Your essential guide to Kuala Lumpur

SEE

It’s hard to miss the twin spikes of the Petronas Towers, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur’s iconic neighbour. Ask the concierge to book tickets, then head for the 41st-floor viewing platform, where a glass and metal artery links the two buildings. For even dizzier heights, there’s an observation deck on the 86th storey.

EAT

The Art Deco Central Market is one of the city’s treasures. After admiring its jagged ziggurats and iconic blue-and-white façade, stop for lunch at the mezzanine-level Precious Old China. Elegant and antique-dotted, it specialises in Peranakan cuisine, which melds local ingredients with Chinese cooking techniques. Don’t miss the smoky Assam prawn and blue coconut rice.

SHOP

Malaysia excels when it comes to shoemaking, with Jimmy Choo being its most famous export. Jacquelee Shoe Gallery has a dizzying array of options, from classic satin heels to patent party shoes. For men, Zeve Shoes offers crafted leather brogues, boots and more for a fraction of the price you’d pay in Europe.

UNWIND

Toast your arrival in the city at the sleek MO Bar, with its soothing garden views and masterfully mixed drinks. There’s an expansive line-up of single malts, along with charismatic cocktails: try a Malaysian mojito, spiked with mint and palm sugar, or a superb old fashioned.

DISCOVER

Prepare to be dazzled by the collections at the Islamic Arts Museum, each more splendid than the last. There are curving Ottoman swords, jewelled birds and sequin-studded Indian jackets, ancient, gold- and leather-bound Qur’ans and 14th-century tiles. The building also packs a punch. It’s a light-filled glass palace with turquoise domes and a striking, mosaic-framed entrance.

PEDAL

To get your bearings, sign up for a four-hour city tour with Mike Bikes, whose guides take the stress out of navigating the city’s traffic. You’ll pedal through lantern-decked Chinatown and the village-like Kampung Baru, past imposing mosques, colourful market stalls and iconic sights such as the KL Tower.

SWIM

After cycling the streets, cool down with a well-earned dip in the hotel’s palm-edged, lagoon-shaped swimming pool. Set on the third floor, the infinity-edge pool has front-row views of KLCC Park, haloed by skyscrapers. Take it all in from a cushion-strewn cabana or parasol-shaded lounger.

EAT

Every foodie in this city has a different street-food favourite, from curry-dipped roti jala (lacy, net-like pancakes) to aromatic, peanut-scattered nasi lemak, paired with a tongue-tingling sambal. The only sensible approach is to sample as many as you can, at Petaling Jaya by day and Jalan Alor after dark.

CLIMB

Set on the rainforest-swathed slopes of northern Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves are home to a series of Hindu temples, guarded by a vast golden statue of Lord Murugan. A knee-creaking 272 steps lead up to the main complex, set inside a soaring cave with walls that look like melting wax. Arrive early to beat the heat.

DINE

Back at the hotel, taste the finest dim sum in the city at Lai Po Heen. The surrounds are deeply elegant, and the food is classic Cantonese, running from wok-fried prawns to black-pepper beef tenderloin. Its dim sum, naturally, is note-perfect every time. Dishes include crystal shrimp har gow and caviar-laced crab dumplings.

DIVINE

Staying with the Chinese theme, visit Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. This 150-year-old Taoist Buddhist temple is squeezed into a narrow lane behind Central Market, at a 45-degree angle (it’s more auspicious, according to Feng Shui). Slip past the stone lions standing guard to explore the interior, smoky with incense and burning effigies.

DRINK

Hidden in a Bukit side street, JungleBird makes regular appearances on Asia’s best bar lists. It combines Tiki-inspired interiors with a predilection for rum: more than 200 varieties are lined up behind the bar. Pull up a wicker chair and order the signature Brazilian Quentão, with cachaça, ginger, citrus and a cider reduction.

The city’s historic Chinatown is where the old and new converge. Shop for souvenirs at Central Market, known to locals as Pasar Seni (‘art market’), or choose from the limitless food offerings, which run from fragrant hawker stalls to polished fine-dining addresses. Rich in culture and history, and thrumming with life, Chinatown is a quintessential Malaysian experience.

- The concierge team at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.

Wellness is very much on the agenda at the hotel. There are regular yoga and Pilates sessions, along with tennis lessons, personal training and treatments in The Spa. The three-hour Traditional Indulgence journey draws on Malaysia’s cultural mix, with a Borneo coffee scrub, Chinese-inspired Qi massage, and blissful Ayurvedic Indian head massage.

With KLCC Park on your doorstep, take time to explore its 50 lush acres, designed by the late, great landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. There’s a fountain-dotted lake, jogging trail and children’s playground set amid rustling palms and tropical foliage.

If cooking’s your way to relax, sign up for a session with the hotel’s expert chef. It’s a masterclass in Malay techniques, flavours and dishes, including aromatic laksa and spicy grilled chicken.