Singaporeans love heading across the causeway for good food, shopping and a quick weekend escape that’s easy on the pocket. With the current exchange rate, all it takes is some clever planning for you to enjoy a fun-filled weekend getaway!
Here are five insider tips to help you experience Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital city of Malaysia, like a local!
#1 Forget the hotels, try Airbnb
While KL is known for affordable hotel accommodation, most people may not think of trying
Airbnb as an option. A quick search on Airbnb shows that there are plenty of affordable options for stays all around the city, in locations such as Bangsar, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya and even Janda Baik.
Bangsar is one of our favourite spots because of its chilled vibe, cool crowd, and HELLO amazing food and coffee!
Accommodation options include a boutique design house, or a resort-style double-storey house that’s just walking distance to the Telawi district, home to some great cafes and restaurants.
#2 Explore KL’s coffee scene
KL has a strong third-wave coffee scene, thanks to many Malaysians who have brought back a passion for good coffee after studying overseas. Cafes such as
Kopenhagen Coffee,
VCR,
Three Little Birds,
Bean Brothers and The Brew Culture are just some of the places serving up good single origin coffee (sometimes roasted on site!). Attracting KL’s creative types, these cafes are a great place to chill, see, and (most importantly) be seen.
#3 Escape the city bustle and embrace nature
KL is a busy city but there is so much more to do than just eat, shop and get a massage. For the more adventurous, we would recommend discovering some of KL’s lesser known nature spots. Fancy a hike? Take a 40-minute drive out of the city to Broga Hill, located in Seminyeh. At 400m above ground, the hill offers spectacular panoramic views that are worth the walk to any of its three peaks.
For something more thrilling, try out
Skytrex, located in Shah Alam. A first in Malaysia, it’s your chance to be Tarzan (or Jane) for a short time as you fly and swing on obstacles suspended above the rainforest. If you’re going with family, there are less challenging options available for the kids too. Book your adventure with PayPal ahead of time and avoid the queues over the weekend.
#4 “Mamak” till the wee hours of the morning
In Malaysia, it’s common to hear the term “Mamak”, a term that refers to food establishments serving Indian-Muslim food. These shops are usually open 24 hours and are where locals go to when they want to hang out with friends, get filled up on some good cheap food, or just chill.
You’ll find mamak shops all over KL and also some pretty interesting food options. We recommend
Murni located in SS2 for its casual yet cosy vibe, and creative menu. From dishes such as “Nasi Goeng Ecuador” to traditional favourites like “Roti Canai” (or what we could call Prata here in Singapore) and “Teh O Ais Limau” (Ice Lemon Tea), you will be spoilt for choice at this joint.
Another favourite is
Devi’s Corner in Bangsar, the grand dame of mamak food. Located at a strategic corner in the Telawi area, Devi’s is a place to people-watch the chic Bangsar crowd over a “Teh Kurang Kurang Manis” (Tea, less, less sweet) and a plate of “Maggi Goreng” (Fried Maggi Mee).
#5 Wind down a great weekend at a speakeasy
The trend of speakeasy bars has made its way to KL and today, you’ll find a number of them behind secret entrances all over the city. Perfect for winding down after a busy weekend and enjoying some bespoke cocktails.
PS 150 located at Merchant Street in the culturally rich Petaling Jaya district is a must visit for its antique vibe. Located behind a little stationery shops, you’ll get Asian cocktails such as the “”Salty Chinaman” and “Asamboi Margarita”.
Explore more of KL’s speakeasy bars
here.
Another speakeasy to discover is
Mr Brooks at Bangsar Shopping Centre. To locate it, look for the car jutting out of the entryway, yes you heard that right, a car in the shop space of a mall! Cosy and intimate, this is the perfect place to get away from the city for a while sipping on a cocktail.
Image credit: Asia-Bars.com, http://bit.ly/2pywM0v
And there you have it, our list of things to do in KL that will have you experiencing this city like a local. With PayPal, you can book accommodation via Airbnb or exciting adventures through Skytrex. Time to book your KL getaway!