Great service will always be found at The Westin, yet an array of innovative restaurants & amenities was an unexpected delight during our stay at The Westin KL.
The amazing service from the Westin didn’t start once we arrived at the hotel, it started the moment we landed in Kulala Lumpur. We were greeted by a smiling member from The Westin Kuala Lumpur, who took us to our waiting car and got us settled in for our drive into the city. The city itself is located about 45 minutes from the airport, so my advice - arrange your transportation before hand.
After a long hour drive from the airport we had arrived at The Westin, in the area of Bukit Bintang. We were surrounded by the bustle of a very active city. Taxis crawled along the streets, people hustled, tall skyscrapers gazed overhead and amazing smells of food surrounded us. I couldn’t have asked for a better location to start exploring this beautiful city.
Here were were in the middle of the Golden Triangle (aka Shoppers Paradise) and aside from the car stopping and Chris attempting to pull me out of my oogling trance, I had no clue we had arrived at our hotel. I was completely distracted by the glittering lights of Gucci, Fendi and Hermes shining across the street. Luxury stores towering over each other, lined as far as I could see. This was like Vegas only cleaner and better…so much better.
Perks of the Club
As soon as we got out of the car, we were greeted by quite the entourage. Members from the hotel team were awaiting our arrival with big bright smiles, to quickly usher us inside and up to the club floor, so that we could have a private check-in and enjoy some refreshments.
After our rock star greeting and snacks we were taken to our Executive Club Room, which was more like a mini apartment overlooking the sparkling skyline. We had the basics; a room, bedroom and kitchenette and so many great extras! What really set this room apart were the two separate office spaces and the enclosed balcony that gave us the best views of the city. Being a digital nomad and usually having to work where you sleep, can get a bit boring and crowded, especially when there are two of you. Having the separate spaces, with incredible views was the perfect ambiance to get work done and stay focused.
Because we were staying in a club room, we were also able to take advantage of the club room privileges. A fresh and healthy breakfast buffet was available each morning to us, complete with homemade granola and fresh pressed juices, as well as happy hour and hors d’oeuvres (all complimentary of course) in the evening. Writing those last emails of the day and finishing up work in the comfort of crisp prosecco and freshly made snacks, is really the only way a work day should end!
Forgot Your Gym Shorts? The Westin Has You Covered...
Admittedly I don’t work out consistently, I don’t carry workout gear around with me and I pretty much avoid the gym at all costs. Yet when I found out that I could easily rent tennis shoes, gym shorts and a shirt from New Balance during my stay, for about $5, I had to check it out. After a quick call to the concierge, I had a bag delivered to my room with the essentials. The shoes felt brand new, the workout gear could have been a bit more stylish (hey I like to look cute when I’m sweaty) and the fit was perfect.
Of course I ordered work out clothes for Chris too and convinced him that working out would be a great way to spend the afternoon. We booked a session in the gym and even tried out their cycling equipment in the pool. Yes we brought a bicycle in the pool and worked out.
After our fun in the pool, I spent an hour steaming away in the women's locker room. It was heaven! I was still a bit jet lagged from our flight, so melting away in the hot steam, was just what my body needed. I left relaxed and ready for a nap. We might not have made the most out of our gym session but we sure had fun!
Dining at the Westin
Kuala Lumpur in general is home to some of the best food in the world - I’m really not exaggerating! The mix of cultures brings out the best cuisine around and fortunately The Westin is home to 5 incredibly delicious and different restaurants. Even before we arrived at The Westin, I had heard of a few of their restaurants and was eager to try them. Needless to say, we ate our way around the hotel.
Five Sen5es is one of the best dim sum restaurants we’ve ever been to. After a morning of walking around the city, we came back to The Westin to try their highly rated tasting menu. We had an array of traditional dim sum dishes all with a modern twist. The presentation was beautiful (just look at the pictures) and the taste was so flavourful. I now see why the restaurant is called Five Sen5es, the experience really did highten each sense! My only regret is that we didn’t go back, thankfully there is always next time!
Another standout restaurant is Qba (pronounced Cuba), which is a fiery Latin grill. The setting is dark and romantic and the smell of cigars mixed with charcoal seems to lurk around the room…it’s heavenly. We started our night with mojitos, fresh ceviche and delicious grilled fish. For our main course the chef recommended the trio of steaks, so of course we had to oblige. The meal was perfect, the ambiance was lively and let’s just say, we stayed for awhile! Definitely a great date night restaurant!
If steak or dim sum doesn't interest you, then no worries because The Westin has several other restaurants including Prego, serving Italian, or Splash and The Living Room serving more International cuisines. Or simply walk outside and just follow your nose, there are little gems of deliciousness everywhere!
For more information about The Westin Kuala Lumpur, make sure to visit their website: