Kuala Lumpur - Restaurants

Restaurants
Expensive

The Dining Room
The Caracosa Seri Negara's signature restaurant serves up some top end French cooking. Guests dine in the refined, air-conditioned dining room or outside on the veranda, which has views of the city skyline. After dinner, residents and diners alike retire to the colonial The Bar, with its cigar divans, ceiling fans and cane chairs.

Taman Tasik Perdana, Persiaran Mahameru
Tel: (03) 2295 0888.
Website: www.carcosa.com.my

Lafite
Lafite is the Shangri-La Hotel's exclusive multi-award-winning French restaurant. The standard of food and service is always high, making the restaurant a popular venue for business lunches and dinners. The chandeliers, the tall windows overlooking the garden, the fresh flowers and the impeccable silver service combine to give the restaurant a refined and classical atmosphere. The wine list may just be the finest in Malaysia.

Shangri-La Hotel, 11 Jalan Sultan Ismail
Tel: (03) 2074 3900.
Website: www.shangri-la.com

Chow Kit Market
During the day, the large and buzzing Chow Kit Market, located at the northern end of Jalan TAR, is Kuala Lumpur's biggest food market, selling fruit, vegetables, tofu, spices, meat and fish, as well as live worms, crabs and lobsters. The hawker stalls dish up tasty roti canai and nasi campur (rice served with an array of meat, fish and vegetable dishes).

Jalan Sultan

Revolving Restaurant
The bland and functional dcor of this 300-seater restaurant is compensated for by its spectacular views from its lofty locale atop one of the world's tallest towers. Sitting 282m (925ft) above ground level in the landmark Menara Tower, this revolving restaurant guarantees diners 360-degree panoramic vistas across the city. For both lunch and dinner visits, there is a choice of either a Malaysian buffet, including satay and nasi goreng (mixed fried rice), or a more western orientated la carte menu, with such offerings as steak and chips.

Menara Tower, Jalan Punchak
Tel: (03) 2020 5444.
Website: www.menarakl.com.my

Seri Melayu
A big favourite with foreign visitors, Seri Melayu is unbeatable for traditional Malay cuisine and culture. Set in landscaped gardens, the restaurant can accommodate up to 500 people, with the nightly cultural show and buffet menu being the biggest attractions. Dining from the extensive buffet is a great way to sample traditional Chinese, Malay and Thai dishes. The same group also has another three eateries in KL.

1 Jalan Conlay
Tel: (03) 2145 1833.
Website: www.serimelayu.com

Kampachi
Reservations are a must at this award-winning Japanese restaurant. The Kampachi, one of Hotel Equatorial's signature restaurants, has been serving up staple Japanese dishes from Ginza for more than 25 years. This traditionally decorated restaurant also has a wide selection of set dinners and an impressive Sunday buffet brunch, as well as private tatami rooms.

Hotel Equatorial, Jalan Sultan Ismail
Tel: (03) 2161 7777.
Website: www.equatorial.com

Pacifica Grill and Bar
The signature restaurant of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel offers diners a cocktail of Asian flavours. The 116-seater restaurant is modern and stylish with an open kitchen. Guests can also book two smaller private dining rooms. There is also a trendy bar area with seating for 22 guests. Look out for MO Sundays' with live music and the popular chef's table, which puts diners at the heart of the action.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tel: (03) 2380 8888.
Website: www.mandarin-oriental.com/kualalumpur

Alexis Bistro
Smooth and sexy, this eatery is trendy Bangsar at its best. Thankfully it does not fall into the frequent Bangsar trap of being a case of style over substance. Instead it also delivers on the cuisine, offering a choice between excellent thin wood fired oven cooked pizzas and eclectic pan-Asian treats.

Lot 15A, 1st Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre
Tel: (03) 2287 1388.

Eest
This funky eatery at the Westin is a firm favourite of the city's beautiful people. The food tastes as good as the sublime dcor, which looks like something from a fashion shoot. The lounge restaurant has a pan-regional (five country) approach that mixes dim sum with sushi and Tiger beer with Chinese rice wine, with plenty of strong Malaysian influences thrown in for good measure.

199 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Tel: (03) 2731 8333.
Website: www.westin.com/kualalumpur

Neroteca
Fans of fantastic Italian culinary treats should join the local cognoscenti in flocking down to this deli/cafe. Browser the packed shelves and work up an appetite before settling down in their cafe area for some first rate salami, Italian cheese and fine Tuscan wine. The catch of the day is usually a good main menu option, simply cooked with olive oil and lemon. They also mix a mean cocktail.

Ground Floor, Somerset Serviced Apartments
Tel: (03) 2070 0530.

Bon Ton
One of the city's top eating institutions, Bon Ton is housed in an old Chinese bungalow and has been renovated with ethnic furnishings. The high ceilings and large windows make this light dining venue the perfect space to indulge in a cuisine that typically combines international and Malacca Straits Chinese or Nyonya flavours.

6 Jalan Stonor, off Jalan Kia Peng
Tel: (03) 2142 2287.
Website: www.bontonkl.com

Eden Village Restaurant
This award-winning seafood restaurant is located on the edge of the Golden Triangle. Built in the style of a Malay house, it is famous for the shark's fin dishes, served by waitresses wearing traditional dress. The sizeable wine list features mainly French, Italian and Australian wines. Tables on the terrace are particularly sought after.

Lot 260, Jalan Raja Chulan
Tel: (03) 2141 4027.

Tai Zi Heen
Over the last half decade Tai Zi Heen has established itself as one of the city's best upmarket Chinese restaurants. The restaurant's name translates as 'prince's court', and this elegant and contemporary dining space does the name justice with gentle beige and cream hues, smooth wood, marble and glass surfaces. Their dim sum is legendary.

Prince Hotel & Residence, 4 Jalan Conlay
Tel: (03) 2170 8888.

Jalan Alor
Jalan Alor is a lively street, running parallel to Jalan Bukit Bintang in the heart of the Golden Triangle. It comes alive every night with the sights and smells of hawker cooking and pavement cafes. If the proprietor does not sell the dish or drink ordered, he will often go and purchase it from another hawker.

Jalan Alor

Jalan Petaling
Delicious hawker food is served all day in the area around Chinatown's Jalan Petaling. Early risers can feast on steamed dumplings or porridge. In the evening, the streets close to cars and the night market begins. Tables and chairs pour out onto the streets as cafes and hawker stalls start up.

Jalan Petaling

Hotels
Cheap

Bintang Warisan
This 10-storey, colonial-style hotel is handily located for the shopping and entertainment facilities of Jalan Bukit Bintang. All of the 97 clean and simply furnished rooms are air conditioned with en-suite bathroom, TV and telephone. Additional guest services include safety deposit boxes, postal service, car hire, laundry and an on-call doctor.

68 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Website: www.bintangwarisan.com

Park Inn International
Located within easy walking distance of the city's business and shopping districts, the Park Inn offers accommodation in 431 neutrally decorated and comfortable rooms, including 11 suites. In-room features include TV, in-house films, telephone, mini-bars and en-suite bathrooms. The hotel also offers a travel service, outdoor swimming pool, health club, bureau de change, shopping arcade and a business centre.

51A Changkat Bukit Bintang
Tel: (03) 2715 3888.

Shangri-La Hotel
This award-winning central hotel, located in attractive gardens, is an indulgent choice. It boasts 681 modern, stylish and spacious air-conditioned guest rooms and 39 suites. In-room facilities include voicemail, TV, mini-bar, movies and safe. The Horizon Executive Floors are well worth the additional cost with a whole host of extras, including all day nibbles and complimentary drinks, and access to a lounge with sweeping views of the city.

11 Jalan Sultan Ismail
Tel: (03) 2032 2388.
Website: www.shangri-la.com

Sheraton Imperial
A previous winner of Bloomberg's 'Best Business Hotel in Malaysia', the Sheraton Imperial is perfect for business travellers. Guest rooms are large (with fax machines), the service is smooth and business facilities include eight conference rooms, catering for functions that accommodate anything from 20 to 1,000 delegates. The Executive Rooms are worth the extra cost and offer the use of a dedicated lounge, with free refreshments all day and cocktails in the evening. The Imperial Spa boasts a string of eateries, and there is the excellent Mandara Spa and a modern gym. The split-level Imperial Suite meanwhile is one of the finest in the city with a private Jacuzzi and sauna.

Jalan Sultan Ismail
Tel: (03) 2717 9900.
Website: www.luxurycollection.com/kualalumpur

Hotel Istana
This modern glass and steel construction is handily located in the heart of the city's business district known as the Golden Triangle. Recent renovations have seen it reclaim its place as one of the more glamorous addresses in the city. All of the hotel's 439 rooms and 77 suites are elegant and comfortable, offering guests private safes and spacious bathrooms with deep bathtubs.

73 Jalan Raja Chulan
Tel: (03) 2141 9988.
Website: www.hotelistana.com.my

Mandarin Oriental
This modern, luxury hotel is situated next to the Petronas Towers and offers accommodation in 643 deluxe rooms, including 41 suites and 51 exclusive apartments. Many of the rooms have views over the expanse of Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park. In-room features include high-speed Wi-Fi access, modem data ports, a digital phone system with fax and deluxe bathrooms. A nice touch is the 300 original works of art displayed in public and guest rooms.

Kuala Lumpur City Centre, PO Box 10905
Tel: (03) 2380 8888.
Website: www.mandarin-oriental.com/kualalumpur

Westin
The sumptuous 443-room Westin stakes a claim to being the city's finest hotel. The trademark 'Heavenly Beds' are as divine as they sound and the location is superb, overlooking Jalan Bukit Bintang on one side and the Petronas Towers on the other. The outdoor swimming pool offers a quiet tropical retreat, while rooms on the Executive Floors are perfect for business visitors as they offer free local calls, free laundry and cut price high-speed broadband.

199 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Tel: (03) 2731 8333.
Website: www.westin.com/kualalumpur

Caracosa Seri Negara Hotel
This historic, colonial hotel is a 'Small Luxury Hotel of the World' and provides accommodation in 13 exclusive suites. It nestles in attractive landscaped gardens, just a 10-minute drive from the city centre. Famous former guests include the Queen and Prince Philip, who stayed here in 1989 and again in 1998. All the spacious, air-conditioned suites have a private mini-bar, video and CD players, satellite TV, fax machines and modem points. Guest services include a butler, chauffeur, florist and 24-hour room service. The best rooms have their own private terraces.

Taman Tasik Perdana, Persiaran Mahameru
Website: www.carcosa.com.my