Tried & Tested

Hotel check: Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

15 Feb 2012 by BusinessTraveller

BACKGROUND The five-star Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur opened in 1998. It has 643 rooms spread over 30 floors, and stays true to the Mandarin Oriental brand’s contemporary design with an oriental flavour.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Grand and immaculate, without being fussy or overly decadent. It has a strong focus on service and staff are extremely professional. Upon entering the gleaming marble lobby, I was immediately greeted and directed to the concierge. There were plenty of staff at the desks, I was dealt with efficiently and my bag was in my room waiting for me when I reached it.

WHERE IS IT? In the most desirable location in the city – right next to the Petronus Towers, walking distance from the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, overlooking the lovely KLCC park and adjoined to the KLCC shopping centre.

ROOM FACILITIES I stayed in a Club King room with a city view on the 29th floor (club rooms occupy floors 24-30, and have access to the club lounge on level 24). The décor is modern, with subtle oriental touches such as the folding bathroom doors and generously-sized mahogany wall-cupboard. The warm atmosphere is enhanced by cream walls showcasing discreet artwork, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at skyscrapers, framed by thick, gold blackout curtains. The big, white bed was at the centre of the 40 sqm room, facing a large Sharp flatscreen TV, which had a DVD player and a large selection of international, free channels. 

Beside the window there was a beige sofa with gold silk pillows and a coffee table with a fruit bowl, decorated with fresh purple flowers. Facing away from the window was a large wooden desk with a chair either side, and there were a variety of international plug sockets at the bottom. The bathroom had lovely yellow marble walls and a black marble floor, a bath, separate shower and a huge mirror with a vanity mirror. There were Senses toiletries and many free items including a toothbrush, toothpaste, sewing kit, shaving kit and cotton buds. As mine was a club room, wifi was free – in other rooms it costs RM60 (£12.50) for 24 hours, although it’s free in public areas.

Other room features included a free daily newspaper, an iPod dock, robes, slippers tea and coffee-making facilities, a minibar with soft drinks and chocolate, and desk stationary. The 24-hour room service offered a variety of breakfasts: continental, Malaysian, Mandarin, Arab and ‘Fit and Healthy”, all costing under RM70 (£15), and a selection of international papers – you select these services by ticking them off on a door hanger that lists what’s available, then placing it outside your door before 3am.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS You really are spoilt for choice here. I dined at the Mandarin Grill, an immaculate modern restaurant serving meat and fish dishes. To start, I tried the white tomato cream soup (RM28, £5.80), which was inventive and delicious, and for my main I tucked into a thick 180g Black Angus tenderloin steak, served with peppercorn sauce (RM88, £18). I really enjoyed the service – particularly when I was presented with a wooden box full of colourful-handled steak knives to choose from.

Mosaic is the hotel’s 24-hour buffet restaurant, which was lively when I popped in at around 10pm. There is an overwhelming choice of food stations: Chinese stir fries, Western dishes, a Brazilian rotisserie, Indian curries, Pramathan dishes, a grilled meats station, desserts and fruits. Outside Mosaic is Lounge on the Park, the hotel’s sophisticated, Japanese-style lobby lounge that re-opened after a refurbishment last summer. With large French doors that open onto the park, a central tea counter serving over 60 types of tea and live piano music, this would be a great spot to unwind. Light snacks such as sandwiches and sushi are served here until 1am. Lai Po Heen is the hotel’s elegant Chinese restaurant, and the stylish Wasabi Bistro serves Californian-Japanese cuisine.

The outdoor poolside Casacade restaurant and bar is open from 11am- 10pm. Mobar, a cosy bar with a vast single-malt whisky collection, is open until 12am, while Casbah, a vibrant Arabian-style restaurant and cocktail bar, is open until 3am. Sultan Lounge is the hotel’s newest club/lounge, with a beautiful cream colour scheme and a gold DJ booth – it’s also open until 3am. Finally, the Mandarin Cake Shop, selling sweet souvenirs such as macaroons and chocolate santas (I visited just before Christmas) is open 8am-8pm.

I ate breakfast in the club lounge – it’s served 6.30am-10.30am on weekdays – which had an amazing view of the Petronas towers. The buffet offered various juices, freshly made omelettes, Malaysian curries with coconut rice, fresh fruit, cakes, cheeses and meats. A deli lunch, afternoon tea and evening cocktails are served to club guests throughout the day, all free of charge.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are 16 function rooms throughout the hotel, the largest of which is the grand ballroom, which can host 2,800 people for cocktails. Five of the rooms are seminar-style, holding 6-16 people boardroom style, and the other rooms have capacities ranging from 35 to 1,300 theatre-style. There is a business centre on the second floor of the property, open 7am-11pm Mon-Fri (8am-8pm on weekends).

LEISURE FACILITIES The third floor of the hotel is occupied by the outdoor pool – which faces KLCC park – a fitness centre with Cybex equipment (open 6am-10pm), a hair salon and a lovely tranquil spa, which has ten treatment rooms, a spa bath, sauna and steam rooms.  I booked a manicure, which the beautician took great care over, redoing it a couple of times until it was perfect. The hotel also has its own tennis and squash courts.

VERDICT Fantastic facilities, impeccable service and an ideal location.

FACT FILE

HOW MANY ROOMS? 643: 283 Deluxe/Superior/Premium city view rooms, 105 Deluxe park view rooms, 15 Executive park view rooms, 106 Club Deluxe/Superior/Premium city view rooms, 35 Club park view rooms, 7 Club Executive park view rooms, 41 suites and 51 serviced apartments.

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The amount of space and the great view – it’s worth opting for a room near the top of the hotel.

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in March start from £135 for a Deluxe city view room.

CONTACT mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur

Rose Dykins

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