LET me get straight to the point: Inasmuch as I love the decor, nuances and the decidedly modern feel of The Chow Kit, it isn't a hotel for everyone.
If your family is made up of babies and toddlers, then it's best to give this hotel, under The Ormond Group, a miss. But if you are a couple, or a single person travelling with friends, then you might be in for a nice stay.
At 22sqm, The Towkay Suite is much smaller than a regular deluxe room in most hotels, that are about 36sqm and 38sqm, making it super-crowded for a family of three.
The room is beautifully furnished, the flooring clean and made of wood, the spaces are ulitised as best as they could be... but it is still 22sqm.
We prayed on the little space between the bed and the window and Murshid made the sofa his playground.
STAY
But I can totally see myself staying there alone and enjoying the room. The floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooks the bustling Jalan Sultan Ismail and you could see the traffic swelling up in the morning, and tapering down at night.
That's the thing about staycations. Even if you stay in the city you live in, there will always be a new point of view that gives you a new way of looking at your city.
The sturdy mattress is good for a good night's sleep but the queen size bed is small for three. So for the two nights that we were there, sleep quality wasn't the highlight of our stay.
The tiny bathroom is also beautifully done and the accompanying Jeanie Botanicals toilettries made the experience relaxing, even when the whole bathroom is tiny.
EAT
And now for the best part. The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar is possibly the best restaurant-in-hotel in the city. This place serves cafe-quality breakfast that's a far cry from hotels' usual fare. The choices are small, but each one is tasty.
I love the Avocado Toast, with a generous portion of avocado topping a slice of fresh sourdough. The nasi lemak is good too.
Its all day dining menu nails the local palate perfectly while taking local street food like cucur udang and gado-gado a few notches up. The food is delicious and the serving is generous.
My husband and I shared two snacks, and those are enough for a meal. I would definitely come back for the food, perhaps on weekday lunch, when the ala carte menu is more extensive.
The dishes, crafted from recipes passed down from generations, celebrate the multiculturalism of Malay cuisine, drawing from the north and south of the country.
Simple and delicious, each dish celebrates the honest flavours of locally sourced produce.
The restaurant is also open for delivery and takeaway so you can enjoy their signature dishes in the comfort of your own home.
DO
If you stay here, don't miss Fuad Fahmy's guided tour that covers the Chow Kit area and ends at the great Chow Kit Market.
A Kampung Baru native, Fuad has insider knowledge to curate itineraries that check the must-see destinations of this vibrant city.
The Chow Kit Walking Tour (RM99) places the spotlight on the most eclectic neighbourhood of Kampung Baru, loooking at hidden gems within its alleys, including stalls selling cheap food and other goods.
From the district once known as a hub for drug addicts to the iconic concert by Sudirman to the bustling Chow Kit Market, locals and foreigners will have a great time learning and re-learning what they know about the city.
Meanwhile, The Chow Kit Foodie Tour (RM115) allows guests to live their culinary dreams as they walk and uncover the delicacies of the city such as charcoal toasted bread with kaya and butter alongside a heart-warming cup of local coffee, murtabak and childhood favourites such as Haw flakes and ice gem biscuits.
HIGH A stylish boutique hotel that's more Melbourne than Kuala Lumpur
LOW Super tiny rooms
FAST FACTS
The Chow Kit
1012, Jln Sultan Ismail,
50100 Kuala Lumpur.
TEL 03- 27786666
WEBSITE
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