The definitive address in the nation’s capital
Barely a couple of months since its opening, the St Regis Kuala Lumpur’s Drawing Room is coming into its own as a favoured afternoon tea locale for the city’s well-heeled movers and shakers. They come for the soft, slightly flaky scones with sublime strawberry jam and cream that convert even the staunchest no-carbohydrates diet fanatic; the minute-sized foie gras, egg and salmon sandwiches as well as for the artfully prepared cakes, piled high on classic triple-tier stands.
The gorgeous well-thought-out Drawing Room does well with its delicate sweets and pastries, as well as with its smartly conceived swivel chairs and under-table power sockets – which come in exceptionally handy during a presentation or meeting. During the day, ample light streams through the intimate space. Undeniably, the establishment looks set to be one of the city’s destinations du jour.
Upstairs, guests in the hotel’s 208 supremely spacious rooms and suites have access to butlers, all of whom have undergone pretty impressive training, resulting in skills such as anticipating guests’ needs. Case in point: a butler who knows exactly what to do when helping guests unpack, prepared for any eventualities – even leaked shampoo on a shirt that was swiftly sent to be laundered and pressed.
Like in the rest of the property, the accommodation sports a decidedly chic equestrian theme with patterned insignia forming pretty yet subtle carpet motifs, alongside steel riding buckles at the back of salon chairs. Room sizes are among the largest in the city at 63sqm, while suites are sized at 138sqm.
In the evenings, Astor Bar – the libationary heart of every St Regis property – is destined to be Kuala Lumpur’s next place to be seen and heard nursing a whisky or the hotel’s own Assam Boi Mary, the Malaysian riff of the old-school New York Bloody Mary, a cocktail that has been brought to unique life in all St Regis hotels. Surprisingly, the KL version is both tasty and addictive, with the assam bois or dried plums providing a sweet and sour component to the already punchy concoction.
The bar’s interiors with its plush seating and convivial vibe, on the other hand, are part gentleman’s club and part upscale saloon, welcoming with its automatic doors at the entrance that swing open dramatically, revealing cosmopolitan city slickers seeking cool respite from the metropolis’ blisteringly hot weather.
But for those seeking a less formal poolside scene, the sleek bar at Crystal, overlooking the hotel’s swimming pool and a giant LED television screen might be just the place to catch the sun set over the Lake Gardens.
