“Bleisure directly in Kuala Lumpur? A new eco-luxurious splendid city hotel invites you to taste the resort feeling above the rooftops of this lively metropolis.”
Admittedly, Malaysia’s white beaches and jungle are tempting. But it is also worth staying in Kuala Lumpur. Not to drift through the streets in a European way. KL, as everyone says, is not made for that in many parts. But to soak up the peaceful spirit of Malaysia’s three great cultures, the Chinese, Indian and Malay. To discover the old markets and the modern places with their skyscrapers. And to explore temples like the Batu Caves on the outskirts of the city.
Compared to Singapore or Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur seems small, without stress, and yet is an international hub and aspiring business metropolis. Whether eating out or in the local companies themselves – English is usually spoken as the common language everywhere. Some switch to Mandarin with others, although they are of Indian origin. The Chinese New Year is just as much a national holiday as the Buddhist Wesak Festival and the Muslim Aidil Adha. And even if not, everyone can always say exactly what the other religion is celebrating – you know that there is something else, you experience it. And in this city it relaxes guests immensely.
When I get off at the metro station Bangsar, near the Little India Brickfield, and enter the hotel Alila Bangsar bathed in sweat from the scorching heat, I experience what the city has lacked so far: plants, birdsong, peace, fresh air and a feel of casual modernity. An oasis of a place, cool and natural.
The black skyscraper was built to numerous environmental and energy-friendly standards. A window shade means that less heat can penetrate daily. The plants in and around the house are supplied with collected rainwater. The pool is chlorinated with a natural chlorine obtained from salt.
Eat Green
On the ground floor in the Botanica+Co restaurant I had already got an idea of the switch-off experience that could await me for the next three days. With lots of light, air, wood and green, homemade bread, latte and superfood salad meeting Laksa, Nasi Lemak and curry with local products. This venue is delicious and casual at any time of the day, whether for morning coffee, a business lunch or a relaxed dinner.
The Alila Bangsar is located exclusively on the top floors. The elevator to the 41st floor takes me to an oasis of mineral rock, tropical trees, white lounge furniture and huge windows. I check in at the counter on the side and get a good answer to every question from the team now and every day.
From another lift I can get to the rooms up on the 35th floor – on each floor there is a lounge area with cold juices, water, coffee and dried fruit. The rooms and suites stand for all the casual experience in the house with wooden floors and furniture combined with elegant gold and dark stainless steel. With flowing living, sleeping and bathing atmospheres with panoramic views of Brickfield and the city skyline.
Resort above the city
The Singapore-based Alila Hotels and Resorts have so far mainly operated luxury leisure resorts “in the country”, as the saying goes. The wide spectrum ranges from the island eco-resort on the Cambodian Koh Russey to an old sugar factory in the Chinese Guilin/Guangxi to a mountain resort in Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman. Alongside a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, there is Kuala Lumpur and another Alila Hotel in a metropolis of millions – and thus also an address in a place that does not primarily stand for Bleisure. But this is exactly what Alila Hotels use for their Oasis creations. That’s exactly what makes them experts on oases.
In the Alila Bangsar, the resort heart of the luxury city hotel beats on the three top floors of the high-rise building – in the pulse of rest. This is mainly due to the pool on floor 40 and its jungle landscape. Far away from Insta tourists, guests can enjoy a sublime time and time-out here. Those who make their way glide towards the skyscraper world with birdsong in their ears. The half-height all-round glazing allows a view of the quiet city from the loungers. The pool itself can also be seen from the somewhat higher gallery areas, the three-storey atrium. Both a business centre and a hangout in the middle of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
One French restaurant, please!
A few steps higher is the “Entier” – a French restaurant, which is not yet available in KL with all Asian crossovers and the usual Italians around the corner. The chef here is Masashi Horiuchi, a Japanese chef who has worked for 20 years in Europe and above all in Switzerland and London. The principle “From nose to tail” is lived here from “Chicken roasted in salt crust dough” to “Ox Tail Mantou” to “Dry-aged thinly sliced hokkaido shabu beef”. The menus on offer are specially designed for pairing and sharing. French Haute Cuisine in a tranquil Enjoy-Dining style. A really great theatre. And simply delicious!
Afterwards, the bar on the same level or the rooftop bar above it will entice you – very cool and spectacularly minimalist.
Your own discovery programme
Many years ago, Alila Hotels developed a Discovery Program for each of their hotels that is truly inspiring. Long before the Sharing Economy made the principle “Live like a local” a star. For those who want to get to know more, far away from the worn out tourist paths, including support for social projects, you can take advantage of offers that roughly deal with topics such as cultural learning, conscious living, outdoor activities and culinary arts. In concrete terms, the spectrum ranges from the morning boat trip with a fisherman, whom you help at work, to a visit to the market with a cook, to a lonely trekking tour. In the Alila Bangsar, guests can discover the tin craft in Royal Selangor, take part in a cooking class in the jungle or visit the yoga studio in the district with which the hotel cooperates. In general, every house and every guest is committed to different social projects. The hotel in KL, for example, supports the Malaysian Association for the Blind by donating a fixed amount to the association with every overnight stay. In addition, a “Giving Bag” is placed in each room – in other words, anything a guest does not want to use can be left behind and donated to a charity.
As part of the Discovery program, I take part in a batik course in the city, about half an hour from the hotel, and think to myself: “Batik, that’s something from the 1980s, we experimented with it in the bathtub as children. In Malaysia, batik has a centuries-old tradition, and is lived as a great handicraft. And the “Batik Boutique”, where I can print, paint and dye my own silk scarf for half a day, is also an ambitious Fairtrade project.
Initiated by the American Amy and the Malaysian Ana, individual small artisans work together here and develop high-quality batik fabrics, garments, bags and cushions that are sold worldwide. The luggage tags etc., which can be found as give-aways in the Alila Bangsar, also come from here.
In 2015, a sewing centre was created for this offering, where the craftspeople live, and long journeys for work and childcare are no longer necessary. The seamstresses determine their own hours and salary here. At the same time, courses for women take place in the Batik Boutique. As single parents, Muslim second and third wives are often unable to read and write. In the workshop they receive a small education and are supported in their everyday life.
At the end of the day I am impressed by the holistic and international character of this small workshop and this big city. From the passion of the women, from their stories about colourful Malaysia, the special places and cuisine of the country. Kuala Lumpur is really versatile, modern and green – not everywhere, but in certain places that want to be discovered.
Sylvie Konzack …
hat noch immer das Vogelzwitscher im Ohr, wenn sie an Kuala Lumpur denkt. Und findet, dass es Stadtresorts wie dieses weltweit in jeder Metropole geben sollte. Nicht, um die xte insta-taugliche Eventaussicht mit Luxus-Skybar zu inszenieren, sondern um lässig, unaufgeregt und grün dem Businessalltag in Metropolen zu entfliehen. Auch in jenen, die alles andere als Bleisure versprechen: Ruhe in Bombay, Grün in Dakar, Frieden und Sicherheit in Islamabad.
Auf einen Blick
Anreise: Mit dem Auto vom Flughafen ca. 50 Minuten – bei Verkehr noch viel mehr. Stressfreier ist die etwa halbstündige Fahrt mit der klimatisierten Metro über Sentral bis Bangsar. Die Station Bangsar liegt gegenüber des Alila Bangsar und ist über eine Fußgängerbrücke direkt erreichbar.
Hotel: Das Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur befindet sich mit seinen 143 Zimmern und Suiten im immer hipper werdenden Viertel Bangsar, nahe Brickfield, dem Little India von Kuala Lumpur. Das Hotel belegt ausschließlich die obersten Etagen des neugebauten Hochhauses. Auf den letzten drei Dachetagen befinden sich der Pool, das Restaurant Entier und die Bars, im Erdgeschoss zudem das Botanica+Co.
Adresse: Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur, East Side, 58, Jalan Ang Seng, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2268 3888
Fotos: Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur, Konzack
