Sitting with the poise of a diva next to the legendary Petronas Twin Towers, W Kuala Lumpur exudes luxury like no other. By Priyanka Chakrabarti
As I entered W Kuala Lumpur, after an hour-long drive from the airport, I was enveloped by a gust of vibrant energy. Quirky colour palettes, urban decor elements and a classy design aesthetic radiated a millennial vibe that permeated the property.
I had suffered an overnight flight, so I was glad to be shown quickly to my room by the welcoming staff. My accommodation on the 14th floor had a flirty ambience. An LED-lit fuchsia cabinet held a coffee-maker and a set of wine glasses. The pristine white bed was adorned with two large leaf-shaped pillows in psychedelic shades of green and blue. There was a large work of art right above the bed, depicting pixels (polka dots) on a glass sheet with a Batik painting in the backdrop. The lounge area flaunted a bright pink sofa with Aztec-printed cushions and a glass wall that opened up to a view of the majestic Petronas Towers.
The property has two primary design narratives—confluence and forest. On the ground floor, the ceilings portray a vision of a flowing river. Panels in stainless steel complement wooden elements, symbolising a confluence of futuristic fundamentals with age-old aesthetic. The jungle vibe is most palpable on the eighth floor. Lush foliage contours the entire hotel all the way up to the swimming pool. Think LED panels resembling waterfalls and wooden chandeliers resembling an ancient Malaysian game called ‘Top’. The interiors bear the unmistakable signature of Australian designer Nic Graham.
In the culinary space, the hotel’s offerings are diverse. FLOCK, an all-day diner, serves delectable local and Western specialities. It hosted my last dinner in Kuala Lumpur, where I drooled over the wild mushroom and lemon thyme pau and the charred cauliflower chorizo cooked with fennel pollen risotto, micro basil and curry oil. I also polished off a grand serving of the main course, called Flock of Birds—twice cooked chicken accompanied by olive tapenade, kohlrabi fondant, heirloom kale, mushroom confit and wood sorrel.
Meanwhile, YEN, is the perfect place to indulge in hearty Cantonese fare. I particularly enjoyed the chicken dumplings, cod fillet in chilli padi cheese and spicy sauce, and the braised Szechuan hot and sour soup with snow crab meat. The pan-fried salmon bun and the wok-fried chicken in kung-pao sauce were delightful as well.
Elsewhere, WOOBAR whips up glamorous cocktails in chic ambience, while WET® Deck is the place for al fresco parties. With the Petronas Towers in the backdrop and jazzy cocktails in my hands, it dawned on me that I was in the right place at the right time for the most luxurious weekend of my life. Rooms from INR 13,278.
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