights everywhere.

3. Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur

Opened in February 2017, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur features 184 guestrooms, a French-style restaurant, Brasserie 25, as well as a rooftop bar, Man Tao Bar and rooftop pool facing the beautiful KL Tower. Located at Jalan Kamunting, this hip hotel is built among some of KL’s 1940s heritage shophouses turned hip galleries and cafes, as well as a handful of traditional businesses that locals until today still adore (my favourite and weekly breakfast joint, Yut Kee Restaurant which has been around since 1928 is just next door).

The rooftop swimming pool here is the main draw for this hotel. It is a long enough lap pool facing the iconic KL Tower and the KL Forest Eco-Park (or previously known as Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve).

Dining options include Brasserie 25, the signature French restaurant; Man Tao Bar, the rooftop bar next to the swimming pool; as well as The Snug, the casual dining restaurant.

What did I love about Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur?

• Brasserie 25 is the best French restaurant in KL!
• Man Tao Bar, the rooftop bar with great cocktails.
• The rooftop swimming pool with beautiful KL Tower view.

4. New World Petaling Jaya Hotel

Opened in January 2018, New World Petaling Jaya Hotel is the latest 5-star hotel in in Petaling Jaya (the suburb of Kuala Lumpur). Located within the Paradigm integrated complex (where Paradigm Mall is also located), New World Petaling Jaya Hotel features 300 guest rooms, a grand ballroom for 1,000 guests, and an amazing outdoor Infinity-edge rooftop pool. New World Petaling Jaya Hotel is also the first Malaysia property for New World Hotels & Resorts, which I’d stayed at their Beijing sister hotel when I was in Beijing the last trip (full review here).

Dining options in the hotel are Pasar Baru, the all-day dining restaurant in New World Petaling Jaya Hotel serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in food market style; PJ’s Bar & Grill which mainly serves grilled selections, and tapas-style small plates; as well as The Lounge next to the lobby at Level 2 for casual light dining option. The rooftop swimming pool is the best feature of the hotel.

What did I love about New World Petaling Jaya Hotel?

• The 300m² Infinity-edge rooftop swimming pool has the most beautiful sweeping view of Kuala Lumpur City.
• Residence Club Living Room, which included privileges such as cocktails and canapes from 6pm-8pm, private breakfast from 7am-10.30am, coffee/tea/fruit juices/aerated drinks from 11am-5pm, complimentary pressing service for 1 set of suit/dress per stay etc.
• Food at PJ’s Bar & Grill is great with a lovely view over KL city.

Check out my other hotel reviews here.

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