19 editor picks in Kuala Lumpur.
19 upscale places in Kuala Lumpur, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Kuala Lumpur: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Kuala Lumpur food.
Three X Co hides behind a barbershop in Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur, and was named Best Bar in Malaysia at No. 32 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026.
TipLook for the barbershop front inside the mall on Level 3; the bar door sits behind it, not behind a bar sign.
Penrose on Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, peaked at No. 8 on Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2024 before slipping to No. 64 on the 2026 extended list.
TipSeating is bar-counter only, so book ahead; the format is built around talking to the person pouring your drink.
Lai Po Heen serves classic Cantonese dim sum inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel, overlooking Kuala Lumpur's KLCC park from its Jalan Pinang dining room.
OrderDim sum at lunch, ordered a la carte rather than from a trolley.
TipBook the dim sum lunch sitting; the a la carte dinner menu skips the steamed baskets entirely.
Yun House is Michelin Selected in Kuala Lumpur for its pork-free Cantonese menu and dim sum, set inside the Four Seasons Hotel on Jalan Ampang.
OrderDim sum plus the Hong Kong-style roast duck, sold by the half or whole bird.
TipThe signature duck must be ordered in advance, so ask for it when you book; the whole menu is pork-free.
Bijan Bar & Restaurant has served refined Malay cooking on Jalan Ceylon in Kuala Lumpur since around 2003, in a room built on traditional Malay decor.
OrderRendang udang Nogori, prawns in a creamy coconut curry.
TipBookings can require a deposit; order the rendang udang and staff will shell the prawns for you if you ask.
Jie in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, serves two 10-course tasting menus of creative Chinese cooking built on Western technique by a chef of Chaozhou descent.
OrderTake a 10-course menu for the free-range chicken soup with almond milk, slow-cooked with serrano ham.
TipBook at least two days ahead by contacting the restaurant directly, since it handles its own reservations.
Li Yen is Michelin Selected in Kuala Lumpur for its Cantonese classics and Hong Kong-style dim sum, served inside the Ritz-Carlton on Jalan Imbi.
OrderHong Kong-style dim sum at lunch and Cantonese classics at dinner.
TipSunday brings an earlier dim sum sitting from 10:30; lunch on the other days starts at noon.
Oversea Restaurant has cooked Cantonese banquet food on Jalan Imbi in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, since the 1970s, and the group now runs several outlets.
OrderOrder the steamed grouper with superior soy sauce and the braised goose webs.
TipBook ahead for dinner, the Jalan Imbi flagship gets busy with regulars from the surrounding offices.
The Brasserie at the St Regis in KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, lays on a Sunday brunch of a seafood tower, an egg station and a roving carving trolley.
OrderOrder the DIY caviar pancakes and a plate from the seafood display.
TipThe alcohol pairing tier adds cocktails and wine on top of the base seafood and carving menu.
Oversea Restaurant has run its Cantonese seafood banquets on Jalan Imbi in Kuala Lumpur since the 1970s, and the group now runs several outlets.
OrderSteamed grouper in superior soy and braised goose webs with mushrooms.
TipBook a round table for four or more; the seafood and roast meats are portioned for sharing, not solo plates.
Fuego at Troika Sky Dining grills South American plates over open flame on the 23rd floor of The Troika in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, facing the city skyline.
OrderCharcoal-grilled meats straight off the open-flame South American grill.
TipSmart casual dress applies at the door, and the grill room serves from 18:00 to midnight every day.
Ra-Ft Coffee Roasters runs its Binjai 8 cafe near KLCC in Kuala Lumpur on Arabica green beans roasted personally by its own Italian founder.
TipDinner runs Thursday to Sunday as Osteria Night with pasta and Roman-style pizza, so come in the morning for the coffee side.
SkyBar on Level 33 of Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, faces the Petronas Twin Towers directly and remains one of the city's best-known rooftop rooms.
TipArrive before sunset to get a rail-side table facing the towers; the deck fills up fast once the lights come on.
Brasa in Plaza Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, runs a charcoal grill and wine bar together, matching its bottle list to whatever protein is over the fire.
TipKitchen last call is 21:45, so arrive by early evening if you want the full charcoal grill menu with your wine.
Maria's SteakCafe grills beef dry-aged in its own ageing fridge at its Jalan Maarof branch in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, which has been open here since 2014.
OrderA dry-aged steak from the kitchen's own ageing fridge.
TipThe group is a registered Kobe beef store, so ask whether Kobe cuts are on at this branch before you order.
Thirty8 runs live show kitchens across Western, Chinese and Japanese counters on the 38th floor of the Grand Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur, with a KLCC view.
OrderThe dinner spread across Western, Chinese and Japanese show-kitchen counters.
TipWindow tables facing the Twin Towers are requested often and cannot be guaranteed, so ask when you book and arrive on time.
PAUL Bakery runs a French bakery and restaurant on Level 2 of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on Jalan Bukit Bintang, baking croissants, eclairs and fruit tarts.
TipThe mall counter gets crowded after 6pm; the fruit tarts and eclairs are baked earlier in the day.
@21 Rooftop Bar on the 21st floor of Hyatt Centric in Kuala Lumpur pours craft cocktails with a straight-on view of the Petronas Twin Towers.
TipThe kitchen keeps to five quesadillas, from larb gai to beef rendang; pair one with the Senorita Sting tequila cocktail.
Thirty8 runs a themed brunch once a month on the Grand Hyatt's 38th floor in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, from 12:30, each edition built on a new menu and theme.
OrderWhatever the month's edition centres on; October 2026 is the Pinktober brunch.
TipEach edition is a single date, so check the Thirty8 booking page for the next brunch before planning around it.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Immerse yourself in Malaysian culture with a cooking class in a local home. Visit a market, learn to cook classic dishes, and enjoy the meal you've prepared with your host.
5 hours
Explore a bustling morning market and discover the secrets of Malaysian cuisine. Cook a three-course meal in a local chef’s home and enjoy a shared lunch.
Private tour · 12 hours
Explore Taman Negara, one of the world’s oldest rainforests, with jungle walks, river activities, and nature experiences on a full-day adventure.