Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur: Where We Stayed and What We Actually Thought
Before we get into it, there are two things that determined where to stay in Kuala Lumpur for us. First, a pool is a non-negotiable for us, full stop. Second, we almost always go for serviced apartments over hotels because we like having a kitchen, space, and the option to feel like we actually live somewhere rather than just passing through. Both places we stayed in Bukit Bintang ticked every box, and then some!
KL also genuinely surprised us with how far the money goes. The value here compared to somewhere like Singapore or Hong Kong is almost shocking. You can get a well-equipped serviced apartment with a pool, a gym, and a proper view for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere in the region.
Bukit Bintang vs KLCC: Where Should You Base Yourself
This is the question most first-time visitors end up wrestling with, and honestly both areas are good, they just give you a very different trip.
Bukit Bintang is where we stayed and where we would tell most people to go. Jalan Alor is here, Pavilion and Berjaya Times Square are here, and the whole area is just alive in a way that makes it really easy to fill your days and evenings without having to plan too hard. KLCC, on the other hand, is where the Petronas Towers are. It is more polished, more upscale, and a lot quieter once the sun goes down.
We will be honest, we did want to stay near KLCC at some point in our search. We kept looking at those tower view photos and almost talked ourselves into it.
But the more we thought about how we actually like to travel, Bukit Bintang made more sense. And a covered walkway connects the two areas via Pavilion, so we never once felt like we were missing out on anything.
Our Favorite Accommodation: The Robertson, Bukit Bintang
This was our favorite place we stayed, and it was not particularly close. The apartment itself was great, extremely spacious, and had incredible views, but what really made it was everything outside the front door. There were multiple restaurants and cafes within about thirty seconds of walking out, a 7-Eleven, and a grocery store that had the most incredible fresh fruit we found anywhere in the city. We kept going back to that grocery store almost every night and knew exactly when they’d stock up on each fruit too 😀
The Robertson also had a massive viewing deck that we genuinely fell in love with. We spent a lot of time up there just taking in the skyline. From the deck you can see Merdeka 118, the second tallest building in the world, that very distinctive tapered tower that you will spot on the KL skyline from pretty much everywhere. It is hard to explain but something about having that view from your own building made the whole stay feel more special.
The pool and gym were both excellent too. While we weren’t able to use the pool at Robertson because of a very packed schedule, we did visit it and it was genuinely even better than the ones we’ve seen at most hotels.
Swiss Garden Residences, Bukit Bintang
Swiss Garden Residences was also a really comfortable stay. Good amenities, solid pool, and a pool that we used regularly. It is worth saying that it is extremely close to The Robertson. Close enough that you can actually see the roof of Swiss Garden Residences from The Robertson’s viewing deck. They are practically neighbours!
The one difference we noticed day to day was the street feel immediately outside. Swiss Garden Residences is much quieter in terms of what is on your doorstep compared to The Robertson. It did not ruin anything, but it meant we were less likely to just wander out spontaneously without a plan. That spontaneity was one of our favourite things about The Robertson’s location so it was noticeable.
One important feature is that properties are walking distance from Pudu Sentral station, which turned out to be a really useful thing to know. Buses run from there to the airport and to cities all across Malaysia. We booked tickets online through redBus (redbus.my) and BusOnlineTicket.com, both of which are easy to navigate and let you compare operators, times, and prices without having to queue at the terminal.
Cosy Hotel, KL Sentral
We spent a few nights at Cosy Hotel in the middle the trip. It is not a place we would choose for the main stretch of a KL stay, but as a stopover base it was exactly what we needed. Clean, functional, well located. The KLIA Ekspres runs directly from KL Sentral to the airport in under thirty minutes, which made leaving genuinely painless.
It also ended up being the setting for one of the best moments of the whole trip. My sister showed up to surprise my parents, who were in KL with me at the time. She had coordinated the whole thing with me in secret and the look on their faces when she walked in made the whole trip feel like it had been building to that moment! Cosy Hotel had nothing to do with it but it will always have a soft spot in our memories for that reason.
Other Areas Worth Knowing
KLCC
If the Petronas Tower view is the whole point of your trip, this is where you want to be. Hotels like the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Shangri-La all offer incredible views and the kind of luxury that costs a fraction of what you would pay for the same calibre in other major cities.
A genuine five star in KLCC can often be found for somewhere between RM 400 and RM 600 a night, which feels almost unreasonable in the best way. Mid-range options are thinner on the ground here than in Bukit Bintang, but the walkable corridor around Suria KLCC, KLCC Park, and the surrounding restaurants makes it a lovely base if budget allows.
Chinatown and Merdeka Square
The most characterful and affordable part of central KL. Heritage shophouses converted into boutique guesthouses, great local food everywhere, and the colonial district within walking distance. It is grittier than Bukit Bintang but that is honestly part of the appeal. It feels like the most genuinely local part of the city centre, and if budget is a consideration the accommodation value here is noticeably better than equivalent areas in Bukit Bintang.
KL Sentral
Best for very early or very late flights, or if KL is a stopover rather than a destination. The KLIA Ekspres is right there, mid-range hotels offer good value, and you can connect to the rest of the city easily. It is just not the most exciting neighborhood to be based in if you have more than a night.
Hotels by Budget
Beyond where we stayed, these are options that kept coming up in our searches and in recommendations from other travelers.
| Budget | Price Per Night (approx.) | Area and Options |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | RM 60-150 (USD 13-32) | Chinatown boutique guesthouses; Bukit Bintang backstreets |
| Mid-range | RM 150-350 (USD 32-75) | Bukit Bintang: MOV Hotel, KLoe Hotel; KLCC: Hotel Stripes, Hotel Indigo |
| Upscale | RM 350-600 (USD 75-130) | Bukit Bintang: W Kuala Lumpur, JW Marriott; KLCC: Shangri-La, Pullman |
| Luxury | RM 600-1,200+ (USD 130-260+) | KLCC: Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The RuMa Hotel |
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book
- A pool is worth prioritizing in KL. It is hot and humid basically all year round and an afternoon swim becomes a genuinely important part of the day. Most mid-range serviced apartments have one.
- Similarly, most serviced apartments come with a gym, which is a nice bonus if that is part of your routine.
- Book ahead for Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, and the December holiday period. Prices spike noticeably and good places fill up fast.
- The covered walkway between Bukit Bintang and KLCC via Pavilion is a lifesaver in the heat and rain. If you can, pick somewhere near a covered connection.
- For two or more people, a Grab from the airport often works out cheaper than the KLIA Ekspres and drops you right at the door.
- Book buses from Pudu Sentral or KL Sentral online in advance via redBus or BusOnlineTicket.com, especially around peak travel periods.
- Do not bother driving in central KL if you can avoid it. The highway system is confusing and parking is a real headache.
