Kuala Lumpur - Nightlife

With so many different cultures mixing together, the nightlife in Kuala Lumpuris anything but dull. Although Malaysia is a Muslim country, alcohol is freely available in the capital and the nightlife is some of the liveliest in Asia. Strict government controls close many bars by 0100, although some clubs stay open later. The legal drinking age in Kuala Lumpur is 21 years.

Traditional nightlife for many locals still involves a visit to a bustling pasar malam (night market), where the focus is as much on socialising and people watching as it is on shopping, savouring the excellent hawker food and quaffing ice-cold beer. The Saturday market on Jalan Raja Muda is the highlight, although Jalan Petaling in Chinatown closes nightly to traffic and is still a local favourite, despite the presence of many tourists. The main area for bars is in the Golden Triangle, where there are many European-style bars and nightclubs inside the luxury hotels.

Over the last few years, the buzzing Jalan Sultan Ismail-Jalan P Ramlee strip has taken over from Jalan Bukit Bintang as the place to be. The dress code veers towards the relaxed side of smart-casual, except in some of the classier establishments frequented by the city's yuppie brigade. Bangsar, on the city fringe, is a serious rival to the city centre, with half a dozen streets of bars and eating places packed with a younger crowd.

The monthly Vision KL Magazine (www.visionkl.com) gives visitors the low-down on the city's latest hip nightlife spots. The magazine is available free of charge from 4 and 5-star hotels and is also occasionally available in bars.