Every month, the Going Places team handpicks the best experiences across Malaysia
1. Kuala Lumpur: A little movie magic
With suites called Moonrise and Rushmore, The Très Hotel captures all the whimsical charm of Wes Anderson’s movies, complete with distinct retro stylings, like en suite open bathtubs, funky wallpaper and vintage vinyl TVs and turntables to set the mood. Located in the Bukit Bintang district, just a stone’s throw away from Mid Valley Megamall and Little India, The Très Hotel certainly lives up to its tagline of making every stay feel like a movie.
2. Kuala Lumpur: Going downtown
B Hotel styles itself as the gateway to KL’s Golden Triangle, with its prime location along the historic Petaling Street. The hotel brings the energy of its surroundings within, with nods to Chinatown’s past in the art on its walls alongside bursts of neon. B Hotel also boasts the B Spa and Upper House, the exclusive rooftop dining destination that combines modern Asian cuisine with stunning views of the KL skyline.
3. Selangor: One with nature
The idyll of Templer Park is transformed with Villa Takun, which truly puts the glamour in glamping. Against the backdrop of the limestone monolith Bukit Takun from which it takes its name, and the lush greenery of the forest reserve, Villa Takun’s glamping units provide an intimate luxury experience, complete with private bathtubs and courtyards.
For those wanting to taste luxury indoors, choose the Moroccan-inspired Fez, Marrakech and Casablanca suites, with exclusive access to the infinity pool the opulent Aman Takun Lounge. Besides the cozy caravan café Kore, Villa Takun also features a luxury degustation experience at The EDible, where Chef Edwin Eiap YL masterfully elevates dining to a celebration of all the senses.
4. Selangor: Brewed different
Initially operating out of a house in Bangsar, Hétam+ found a new home last November, with the brutalist blacks and browns of its décor matching the industrial minimalism of the PJ Trade Centre. Hétam+ prides itself on brewing coffee differently, evident in the Mentari, which matches a bold espresso with lychee and orange, and the signature Aliah, a fusion of vanilla and espresso with a bubbly ginger ale finish.
5. Melaka: Prehistoric paradise
Since last April, Melaka Raya’s Trrexx has successfully pulled off perhaps the most unexpected pairing imaginable – North Indian fare and dinosaurs, or where the jalfrezi (stir-fried curry) meets the Jurassic. Enjoy staples like butter chicken masala and Hyderabadi mutton biryani alongside naan and Kashmiri pulao rice against a backdrop of prehistoric ferns and fossil replicas, and for lucky patrons, a T-rex roaming about as you enjoy your tikka.
6. Malaysia: Putting skin first
After Sarah Shah Nor – the founder of modest fashion label Modvier – was diagnosed with postpartum eczema, she pivoted to skincare that puts skin health first. Sarah’s label, Cuura has risen quickly to become among the most lauded local skincare brands – now with a second outlet in KL East Mall – with a curated selection of cleaners, toners, serums, moisturisers, sunscreen and even edible skincare made from painstakingly sourced ethical and organic ingredients.
7. Malaysia: Vision for 7 the future
Optimax has undergone a 30-year journey from a lone clinic in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur to one of the most sought-after eye care pioneers in Southeast Asia, and it was all down to the foresight of founder Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Tan Boon Hock. “Our founder identified a gap in Malaysia’s eye care sector in the 1990s,” says Optimax chief executive officer Sandy Tan Sing Yee. “His unwavering belief in serving the community and restoring vision with the right intention has been at the core of our philosophy – New Vision, New Life.
Since then, Optimax has kept apace with the evolution of eye correction technology, from offering advanced surface ablation (ASA) (or photorefractive keratectomy, PRK) at its inception to Lasik and now Zeiss Smile Pro, with each iteration becoming less invasive, promising quicker recovery and better results. This, coupled with Malaysia blossoming as a hub for medical tourism, meant that growth soon followed – Optimax now has 24 branches across the country, one in Cambodia, and further regional expansion is on the cards. Optimax has even ventured into aesthetic treatments and plastic surgery, leveraging on its reputation for high-quality care.
Of course, there are basic steps that you can take to protect your eyes in your daily life, especially when travelling and taking in new sights. Here’s what the experts have to say:
Keep your shades on
Choose sunglasses with UV protection to shield your eyes from harmful rays, especially during extended outdoor activities,” says Sandy. UV light penetrates eye tissue more easily than visible light, with too much exposure possibly leading to problems down the line.
Tearing up
Your eyes are prone to dryness in air-conditioned environments, like hotel rooms and airplanes, especially on long-haul flights. Sandy suggests keeping your eyes hydrated for these situations using artificial tears or eye drops.
Wearing contacts with caution
To prevent dry eyes when flying, travellers who use contact lenses should also exercise caution. “Use artificial tears, as well as daily disposable lenses or remove them during the flight to
avoid eye irritation due to prolonged wear,” says Sandy.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is always absolutely critical, and more so when you’re on the road or in the air. “Adequate rest helps reduce eye strain and puffiness, keeping your eyes refreshed during your journey.”
Take charge of your eye health
Regular eye check-ups are crucial to maintaining your vision and overall eye health. If you haven’t done one in a while, make an appointment, especially if you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses.
8. Kuala Lumpur: The art of indulgence
Minimalist wood and stone décor sets the stage for the ultimate omakase experience at the Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur’s Sushi Qubey. Since late 2023, Sushi Qubey has been serving a range of sets such as a lunchtime offering called Tsuki, a selection of sumptuous nigiri sushi alongside Miyazaki wagyu steak, sukiyaki and a don (rice bowl) with uni (sea urchin). The Chef’s Special is reserved for those who want to discover the true meaning of omakase – a scintillating journey of flavours curated entirely by the chef.
9. Selangor: Sweet and savoury
Spoon & Spark brings a touch of East Asia to Klang, with its charming, panelled exterior and windows echoing traditional Chinese architecture, and desserts inspired from around the region with a touch of home – from both savoury and sweet taiyaki (fish-shaped cake), a bingsu take on the local cendol with coconut-saturated shaved ice, scallion pancakes and flaky, buttery egg tarts.
10. Malaysia: Natural beauty
Olumes, which means “beautiful” in the Kadazan-Dusun language, is founder Aerin Gabor’s homage to the natural beauty of Borneo and the timeless skincare remedies of its people. Olumes’ award-winning cleansers, toners, serums and moisturisers – like its popular Satin Cream and the recently launched Advanced Eye Concentrate – are sourced from the heart of Borneo’s forests with respect for nature in mind, even as we draw from it.
11. Malaysia: Making change
Soapan Santun’s Anna Lee, already making soap at home during lockdown, decided to turn used cooking oil into household soap because of her father’s eczema. Just a few short years later, Lee and her co-founder Louis Koh turned Soapan Santun into a purpose-driven venture that upcycles food waste into a range of shampoos, soaps and balms, and conducts workshops with students, inmates and refugees, making the world a better place in more ways than one.
12. Malaysia: All lit up
With a host of award-winning authors, and now two literary festivals on the calendar – Kalam in KL and the George Town Literary Festival in Penang – the Malaysian literary scene is
roaring once again. Here are some standouts from the past year:
Kaki Lima
Fresh from the publication of the short story collection Bone Weight and Other Stories, Shih-Li Kow pens Kaki Lima, inspired by the titular five-foot ways across Malaysia. The story, interspersed with Malek Hue’s arresting photos, is about what ensues when a group of shop owners react to a municipal council’s decision to clear clutter on the walkways.
The Cry
KS Maniam’s oeuvre is concerned with the fundamental need to have a spiritual centre, which is continued in the posthumous The Cry, his fourth novel published four years after his
passing. Sweeping, bold and experimental in parts, The Cry also meditates on the nature of storytelling and the pain of articulating truth.
King of the Sea
Initially published to acclaim in 2012, this new edition of King of the Sea from Clarity Press features three new stories from Dina Zaman on her home state of Terengganu. The collection shows how the east coast state seems like a country unto itself, animated by the spirit and sensuality of the sea.
Tapau: The Best of Malaysian Food Writing 2000–2022 Anthology
Nothing brings Malaysians together like food, which is why the Malaysian Writers Society (MWS) put out a buffet of previously published poems, short stories and non-fiction essays to celebrate the diversity of the nation’s palate and explore just how much food shapes our identities.
