The neighbourhood of Chow Kit, once infamous for its seedy rep, isn't the first place locals would usually recommend for a stay in KL. And yet, rather than shy away from its sordid past, the namesake boutique hotel celebrates it: cheeky fringe on a curtain’s edge in a nod to late-night revels in the 70s; snug suites evoking gambling dens; deep banquettes, lounge chairs and rugs finished in fabrics and textiles traded in surrounding streets.
Though the rooms are incredible, it’s the Towkay Soh Suite – meaning ‘The Boss Lady Suite’ in the local Hokkien dialect – you should plump for, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the ever-changing Kuala Lumpur skyline, a rain shower, and luxury linens atop a king-sized bed. Add to that a lounge area and a reading corner, plus happy hour at The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar, and you’ve got the ingredients for a boss lady escape.