Time Out KL contributors

A life spent in the art galleries of the world is a life spent well. This is as true in Kuala Lumpur as anywhere else on the planet, and these galleries will fill the lungs with inspiration and excitement in equal measure. The so-called Garden City of Lights has a long history of art and creativity, and there’s a lot of evidence that suggests that reputation has plenty left in the tank. KL is a great city for visitors. The city’s best attractions are the envy of other cities in the region, while its restaurants are right at the forefront of culinary trends and innovation. The Malaysian capital is home to some of the best wellness facilities going, spas and baths that are tailor-made to rejuvenate the body and mind. Art has a similar effect on the latter, so get yourself to the best art galleries in Kuala Lumpur and let the work of masters wash over you.

2020 has been a challenging year so far and as the month of Ramadan begins, there will be a difference in how everyone breaks fast. These hotels are offering their seasonal specialties for pick-up and delivery, which means you will be able to enjoy a wide array of delicious food at home with your family.   Gourmet to Go at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur’s chefs along with celebrity chef, Dato’ Haji Ismail Ahmad, have crafted three set menus encompassing 15 popular dishes highlighting the best in traditional Malay cooking. The sets include dishes like Sup Ayam Berempah, Daging Masak Lemak Cili Padi, Ikan Goreng Berlada, Ayam Golek Istana and more. Diners can also opt for the a la carte menu featuring items like Roti Canai with chicken curry, Nasi Briyani and Bubur Lambuk Daging. Orders should be placed 24 hours in advance and complimentary delivery is available within a 10km radius of the hotel. Order via email at HA123-FB2@SOFITEL.COM or call 03 2720 6688 https://www.sofitel-kualalumpur-damansara.com/   Chup! Makan Dulu at Hilton hotels Hilton Hotels in Malaysia presents a take-home menu showcasing popular dishes from the hotels’ restaurants. This promotion runs from 23 April to 23 May and participating restaurants include Vasco’s, Paya Serai, Makan Kitchen and Garden Grille, offering a selection of Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes. Recommended dishes are the Nasi Lemak, Bubur Lambuk Pak Pander, Daging Masak Hitam Berempah and Sup Berempah Pak Del

Some of us have been gleefully cooking up a storm during these days of staying home, while others have been getting food delivered or eating cereal / instant noodles / endless sandwiches. Here’s another option – the food kit – with portioned ingredients, easy-to-follow instructions and very little room for error!   Dewakan If you really want to impress whoever you’re staying home with or just want to give yourself a gourmet treat, Dewakan’s food kit is available now. There are three main courses to choose from and these come with two sides per main. The kit is priced at RM50, are properly pre-cooked and portioned, and made from quality ingredients the restaurant uses.  Follow the instruction cards and video tutorials so they look restaurant worthy and don’t forget to add on dessert. https://www.dewakan.my/cook-like-dewakan-food-kit   Little People Homemade pasta is the specialty here and all you have to do is cook the pasta, add the sauce and that’s it! This café is known for their successful trifecta of coffee, cake and pasta; and their aptly named quarantine starter packs consist of freshly made small batch pasta and accompanying sauce. They make a different type every time and quantities aren’t on an an industrial level so check their FB and get your orders in quickly. https://www.facebook.com/littlepeoplecoffee/   Bref by Darren Chin Who doesn’t love a delectable burger? It’s comfort food, filling and delicious and when it’s from Darren Chin of Bref and DC Restaurant

The perfect ending to a meal is usually something sweet from a scoop of velvety ice cream to the buttery goodness of a proper piece of cake. These sweet treats aren’t just to end a meal obviously – have them for tea, mid-morning snack, on one of those countless visits to the kitchen or just because you feel like it.   Crème De La Crème (CDLC) Artisanal small-batch ice cream is enjoying its time in the sun and once you’ve had a taste, it’s pretty hard to go back to the supermarket brands. CLDC specialises in ice cream and little cakes that are almost too pretty to eat. Interesting ice cream flavour combinations include blueberry sorbet with basil and cream cheese, coconut sorbet with homemade caramelised gula melaka coconut jam and more traditional ones like Musang King and dark chocolate. Flavours change so get in touch to see what’s available. https://www.facebook.com/mycdlc/   Kiat Kee Bakery If you’re after traditional Malaysian cakes and egg tarts, Kiat Kee will be your go-to for delivery. This family-run bakery was founded in 1960 and their recipes have been handed down through the generations. Their specialties include Portuguese tarts (baked or frozen), pandan chiffon cake, marble cake, butter cake, banana cake and mini rolls. These are old-school teatime treats well worth ordering. https://www.facebook.com/Kiat-Kee-Bakery-108371390848545/   Foo Foo Fine Desserts Foo Foo is one of the most popular dessert cafés and known for creating unique desserts that are great t

It’s inevitable – the multiple trips to the kitchen to look for something to eat. Add freshly baked bread and baked treats to the menu and yes, you will exercise after… or not. Available for pick-up or delivery.   Fresca Grano Their orange packaging is seen in many a KL supermarket bread shelf and this bakery is known for its organic bread. Their online store is packed with choices including bread (wholemeal, white, buns), cakes and muffins (including flourless and gluten-free), granola and cookies. You can also stock up on pantry staples like beans, pulses, dried fruit, seeds, grains, flour and rice. Delivery is available within KL and Selangor. https://frescograno.com/   Kenny Hills Bakers Everything here is baked fresh every morning and you can order organic bread, pastries and cakes two days in advance to make sure you get what you want. Croissants, bread (baguette, bagels, rye, spelt, 8-grain, wholemeal, country loaves), scones, doughnuts, egg tarts and chocolate chip cookies are available daily until they sell out. There’s also a limited selection of cakes for pre-order or call on the day to see what’s available. https://www.kennyhillsbakers.com/deliveries-takeaways   Tedboy With several outlets across the city, Tedboy is known for their wide selection of baked goods and café meals. Everything is prepared daily and from now till 30 April there’s a 30% discount on bread, pastries, cakes, cookies, sandwiches, hot meals and cold brew. There’s an essentials section in

Peranakan or Nyonya food is quite possibly the original fusion food of this country, if not the region. The intermarriage of Chinese traders and local Malays in the colonial days has produced a vibrant, unique culture and cuisine, where both Chinese and Malay cooking techniques, flavours and ingredients are intermixed, thus creating a cuisine that is complex in execution and robust in flavours. When you need to get your fix of pai tee, inchi kabin (Nyonya fried chicken) or ayam buah keluak, head to these top Nyonya restaurants in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

The late amateur photographer Gordon Hutchings was a chopper pilot from New Zealand stationed in KL from 1963 to 1966, on secondment from RAF UK to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to assist their helicopter division. Here are some never-before-seen shots of the city – all captured when he was flying around town.

Sometimes, you just need to get a good bottle of wine at a decent price, or liquor at affordable rates. Here’s where you can get them.  

Thinking of taking off somewhere for the weekend? Here's where you can go for a quick staycation.

Twenty-two 1940s shophouses on Jalan Doraisamy – formerly the epicentre of KL’s nightlife scene, Asian Heritage Row – are now home to cool cafés, restaurants, shops and live music venues. But just how cool are they? The Time Out KL team finds out.

It’s almost the end of the year, and the parties are only just starting. Typical black outfits just won’t do for the festive season, especially in this day and age when bold colours are everywhere. So here are some items to help with any impending wardrobe dilemmas.

You know when they say that good things come to those that wait? Well, for the people residing in Malaysia that have been mostly cooped up in their abodes – the time has come! Sure, this long wait was imposed on us, but that was the price for managing the pandemic of an unprecedented scale. We Malaysians are now allowed to cross the borders freely – that’s right, no more applying for police permits, no more mandatory checking at the toll gates and exits, no more needing to make do with video calls and such things that we were limited by (which means no more evolving acronyms like RMCO, CMCO, MCO that took some reading up). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Yakoob addressed the nation in a special announcement on October 10 telling us that interstate travel will be permitted for all fully vaccinated Malaysians. This was made possible because of the effort pumped into our vaccination plans – 95 percent of the adults in Malaysia have received their first dose and 90 percent are fully inoculated. The country’s borders will remain closed to international travel for now unless there’s a valid reason (emergencies, businesses, and official government purposes). Malaysians that have been deprived of meeting their family and friends can do so freely but need also be mindful that the police will still be conducting random checks from time to time. However, this interstate travel ban lift does not mean that the precautions that need to be observed can be ignored. Wearing masks and other s

Connected to more than 10,000 couriers, the same-day delivery platform offers prices as low as RM0.80/km within the Klang Valley. And it’s booking process involves only 3 steps: place an order, hand the parcel to your courier, and wait for delivery confirmation! Place your order now via the mobile app or MrSpeedy website! For further information, contact us via live chat.

Deepavali is the time of year when we’ll start seeing the different variations of kolam popping up in and around the Klang Valley – but how much do you really know about them: what do they symbolise to Hindus, where do they come from and is it more than just a Deepavali tradition? Here’s a quick roundup of fun facts about these colourful pieces of art. It's a sign of generosityIn the olden days, the motifs were drawn in rice flour or made with edible grains for ants, birds or other small creatures. This is in line with Hindu teachings that instruct its followers to show charity and be generous, even to little creatures. Eventually, coloured rice – from colourings or dyes – replaced the rice flour and grains. And also an invitation to prosperityHindus believe that the kolam welcomes Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Prosperity into the home. That’s why the decorative rice motif is usually drawn in front of the house. Plus, it’s always a nice sight that welcomes visitors to Deepavali open houses. It's not just a Deepavali traditionIt really just isn’t limited to Deepavali celebrations. The kolam also makes an appearance during other festivals like the harvest festival of Ponggal (January) and the Hindu festival of Onam (between August and September).   It can be a family bonding activityDrawing of the kolam was traditionally done by the women of the household as it was considered their responsibility to maintain household affairs. Nowadays, everyone participates in the annual affa

This article was done in association with Celebrity Fitness.  We called our friends at Celebrity Fitness to teach us proper gym etiquette 1. The Equipment Hoarder The hoarders are those who go around the gym copping machines, equipment and weights they want with their towel, water bottle, locker keys and anything else they can. When they find a spot they’re happy with, they build a nice little nest out of all the stuff they’ve picked out from around the gym, leaving everyone else to wait until they’re done with their circuit. 2. The Hyper Competitive Gym-er You’re running at your own pace on a treadmill when you notice the person next to you constantly glancing at your machine. It hits you then that they’re adding speed and picking up pace whenever you do because they have to be one step ahead of you. These highly competitive gym bunnies don’t like losing, even though you were never in a competition with them in the first place. 3. The PDA Couple Some people go to the gym to have some alone time and some use them to spend more time with their other half. The latter would be great, but if only they keep the PDA on the down low. The overtly encouraging words to each other, constant body contact and not-so-subtle sexual tension can be uncomfortable to watch; as an involuntary spectator, you’ll probably end up being the one feeling ‘dirty’ instead. 4. The Instagrammer Most people go to the gym for one purpose: to sweat it out, and the last thing on your mind would be how you l

Update (April 21): DBKL has issued a written notice to Imbi Market vendors confirming that phase one of the market's new location in ICC Pudu is now ready. According to the notice, vendors can start moving to ICC Pudu beginning Friday, April 22 and must vacate the old premises by Monday, April 25 at the very latest. Vendors can start operating in their new location the following day on April 26.  * News that Imbi Market (also known as Pasar Baru Bukit Bintang) will be relocating have been circulating since 2014. And it's happening at last; in April, over 250 vendors from both the food and the fresh produce sections will pack up and move to their new home at Integrated Commercial Complex, or ICC Pudu on Jalan Kijang, near Pudu Plaza. The market has to move to make way for the mega Tun Razak Exchange project. Over the past half year, accessibility to the area has become more restricted due to several road closures and hoarding up of adjacent land. Photo: Daniel Chan Also known as Kompleks Perniagaan Bersepadu Pudu, the multi-storey complex will house a wet market, a food court plus banquet and multi-purpose halls (equipped with badminton, volleyball and basketball courts). Ample parking will also be available at this mixed-use building. Imbi Market is, without a doubt, a KL institution, known not only for its fresh produce but also for the variety of good, authentic street food available. It also happens to be one of our favourite breakfast haunts too. Loyal customers have fl

Ishh... I was having a bad day yesterday. I was at Mid Valley but it was so busy, so many people. So I went to Gardens je lah, not so sesak. Datin Farra and I was supposed to go shopping together, the bag that I order from Paris finally arrived! I don’t wanna say which one lah, later people say I very riak. Usually Datuk and I just buy the bags ourselves in Europe but he’s busy now since he got the project with Tan Sri Joe. Anyway I should be happy kan? Since my dark pink crocodile skin handbag (with my initials!) is here. But tak best lah if you go shopping alone. I was very upset at first when Datin tak jadi but she said her skin therapist Dr Diego had a cancellation so she just had to snap up that slot. Her skin is quite terrible so I maafkan je lah. So I went to get my bag and since I was feeling a bit sedih I thought I better pegi buat nails at the salon. You know, the one next to Nine West. They’re not tip top like the one in Pavilion but takpe lah, next week I get Zeta (my usual manicurist) to fix. You all must know right, Starbucks is not really my thing but I was parched and tak larat wanna go downstairs to TWG! But nasib baik, this Starbucks is a little different. It’s a nicer, a more atas one called Starbucks Reserve. Normally I get Siti (my PA) to get me something but suddenly she want to kahwin lah apa lah so I have to do everything myself. Not like the usual Starbucks, okay I went in and all the baristas (that’s what they call them now) are wearing fedoras an

Can Chelsea retain the Premier League title? Will Falcao ever score again? Ken W gives a fictional look at the coming months of the 2015/16 English football season 2015 August Peep peep… And we’re off! The opening weekend’s biggest shock comes at Old Trafford, where Spurs comprehensively outclass Manchester United. Spurs goalscorer Harry Kane credits his club’s stellar pre-season preparations for the huge result. ‘The match in Malaysia back in May really did us good,’ says the England international. Key games Manchester City vs Chelsea, Aug 16, 11pm; Arsenal vs Liverpool, Aug 25, 3am. September  Petr Cech, the Arsenal summer signing, makes an emotional return to his former club, Chelsea, where the experienced Czech Republic international spent 11 trophy-laden years and established himself as one of the world’s premier goalkeepers. Cech goes on to save two Eden Hazard penalties and produce a splendid performance to condemn his ex-employers to a rare home defeat at Stamford Bridge. ‘I finally beat José Mourinho!’ exclaims a jubilant Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, who had yet to taste victory in 13 previous attempts against the Chelsea maestro. Key games Manchester United vs Liverpool, Sep 13, 12.30am; Chelsea vs Arsenal, Sep 19, 7.45pm. October Brendan Rodgers is sacked by Liverpool following a demoralising 5-0 Merseyside-derby drubbing at the hands of city rivals Everton and is swiftly replaced by Rafa Benítez, who himself was only relieved of his duties at Real Madrid