Hotel Review, Hilton Kuala Lumpur: A Family Getaway to Malaysia’s Capital City

Kuala Lumpur is a favourite destination for many Singapore-based travellers– quaint historical streets, the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, and all the street food you can eat, just over an hour’s flight from Singapore. 

But the big question: where to stay? With no shortage of luxury hotels, finding one that’s central, comfortable, and spacious enough for the whole family isn’t always as straightforward. For us, the conveniently located Hilton Kuala Lumpur made the cut for a fuss-free family escape to the capital. 

Though the Hilton Kuala Lumpur is often known for business travel– it’s home to some of the best conference and convention facilities in the region– we’re here to make a pitch for it as your next base for a Kuala Lumpur family getaway. If you’ve got time this June, why not stop by over the school break to visit one of Southeast Asia’s most culturally vibrant cities?

Location of Hilton Kuala Lumpur

Hilton Kuala Lumpur sits in central Kuala Lumpur, right next to KL Sentral station– you’re a 28-minute KLIA Express train ride away from the airport, and very suitably located for a day trip. Ipoh, capital city of Perak and home to multicultural cuisines, is just two hours away by train. 

The Batu Caves, massive limestone caverns housing Hindu religious artifacts, are only 30 minutes away on the KTM Komuter train. A bus to Melaka, famous for its Dutch Square and bustling Jonker Street, departs just one train station away from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan. 

All these trips have minimal transfers, have everything you’d need along the way (like refreshments and facilities), and are convenient family excursions that display the best of the region.

Rooms, Services and Towel Teddies at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur

This hotel has 512 guest rooms and suites, all equipped with marble bathrooms, executive work desks, 50” flat panel LCD TVs, and wireless internet access. We stayed on the 27th floor, in a room overlooking the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens with a view of the city skyline.

The rooms were warmly lit and decorated, and the one we stayed in had a dining area, work desk, two bathrooms, and a living room. A door in the living room opened out to another suite: this would be perfect for large or extended families, since they’ll have access to the same living areas. The space was thoughtfully designed, and everything folded away into the corridors– an ironing closet with wall-mounted iron, walk-in closet, and other bits and bobs like the safe kept out of the way of little hands and feet. Kids receive a welcome map on arrival to guide them through the hotel on a mini culinary adventure, as well as gifts like colouring activity packs and chocolate chip cookies.

We found housekeeping wonderful– they’d usually blitz through the room by mid-afternoon and leave it clean as the day we checked in. Attention to detail was incredible. Every evening, there’d be a different snack on the coffee table, mostly locally-inspired– our favourite was the last evening’s, a set of pandan-wrapped kuih. Other evenings’ surprises were brightly decorated fruit tarts, all of which would delight both adults and children. 

Room service left us towel teddies, elephants, and a model of the Petronas Twin Towers on the bed to greet us when we returned from a day’s travels, along with personalised welcome messages: this was a delightful discovery that revealed a stunning attention to detail. Apparently, the towel teddy is named Livington.

Pool, Spa and Other Facilities at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur

This hotel has a sort of all-in-one entertainment storey in the form of the eighth floor, also home to the Japanese sushi and teppanyaki restaurant Iketeru and a realistic waterfall formation. The eighth floor houses the hotel’s spa, gym, and pool, stretching out to form a large compound that also includes the neighbouring Le Meridien hotel’s pool.

The outdoor pool also features the famous view, and is fitted with deck chairs, umbrellas, the Boardwalk restaurant and bar, and a poolside massage area. In the evening, poolside relaxation comes with a clear view of the sun setting over the Lake Gardens. Though there’s no wading pool for children, the area is child-friendly and sure to excite: there’s a water slide, waterfall, and plenty of room to explore, including a dedicated children’s play area. 

Drinks and snacks are readily available at Boardwalk: burgers, fresh fruit on skewers, popsicles, and others. We had an Ais Kacang, shaved ice with coconut milk and toppings, to take us through a warm afternoon: the bright colours and vibrant tropical flavours would make a perfect poolside treat for young guests.

The hotel’s spa is located away from the other facilities, tiled with wood and perfumed with essential oils for a calming, almost spiritual experience: just what’s needed after a long flight or a long day with the kids. Each massage room is shaded and meticulously decorated, and there’s a full menu of health and beauty treatments, even a jacuzzi and steam room. If you’re visiting, do sample the signature teas– the spa does a ginger tea that’s just the right balance of piquant and warming.

The Executive Lounge on the thirty-third floor offers all-day drinks and dining, afternoon tea from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, and evening aperitifs from 6pm to 8pm. It’s an excellent space for working, given that it’s really peaceful, and a great place to just enjoy the view.

Indulgence at Hilton Kuala Lumpur

Hilton Kuala Lumpur houses no less than ten dining concepts, including Japanese, Chinese, modern European, lounges and cocktail bars. Two restaurants in the hotel, Cantonese-Shanghainese restaurant Chynna and cosy steakhouse Chambers Bar & Grill, have been recognised by Tatler as some of Malaysia’s best restaurants. Don’t be intimidated by the high ratings– we found the restaurants elegant but relaxed, and good for dining with kids.

Vasco’s, the all-day dining restaurant next to the lobby where breakfast is served, had several live kitchens serving Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Italian foods, including a custom omelette and live prata station. It’s a good way to have a little of everything, and to satisfy even the most picky eaters. Do make the most of the sprawling dessert selection: this changes seasonally, and includes children’s favourites like bread and butter pudding, brownies, traditional cakes, and selections of Malay kuih.

The Asian restaurants at Hilton Kuala Lumpur deserve a special mention: Chynna and Iketeru, the Japanese restaurant by the pool, are both calm in atmosphere and stunning in their presentation. Iketeru features views of a lush garden through ceiling-length windows, seamlessly blending nature and modern design, and its exquisite, Japanese-sourced dishes are nothing short of extraordinary. Chynna was decked out with all the warmth and joy of Chinese restaurants– a live dim sum station and glowing red lanterns gave the restaurant an unmistakable energy– and we were treated to displays of tea acrobatics and luscious dishes of Peking duck. Of the dim sum, our favourite was the crystal prawn dumplings– har kow– which were filled with juicy shrimp and tinged with truffle.

Graze, the restaurant on Level 5, has been several things since its inception, including a French restaurant and European steakhouse, but its current menu of homestyle Italian food is hard to beat. We had a fresh dish of Puglian burrata with cherry tomatoes, drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and the celebratory Cavatelli Frutti di Mare: springy cavatelli in a tangy seafood bisque. Head down to Chambers for true steakhouse comfort food: familiar flavours made fancy, with all cuts of meat dry-aged and grilled over lava stone or charcoal, as well as crowd-pleasers like the all-ages-friendly chocolate cake.

The hotel has its own signature drink, analogous to the Raffles Hotel’s Singapore Sling– created in the 1970s at the Aviary Bar, the Jungle Bird can be found all across the property and at bars all over the world. We had a Jungle Bird mocktail by the pool, which came in an adorable bird-shaped flute and was delightfully sunny and sweet, and the proper Jungle Bird cocktail downstairs at the Chambers Bar & Grill, where the added campari gives it a touch of bitterness. This drink is almost an ideal tiki cocktail: its deep red hue and flavours of pineapple and lime conjure up images of sunset on Langkawi Island.

^{Image credit: Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) / www.malaysia.travel}

Attractions Close to Hilton Kuala Lumpur

The hotel’s accessibility by train means you’ll have no problem visiting other parts of Kuala Lumpur or even leaving for a day trip, but there are several attractions surrounding the Hilton Kuala Lumpur that are reachable by taxi– or even on foot– within minutes. The National Museum of Malaysia is so close that it’s visible from the breakfast buffet: it’s a good place to start your cultural journey and introduce kids to the unique heritage of the city.

There’s plenty of shopping destinations close by: NU Sentral, a nine-storey mall connected to KL Sentral Station, is located just steps away. Two of the most popular malls in Kuala Lumpur, the Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall, are approximately ten minutes away by car. Mid Valley Megamall has just about everything from shopping to dining: beauty, fashion, electronics, even several pharmacies. It’s also home to an Oriental Kopi: one of the most famous chains for Nanyang breakfast in Malaysia, and with plenty of kid-friendly options like crispy egg tarts and butter kaya toast dipped in runny eggs. The Gardens Mall is fancier, with high-end retail stores and designer boutiques. 

You’ll be able to take the MRT to Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, one of the first settlements in the city, which is just one station away: visit souvenir haven Central Market, a historical building housing local craft and produce stores, or REXKL, a 1970s cinema building turned into a trendy hub for events and activities. Kwai Chai Hong, a revitalised street with restored shophouses and numerous murals, bars and restaurants, is also worth a visit, as are the markets on Petaling Street selling local snacks– all lively and safe places for kids to roam and discover Malaysia’s extensive history.

Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur’s “Little India”, is tucked right behind NU Sentral: a vibrant neighbourhood lined with Indian restaurants, textile shops, and several historic religious buildings. This iconic street is instantly recognisable by its colourful arches. South Indian dishes are readily available at Brickfields’ charming eateries: masala dosa, banana leaf rice, as well as local delights like nasi lemak and goreng pisang– fried banana fritters.

Just What the Family Needs - Quick, Easy and Relaxed

Hilton Kuala Lumpur offers everything you need for a relaxed yet exciting family city break: large rooms, excellent food, kid-friendly facilities, and easy access to KL’s top attractions. It’s luxurious, yes, but also warm, well-connected and refreshingly laid-back, making it an ideal base for your next quick getaway with the family. It’s the kind of trip that can happen on a whim with all the fun and none of the hassle. Did we mention that Kuala Lumpur is only an hour’s flight away?

Hilton Kuala Lumpur. 3 Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, postal code 50470, Malaysia. To contact, call +603 2264 2264 or email [email protected].

For more short getaways from Singapore, check out our guide to no-flight destinations in Southeast Asia.