The 10 best boutique hotels in Kuala Lumpur

The Kuala Lumpur Journal is a hotel that’ll make you proud as a Malaysian: 555 notebooks are used as hotel notepads, while art installations reference local culture such as the Pop Pop firecrackers and Malaysian road signages. It’s impossible not to be swept up by KL’s charms as each room is decked out with a blown-up photograph of the city by local street photographer Che’Ahmad Azhar. Sterile boardrooms are replaced with a creative communal space named ‘Workers Union’, and you can always sneak in a mini-break between meetings at their alfresco ‘The Shack’ beer garden. If a dancefloor is what you’re after, Changkat is just a seven-minute walk away.

Which room? Practically every room here is a win, with spacious interiors, floor-to-ceiling city views and a minibar. 

What's nearby? Situated in Bukit Bintang, you'll have the benefit of having a wealth of concept bars and cool shops at your disposal. 

Budget range: Rooms here are super cheap for a typical five-day vacation. 

Time Out tip: Take advantage of the rooftop infinity pool set against the dramatic city skyline.

If you're looking for a home away from home in the heart of Kuala Lumpur amid a hotel setting, this is the place for you. Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon offers fully-furnished serviced apartments to its guests – with free Wi-Fi, plush bedding, flat-screen TVs and modern fittings. The ensuite bathroom includes a hairdryer and handy bathroom amenities while many restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance. There's also an on-site gym for keeping up with your workout routine and a playground for the kids if you need to catch up on some emails.

Which room? Inside these roomy apartments, you'll find ultra-calming pastel interiors and exceptional city views. The only major difference is the number of beds. 

What's nearby? Centrally located, Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon puts you close to the city's vibrant entertainment hub where you'll find a good mix of cheap eats, nightlife and shops.

Budget range: Another great low-budget option. 

Time Out tip: Take advantage of the Olympic-size swimming pool. 

For times when you don't need an overnight stay, check out Flow, a convenient hourly hotel booking app that allows you to indulge in all the comforts of a boutique hotel in a timeframe that works best for you. Stay at popular boutique hotels including Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur, Micasa All Suite Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Bangi Resort Hotel for four to eight hours, enjoying all the amenities and delights of a regular stay. You'll have full access to the hotel's gym, pool and other facilities. Check-ins are also completely flexible and follow Flow's exclusive day-use rate. Treat yourself to an unforgettable daycation experience and save some coin while you're at it.

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If your idea of a vacation is checking into a hotel and not leaving it, then Villa Samadhi should be at the top of your list. Operated by the same group that runs Japamala Resort in Pulau Tioman and Tamarind Springs restaurant, Villa Samadhi operates on the ‘villa-in-a-room’ concept with contemporary, Asian-inspired accommodation that includes everything you need for a getaway, particularly a romantic one – an outdoor Jacuzzi, showers, private gardens and a balcony that opens directly to the swimming pool are just some of the features on offer. A stay at the 21-room resort doesn’t come cheap though, but the rooms are spacious, with the smallest starting at 51 sqm, and the largest at 83 sqm, complete with a private pool.

Which room? If you can afford to push the boat out a bit, we'd highly recommend opting for The Loft apartment that features a private pool, a balcony and a minibar. 

What’s nearby? No more than a 10-minute drive away from Bukit Bintang, Pavillion, and Petronas Twin Towers. 

Budget range: A stay at this designer oasis sits on the luxury end, no doubt owing to the resort's blend of natural elements and modern design like the impeccable carpentry and dreamy outdoor lagoon.

Time Out tip: Take advantage of the shuttle service to Tamarind Springs for a romantic night out.

Located at the corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Bukit Bintang, WOLO (which stands for ‘We Only Live Once’) Bukit Bintang is ideally placed to explore the heart of KL. Not only are shopping malls like Lot 10, Sg Wang Plaza and Pavilion KL within walking distance, but the building also houses two of KL’s most talked about dining and drinking venues: Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar on the penthouse floor and the all-day dining Brasserie Fritz on the ground floor.

WOLO’s rooms are designed to be stylish, simple and practical – it even bagged the 2015 Southeast Asia Property Awards for Best Interior Hotel Design – with pale wood panels and tatami-style beds making most of the space within each room. The prices are fairly reasonable for such a great location, with weekday room rates starting from RM210nett per night, and seasonal promotion rates going as low as RM180nett per night.

Which room? Depending on your budget, we'd definitely recommend picking a room with a window for the city views 

What’s nearby? Wolo Bukit Bintang puts you within walking distance of all the main points of interest including, the Pavillion shopping centre, Suria KLL and Petronas Twin Towers. 

Budget range: Incredibly chic and affordable rooms. 

Time Out tip: Take advantage of partying the night away at the bar upstairs, and waking up to freshly made croissants from the bakery downstairs. 

This luxury hotel is a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotels, a list of independent hotels that includes The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Pier One Sydney Harbour and Edinburgh’s The Glasshouse Hotel – so you know you’re in for a great stay. Located on Jalan Kamunting, the city luxury hotel is just a stone’s throw away from Yut Kee and The Row, providing ample dining and drinking options from day to night.

Not that the dining options within are anything to be scoffed at – Mantao Bar, located by the rooftop swimming pool offers a great view of the city skyline; while Brasserie 25 on the ground floor is known for its ‘Le Gouter’ afternoon tea set, and serves classic French dishes like bouillabaisse, l’entrecote du boeuf and escargots in a casual and chic setting. The 184 rooms are designed with all the amenities you’d expect of this calibre of hotel – free Wi-Fi, HD TV, complimentary minibar and espresso coffee machine –  and start from the 30-sqm Deluxe room to the 38-sqm Executive Studio room.

Which room? All of the rooms boast cool, urban interiors with offer access to a rooftop pool but if had to pick, but if you want more space on a budget, then the Executive Deluxe room is the sweet spot. 

What’s nearby? Find a number of cute coffee coffee options within a three-minute walk. 

Budget range: Another affordable steal for the budget-savvy traveller. 

Time Out tip: take advantage of ‘Le Gouter’ afternoon tea set, where you can enjoy unlimited servings of French tea-time treats from 3-6 pm at RM80 per person.  

The hotel’s exterior is evocative of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, which resembles an enormous series of washing machines. The Nagakin Capsule Tower painted a ’70s vision of the future – where Metabolism architecture would be possible – while turning the hotel into a crashpad for people who work late. The Mesui Hotel peddles a rather similar concept of the latter, except it caters to partygoers who need a place to bunk down after a late night out. Facilities here may be limited but the vibe still feels flush: Large circular windows provide a snapshot of Mesui’s calmer nightlife; compact but functional rooms get natural light from the interior courtyard, and bars are just a hop away – your hen’s party is pretty much sorted.

Which room? Like a mini apartment, the Premier Loft is a super cheap and cosy option for those who want something a little out of the ordinary. 

What’s nearby? Just a short walk to the Petronas Twin Towers and the very buzzy tourist spot, Sungei Wang Plaza. 

Budget range: An extremely low-cost option - ideal for solo travellers or a holiday with your mates. 

Time Out tip: Take advantage of their cooler neighbour No Black Tie for live jazz.

The new generation of hotels are all about creating restful, well-appointed interiors that maximise space. Chaos, with 33 guestrooms ranging from 90 to 345 sq ft, is that and more. The hotel also houses the design studio that built it, and you can find their inspiration in every nook, from modern industrial decor to wooden furnishings. While guests, charmed by hotel experiences, clamour for high thread count sheets and silky pillows, Chaos eliminates the glitzy fripperies, providing just a simple but functional room and a cosy café/working space downstairs.

Which room? With such a little price difference, it's definitely worth treating yourself to the Deluxe Double room. 

What’s nearby? Go wild at Berjaya Times Square, jam-packed with food outlets and entertainment options including a theme park.  

Budget range: Dirt cheap, super clean rooms. 

Time Out tip: The free high-speed WiFi, and their prime location (Chaos Hotel is smack dab in the Golden Triangle).

There’s theatricality in Lantern Hotel’s stillness: The calm, sun-drenched central courtyard is hemmed in with meticulous brickwork along the building’s exterior that brings dappled light inside. The dark brown clay bricks, locally manufactured in Johor Bahru, are uniquely arranged to create a façade with a three-dimensional texture. Lantern Hotel is designed with Petaling Street’s heritage in mind; the building isn’t ostentatious, allowing guests to soak in the sights and sounds of Petaling Street at a leisurely pace. The hotel designers draw maximum impact from minimum means: rooms are pared down, but they have all the pampering essentials you need. Meanwhile, the decor is wood-heavy, adorned with dangling bulbs overhead and plants crawling up the walls.

Which room? If you want a serene, budget-friendly option, the Queen room features a balcony, while the triple room is a great no-fuss option for families. 

What’s nearby? close to Berjaya Times Square and Fahrenheit 88.

Budget range: You can't go wrong with rooms at around £20 a night. 

Time Out tip: take advantage of The café with an open-air terrace that overlooks the busy Petaling Street. 

Unless you’ve stayed at Sekeping Tenggiri multiple times, you may not notice that the renovated backyard is in fact new. Landscape architect Ng Sek San, also the designer of the Sekeping retreats, converted a 200 sq ft space at the back of the Sekeping Tenggiri guesthouse into Sekeping Backlane, a self-contained unit, equipped with just one loft room that sleeps two people, a small kitchen and a bathroom. While lorong belakangs are commonly neglected as just abandoned walkways, Sek San has cleverly transformed Tenggiri’s back lane (hence the retreat’s name) into a shady garden.

Which room? It's worth opting for an upper-level room with a veranda overlooking the garden. 

What’s nearby? This secluded little haven is a stone's throw from Thean Hou Temple and Little India Brickfields.  

Budget range: An affordable retreat for two. 

Time Out tip: Take advantage of the rooftop garden with a view of the Pantai Valley.