Arrange for a car to take you on the 20-minute drive to Lake Gardens, the city’s most popular park. Originally built in the 1880s, the property features a children’s park and a beautiful lake with rowboats. The Batu Caves are home to a spectacular Hindu temple set in the limestone caves, but come prepared to scale a large flight of stairs. For bird lovers, the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is home to thousands of colorful birds roaming free as well as soaring in walk-through aviaries. A similarly striking attraction is the Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park with its more than 5,000 colorful butterflies among koi ponds and flowering gardens.  

For a truly special dining experience, make a reservation at Li Yen, the hotel's award-winning Chinese restaurant named in the MICHELIN Guide's Selected list. At lunch, the finest Hong Kong dim sum is offered alongside premium Chinese teas, and at dinner, dine on refined and authentic Chinese classics curated in harmony with the seasons, while a yangqing harpist plays. Charming and intimate, The Patisserie is a welcoming oasis brimming with tastefully crafted delights that will enliven your daytime dining experience. Our legendary Afternoon Tea, featuring the finest teas from Ronnefeldt and house crafted sandwiches, pastries and scones, is a special tradition that is not to be missed. Order a cup of The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur tea, a special blend crafted from green Oolong Tie Guan Yin, a tea served to royalty since the Tang Dynasty. End the evening with a nightcap at The Lobby Lounge.

After a busy day of meetings or touring KL, relax with a signature treatment at Spa Village Kuala Lumpur, such as the Sensory Sound Bath, a combination of deep tissue massage with hot stones and a rejuvenating sound bath. Or arrange for the Campur-Campur, a treatment combining Thai and Malay techniques including touch, tone and aromatherapy. Arrive early or stay after your appointment to enjoy the swimming pool.  

There are many attractions to fill your days while in Kuala Lumpur. The Aquaria KLCC is a world-class 60,000-square-foot aquarium with stunning interactive displays that take visitors from the rainforest to the reefs. Get a spectacular bird’s-eye view of KL from the sky bridge at the Petronas Twin Towers, which are among the world’s tallest free-standing buildings. Or tour some of the notable architectural sites like the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a beautiful colonial building in the Victorian and Moorish style; the Istana Budaya, a blue and white contemporary building hailed as one of the city’s most beautiful modern buildings; or The Royal Museum, the former residence of Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme King) of Malaysia that overlooks the Klang River.   

Morning

• Lighten Up! To ascend the 272 steps to reach the Batu Caves, you’ll need lots of energy from a light, healthy breakfast. Swing into Rubberduck for a Sunshine Smoothie Bowl (banana, pineapple, mango, chia seeds, granola and coconut flakes), an omelet with toast, or a slice of frittata.

Midday

• Brunch Bounty. Take dim sum at Li Yen, the award-winning Chinese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. Among the myriad options, be sure to try the cha siu bao (pillowy steamed buns with roast pork) and ha gow (shrimp dumplings in translucent wrappers).

Afternoon

• Just Desserts. The six levels of shops at Suria KLCC mall include designer boutiques, ambitious apothecaries and a shop that specializes in traditional Malay sweets. Take the bubble lift to La Cucur to try a slice of kuih lapis, a steamed nine-layer cake made from coconut milk, tapioca and rice flour, coarse sugar and pandan leaves.

Evening

• Crowdsourced Cuisine. If you’re game for an authentically bustling, open-air experience, head to Jalan Alor’s dynamic street-food scene after the sun drops. This makeshift outdoor eatery is noisy and full of energy, as vendors on both sides of the street roast, wok, fry and grill authentic Malay, Chinese and Thai dishes that attract thousands of hungry locals and visitors.


• Or Quiet Time. For a more intimate experience, Bijan serves high-end Malay cuisine in a sleek, chic modern setting in the old part of Kuala Lumpur. Start with golden cucur udang (prawn and vegetable fritters), then select your favorite entrée and pair it with wine. If the weather agrees, ask to sit on the terrace for an alfresco experience.

Morning

• It’s Crunch Time! For a savory breakfast, order the soft-shell crab burger at VCR. The sandwich includes a deep-fried soft-shell crab with house-made tartar sauce, over a sunny-side-up egg, onion jam and quick-pickled cucumber. If you prefer a sweet start to the day, try a slice of The King, named after Elvis Presley — layers of chocolate-covered banana slices and banana cake, covered with peanut butter frosting and sprinkled with peanut nibs.

Midday

• Hit the Streets. On your tour through Chinatown’s shops and kiosks, veer off Petaling Street, the pedestrian shopping mall, and onto Madras Lane. Here, you’ll find some of Kuala Lumpur’s best street-food booths — including Asam Laksam, which has been around for more than four decades, and Ampang Yong Tau Foo.

Afternoon

• Currying Favor. Old China Café actually is one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest eateries. The restaurant specializes in centuries-old recipes of Peranakan cuisine, which blends Chinese ingredients with Malay spices and cooking techniques. Spicy food is a star here, especially the stellar slow-cooked, dry-curry Beef Rendang, as well as Nyonya specialties such as braised-pork Babi Pongteh and Nyonya Laksa soup.

• An Artful Excursion. Join the artists and filmmakers who gather for coffee at Aku Café & Gallery, created by a Malaysian film producer as a place where creative types and culture connoisseurs could linger. Cool down with a blended iced coffee or a banana iced chocolate.

Evening

• Lights-out Cuisine. “What you get is what you see” is the antithesis of a successful dining experience at Dining in the Dark. Here, after a round of aperitifs, guests are seated for a four-course dinner that’s served in a pitch-black room. To ensure adherence to the theme, guests leave phones and other lighted devices in lockers outside the dining room; servers who navigate the room are blind or visually impaired.


• Vantage Vintages. The floor-to-ceiling windows and 23rd-floor terrace at wine bar Claret offer stunning nighttime views of the city’s glittering skyline. Equally impressive: is the curated selection of champagnes, burgundies and other vintages from France and around the world.

Morning

• Social Climbing. The Batu Caves north of Kuala Lumpur attract thousands of visitors, who ascend the 272 stairs to explore the limestone caverns and Hindu temple and shrine. An early start helps you beat the crowds (both of humans and of local monkeys that hope to snatch snacks or other treasures from unsuspecting tourists).

Midday

• Ramp It Up. A walk up the Guggenheim-style pedestrian spiral at the three-story National Visual Art Gallery gives visitors plenty of space to peruse the expansive variety of works from Malaysian and other Southeast Asian artists. Here, exhibits and galleries display historic folk art, modern caricatures, expressionist paintings, photos, prints, textiles and ceramics.

Afternoon

• To Market, to Market. Central Market has been reinvented from its early days as a “wet market” where vendors sold fresh meats and produce. Now, you’re more likely to find batik emporiums, jewelry vendors, bakers and palm readers in this historic art deco venue. Tucked behind the main building is Central Market Annexe, an art space with galleries and a studio.


• Find Your Fortune. Duck into Sin Sze Si Ya, the oldest Chinese Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur. The beautifully ornate prayer hall and open-air pavilion, founded in 1864, is suffused with the scent of burning incense and joss sticks. In the mood to have your fortune read? Rattle the container filled with kao chim sticks until one falls out, match the number on that stick to one on a corresponding slip of paper, and offer it to a temple caretaker, who will translate its message for 1 ringgit (roughly 25 cents).
  

Evening

• Crowdsource Your Cuisine. For an authentic, bustling open-air experience, head to Jalan Alor’s dynamic street-food scene. This makeshift outdoor eatery is noisy and full of energy, as vendors on both sides of the street roast, wok, fry and grill authentic Malay, Chinese and Thai dishes that attract thousands of hungry locals and visitors long into the night.

Morning

• Discover the Art of Islam. Natural light floods the rooms and detailed inverted ceiling domes at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the largest museum in Southeast Asia. Wander through gallery space dedicated to Islamic architecture, arms and armor, jewelry, ceramics, metalworks and more.

Midday

• Fowl Play. The 21-acre Kuala Lumpur Bird Park inside Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park includes free-flight zones and mini aviaries for hundreds of species of feathered fowl —chittering lovebirds and conures, wading flamingos and pelicans, even flightless emus and cassowaries.


• Set Hearts Aflutter. If you prefer creatures with more delicate wings, the landscaped gardens at neighboring Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park house over 5,000 butterflies. Wander through more than 80,000 square feet of garden with flowering vines, exotic plants and ferns, as well as koi and freshwater turtles.

Afternoon

• Then Set Them Racing. Doff your shoes and step out for a photo in the Sky Box, if you dare — the glass-bottom rectangle juts out from the Sky Deck ledge of KL Tower nearly 1,000 feet, or 91 stories, above the ground.

Evening

• Adventurous Spirits. You won’t need a password to enter the speakeasy lounge Omakase + Appreciate — just a good sense of direction. Omakase means “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese, so the adventure here is letting the bartenders create a custom cocktail based on your preferences and experiences.

Morning

• Idol Experience. Explore the technicolor carvings of Hindu deities of Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the nation’s oldest. Walk through the entryway under the 75-foot Raja Gopuram tower to visit shrines to Ganesh, Muruga and Lakshmi. The prayer halls feature hundreds of colorful sculpted idols and deities, while the scents of flowers, camphor and incense linger in the air.

Midday

• Brunch Bounty. Take dim sum at Li Yen, the award-winning Cantonese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. Among the myriad options, be sure to try the cha siu bao (pillowy steamed buns with roast pork) and ha gow (shrimp dumplings in translucent wrappers).

Evening

• Leader of the Pack. Maximize your last night in Kuala Lumpur by having the butler pack your suitcase while you enjoy dinner at The Library downstairs. All 364 rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur enjoy full butler service.


• Go Out on Top. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls at Marini’s on 57, the city’s highest rooftop bar, offer spectacular views of the Petronas Towers and the rest of the city skyline, as well as an impressive list of cocktails and spirits, including 85 kinds of whiskey.