The capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, is well known for its modern skyline featuring iconic buildings such as the Petronas Twin Towers. I have been to the city on 3 separate occasions now, and find 4 days is enough to explore and get a good feel for the place. The city has a broad mix of cultures, with Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous influences.

Kuala Lumpur has so much to offer, you can explore the colonial era buildings, appreciate the modern skyscrapers, enjoy the luxury shopping malls, and keep yourself entertained with the exciting nightlife. There are an abundance of cool sky bars and restaurants to indulge in as well. Luxury hotels in the city are fairly affordable as well and below are my top 7 suggestions;

EQ Hotel

Equatorial Plaza, Jln Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50250

Overview

• Location: Centrally located in the Golden Triangle. Walking distance to many of Kuala Lumpur's attractions, including KLCC and Pavilion Mall.

• Rooms: Contemporary, spacious rooms with state of the art technology and panoramic views.

• Dining: Multiple dining options, including Sky51 rooftop bar and Sabayon restaurant.

• Facilities: Rooftop infinity pool, fitness centre and luxury spa.

• Design: Eco-friendly design, with stylish interiors and high-tech in room features.

• Service: Attentive, professional and friendly staff.

I would go as far as to say that EQ Hotel is the best hotel I have stayed at in Kuala Lumpur. The rooms are spacious, very well designed and extremely comfortable. The facilities were fantastic, and in particular the rooftop pool and Sky51 rooftop bar were highlights. While it is at a higher price point compared to other 5 star hotels in the area, the premium service, rooms and amenities can make it worth the extra cost. Please note though, if you're staying on a high floor, sometimes noise can be heard from Sky51 rooftop bar late.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $175–$265 (rates can vary depending on season)

• Suites: Approximately $330–$660 (rates can vary depending on season)

Hilton Hotel

3, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, 50470

Overview

• Location: Directly connected to KL Sentral, making it very easy to get around the city.

• Rooms: Stylish and spacious rooms with modern interiors and floor to ceiling windows.

• Dining: 10 dining options, including Graze (European) and Iketeru (Japanese).

• Facilities: Rooftop pool (with water slide), spa, gym and meeting rooms.

• Design: Modern, contemporary design, with stylish interiors.

• Service: Professional and attentive staff, who are very helpful.

The rooms and facilities at The Hilton in Kuala Lumpur are fantastic. The rooftop pool is a really good size and the club lounge offers amazing views of the city and Botanical Gardens. Rooms are modern, spacious and comfortable. All in all, I would say it is a well rounded hotel, that is suitable for families, couples and business travellers. As it is situated at KL Sentral, there is easy access to the airport and city attractions.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $100–$180 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

• Lifestyle suites: Approximately $550–$750 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

Le Meridien Hotel

2, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, 50470

Overview

• Location: Adjacent to KL Sentral transit hub (same location as The Hilton mentioned above).

• Rooms: Sleek and modern rooms, with high end amenities and city views.

• Dining: Multiple dining options, including Prime (steakhouse) and Latest Recipe (all-day dining).

• Facilities: Outdoor saltwater pool, spa, gym and conference facilities.

• Design: Modern sophisticated design.

• Service: Very professional and helpful staff.

• Extras: Marriott Bonvoy member privileges.

Le Meridien is in a fantastic location, situated by the main transport hub, KL Sentral, making it very convenient for easy access to the city’s attractions and airport. Service is excellent, with the staff being super friendly and attentive. Rooms are very spacious and comfortable, with really nice high end amenities. Fantastic facilities, including a lovely outdoor pool.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $110–$190 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

• Le Meridien suites: Approximately $200–$300 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

Banyan Tree

2, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

Overview

• Location: City centre, close to the Pavilion Mall and Bukit Bintang.

• Rooms: Extremely comfortable rooms, that are spacious and elegantly designed with floor to ceiling windows and city views.

• Dining: Includes Horizon Grill, Vertigo rooftop bar and the Banyan Tree signature afternoon tea.

• Facilities: Rooftop infinity pool, an award winning spa and a well equipped fitness centre.

• Design: Modern and elegant interiors.

• Service: Really personalised and attentive service.

Banyan Tree is a lovely 5 star hotel and well located next to the Bukit Bintang area, so is a good choice if you want to be close to the nightlife and there is a direct bridge linking you to the Pavilion Mall if you were wanting to go shopping. The Vertigo bar at the hotel really is a highlight, serving amazing food and good selection of drinks, with fabulous views over the city. Service at the hotel is great, with very helpful staff.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $260–$400 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

• Sky suites: Approximately $600–$800 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

W Hotel

121, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur,

Overview

• Location: City centre near the Petronas Towers and KLCC Park.

• Rooms: Rooms are contemporary and spacious with some tech savvy features.

• Dining: Includes Flock (modern Asian), Yen (Cantonese) and the Wet Deck rooftop bar.

• Facilities: Outdoor infinity pool, amazing Spa and a well equipped fitness centre.

• Design: Trendy & vibrant interiors.

• Service: Friendly and professional staff.

The W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a different type of modern 5 star luxury, as with all W hotels, it has quite a bold, vibrant design with a dynamic vibe, so admittedly the hotel may not suit everyone. I love the design of the hotels though. The rooms are very comfortable and have some tech savvy features. Pool is lovely and rooftop bar has some fantastic views. For me, the W is a great choice if you want to be in a very central location, while enjoying the perks of an upscale hotel.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $260–$400 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

• Studio suites: Approximately $400–$550 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

Grand Hyatt

12, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

Overview

• Location: Centrally located near the Petronas Towers, and next to KLCC Park.

• Rooms: Spacious rooms, premium amenities and floor to ceiling windows with amazing views.

• Dining: Exceptional food at THIRTY8 (international cuisine) and JP teres (Malaysian cuisine).

• Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool, 24 hour fitness centre and fantastic spa.

• Design: Modern, sophisticated high end design.

• Service: Very helpful, friendly and professional staff.

The Grand Hyatt, in my opinion, is probably in the best location out of all the hotels mentioned in this list. Is very central, meaning most of the main attractions are within walking distance. Rooms are very clean and bright, with great city views. The hotel lobby is very grand, and you can tell you're in an upscale hotel as soon as you walk in. I had one meal at THIRTY8 restaurant, which I have to say was just okay, but the views you get are absolutely stunning. It is quite a popular restaurant, particularly at weekends, so would recommend booking in advance.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $200–$330 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

• Grand Suites: Approximately $450–$650 per night (rates can vary depending on season)

Four Seasons

145, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur,

Overview

• Location: Located in KLCC, near the Petronas Towers and Suria KLCC Mall.

• Rooms: Spacious and elegantly furnished rooms, with high end amenities and views of the city.

• Dining: Fine dining options, including Yun House (Cantonese) and Curate (all-day dining).

• Facilities: Outdoor pool, award winning spa and modern fitness centre.

• Design: Very grand and sophisticated design.

• Service: Extremely attentive and professional staff.

The Four Seasons truly is a luxury 5 star hotel, as you would expect, everything about the hotel is high end and the facilities are fantastic. Great location near the Petronas Towers and KLCC Park. Rooms are very elegant, with high end furnishings and amenities. Staff are extremely helpful and very professional. Some rooms do have quite a steep price tag, but as it's a Four Seasons, this can be expected.

Price Range:

• Standard rooms: Approximately $260–$440 per night (rates can vary depending on season).

• Junior suites: Approximately $660–$820 per night (rates can vary depending on season).