Travel Guide to Nightlife at Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

This travel guide will show you some of the hotspots in and around Kuala Lumpur’s main city center. Bukit Bintang and Changkat Bukit bintang form part of the Malaysian top party scene.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur a modern metropolitan city in Asia offers an abundance of nightlife. We will restrict ourselves to the core of the Bukit Bintang, center of K.L.. Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur is in one word abundant. Good food, haute cuisine, lively music, dancing or just plain pubs and chill out lounges, it can all be found in the vibrant city center of Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang the area bordering the nearly two kilometer long jalan Bukit Bintang forms part of the vibrant heart of Kuala Lumpur. Let’s take a tour around the Bukit Bintang area at night time.

Changkat Raja Chulan

If you are looking for dinner and a great neighborhood to begin your party, Changkat is the place to be. Just off Jalan Bukit Bintang close to BB Plaza, Changkat Raja Chulan can be found; important landmark would be The Radius International Hotel cornering Changkat Bukit Bintang. It’s a great place to start your evening, the various clubs, bars and restaurants offer a variety of styles and niches. Both Western and Eastern styles can be found and prices are fair to moderate. The Middle Eastern countries start to have a huge influence on the gastronomic industry in this part of the city. Italian, Spanish, Japanese, German, Moroccan, Lebanese and plain old Fish and Chips to name a few can be found among the favorites in this area. Werner’s Porkielicious Elcerdo, Tapas at Pinchoa, Pizza at CioCio, Grill at Pampas, Indian Curries at Sutraa; your taste buds will not get bored while visiting The Changkat.

The clubs are also found in abundance and attract a large expatriate crowd as well as lots of holiday makers, business travelers and local party people. The Envie Pub, The Social and Finnegan’s Irish Pub supply the more contemporary public, It’s Twenty One where trendy sounds, can be heard. Gypsy Bar and The Green Man take you back to the seventies and eighties and Frangipani caters for gay community.

In short this little row of establishments is upgrading, expanding and attractive, it welcomes you Monday to Sunday from after work till late..

You do not have to leave this stretch to find yourself well In the middle of the night before the last club closes.

Jalan Bukit Bintang

When you leave Changkat Bukit Bintang and take a little stroll along Jalan Bukit Bintang in the far distance you can hear the sounds of drumming Latin beats, passing The Opera and Cligue, walking towards The Pavilion Shopping Mall turn right at and you find Q-Ba where hot and temperamental Latin beats make you move, if you want it or not. The large bar and small dance floor offer a great ambiance and hours of hip-shaking enjoyment.

At the Star Hill gallery, which is by far the most exclusive shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, on the second floor at the entrance we find Star Hill Club M, which maintains its status of most exclusive club in the whole of K.L. When you exit and cross the road toward The Pavilion Shopping Mall, more fine dining and lounges can be found. La Bodega serves wine and tapas, Athena, offers a wide variety of Greek dishes, Michelangelo’s restaurant deli and bar provide Italian fine cuisine, at Carlos Mexican Cantina you can indulge in Mexican styled platters.

Pavilion Shopping Mall also hosts one of the largest cinema’s in town.

Just outside the mall the 6 star Grand Millenium Hotel is located, within it’s premises the Bistro 160 and Pulse Ultra Club can be found.

Outside of the city center there are many areas, where the same quality of nightlife can be found, KLCC, Ampang, Bangsar, Sri Hartamas, Sunway Pyramid just to name a few.

Kuala Lumpur, not a wild party scene, but a relaxing fine, sophisticated and safe party city.

Travel Guide for Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Public Transport

This guide helps the traveler with the next step when arriving in Malaysia's KLIA or LCCT Airport; explaining tourists about the transport options.

When visiting Kuala Lumpur for the first time, traffic might feel chaotic at first, however a traveler will soon feel at home and get a good feel for Kuala Lumpur’s transportation systems.

Kuala Lumpur offers many alternative transport options. Bus, monorail, train and taxi are all fast and safe. Traveling this way also gives more pleasure, enjoyment and the best views of this magnificent city.

Kuala Lumpur by Air

Most people will travel to Malaysia by air, either arriving at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) both located 60 kilometers South of the city center or Subang Airport (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport) 20 kilometers West of the city center.

From KLIA and LCCT there is a variety of transport options to make it to the city, busses, taxis and the KLIA Express; all take less than one hour to Kuala Lumpur City and the major Kuala Lumpur hotels. From Subang Airport the only option is by road, taxi is the fastest means of transportation and takes about 30 minutes to the booming heart of KL.

Busses Crowded But Fun to Do

Busses are a great way to travel, crowded but cheap in the city center. RM1 or RM2 bus ticket lasts all day. When traveling outside of Kuala Lumpur the bus is the best option. Inexpensive transport travels to any destination within the Peninsular. Buses leave from various bus stations in the city; KL Main Bus station Puduraya at Jalan Pudu, Putra Bus Terminal at Jalan Putra, Duta Bus Terminal at Jalan Duta and Pekeliling Bus Terminal near Titiwangsa. Most operators offer standard or luxury options. With the local bus operators any destination can be reached, Genting, Penang, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru and all other major cities including Singapore.

Driving a Car in Kuala Lumpur

Driving in KL can be disorientating as highways are not built like other major cities. Road users apply their own set of rules, drive carefully is the best advice. Major car rental dealer can be found at all airports.

Kuala Lumpur’s Unique Monorail System

KL Monorail is a perfect intra-city public transit system. KL Monorail operates from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa over a distance of nearly 9 kilometers. With its 11 stations stopping at major destinations in the city it is the most ideal form of transport. Over rush hour it might be a bit crowded.

Motorbike Not an Ideal Way of Transport

Thousands and thousands of small motorbikes swarm the city. Unless there is no other option renting a motorbike within the city is possible. Owners of cars have no respect for motorbikes.

Taxi Come In Many Colors And Sizes

Yellow cabs, abundant and relatively cheap can be found everywhere in Kuala Lumpur. Two main systems exist, vouchers and general pick-up. Vouchers can be bought at major taxi stands around the city. There is a set price from point of departure to any destination. Taxis should use the meter which should start at RM3 (US$0.90). When a taxi does not drive on the meter, find another one; or agree on a price. After midnight there are no rules.

Local Trains

This is where KL traffic really gets interesting. Five different train companies operate within the Klang Valley. They do not always inter-connect at the same location; hopping from one train to the next might take as much as a 500 meter walk. Monorail, Putra, Star, KLIA express, Komuter KTM are all reliable services and a great means of transport, cheap and pretty efficient.

National Trains Services

KL Sentral train station offers trains to serve the south all the way to Singapore, and the north to Kedah and Kelantan even crossing into Thailand and on to Bangkok. Trains are a magical means of transport; a variety of landscapes passes by while the traveler sits back and relaxes.

Walking The Streets of Kuala Lumpur

Car drivers, taxis, motorbikes and busses offer no respect to pedestrians, our best tip can only be, be careful and stay on the pavement.

Traffic Jams Bring Mayhem to The City

Kuala Lumpur is notorious for its early morning and after work traffic jams, try to avoid these hours as a tourist.

Road Signage Not Clear and Bold

Signage in Malaysia is not always as one may expect, Asian street signs have often no hard rules, bold and clear directions are hard to get. Owning a map is a must for every tourist. Not all signage is in English.

Traveling in Malaysia can be a small adventure. But traveling in and around Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is a true pleasure.

Religious Architecture Around Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Malaysia a culture build on religion, and a show case for other nations as religions live here in abundance next to each other.

Kuala Lumpur the fast beating heart of the Malaysia Peninsular and offers a wide variety of religious sites to be visited. Historical site seeing or religious architecture, art galleries and museums, KL, as the locals will refer to it, will tickle your senses.

Since the different nationalities and ethnic minorities descended on Kuala Lumpur since the 1800’s they brought diverse cultures and religions, Malaysia welcomed them with open arms, and let outsiders express themselves in relative freedom.

The Islamic Architecture in Kuala Lumpur

The Islam is the official religion of the country, and that needs to be respected, as politics and religion are not separated in this country. Religion plays a very important part of the daily life in Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur in particular. Be aware of the local rules and regulations, shoes are not allowed inside most mosques and temples. Travelers can freely visit any house of worship; people will be inviting, friendly and ready to explain any questions.

Many Islamic architectural sites are found all around the city; sightseers are welcomed to visit any mosque. Muslims are welcoming and feel proud to show you their house of wisdom and peace. When visiting any mosque you will feel the serenity and stillness, the huge wide open spaces provide for ample free flowing breezes, which create a perfect atmosphere. The mosques provide more to the community than only a house for prayers and worship. Visiting the Friday early afternoon prayers can be quite a spectacle. The national mosque and Jamek mosque close to Merdeka Square are definitely must visit sites while in Kuala Lumpur. People flock from all over the city to participate in one of Islamic pillars, Friday prayer (Solat Jumaat). At the Jamek Mosque it can be so crowded that people find a little space outside the mosque to lay their prayer mats and perform their Solat.

Merdeka Square is the ideal starting point to find your way around the city and visit the many Moorish styled buildings, But KL offers more, and the other ethnic groups brought fantastic architecture too.

Buddhist and Taoist Temples in Kuala Lumpur

The Chinese community is almost half of the Malaysian population and many larger and smaller temples can be found scattered about the city. The Chinese believes split in two main streams Taoism and Buddhism. The Taoist temples and Buddhist temples are very much alike. Most temples will have large festivals throughout the year, which are spectacular to view, information and times can be obtained from the temple complex. The Sin Sze Sin Ya Temple is in walking distance from Merdeka Square close to China town at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.

Hindi Temples in Kuala Lumpur

The large Indian community brought along their colorful Hindu temples. Places of worship, where prayers inside and outside the temples can be heard all day long. Main attraction would be the largest temple complex in the KL area Batu Caves 15 kilometers north of the city centre.

Christian Churches in kuala Lumpur

Christianity is a large religion in Malaysia too. A large part of the Chinese community are Christians and many foreign workers are too A wide variety of churches can be found all over the city. Some newly build, and some newly restored. Cathedral of St John close to Bukit Nanas is worth recommending.

No matter which religion one practices, any temple, mosque or church will invite you with open arms in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.