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The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur hotel review! Malaysia hipster districts & shops, SS15 Subang Jaya, cassette culture.

cassette store day hipsters

Current obsessions: Cassette tapes, holographic bags, fishnets and unicorn hair!

This summer, I finally got a chance to visit Kuala Lumpur with Yukiro. Malaysia’s capital is not known as a subcultures destination… but you can depend on us to dig up some indie places. Keep reading for our guide to hipster / youth culture neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur!

KL is a city of opulence, and we were excited to stay in style at The Ritz-Carlton hotel…

ritz carlton vip club lounge

I think this photo sums up the feeling of “The Ritz,” which is consistently named one of the world’s best luxury hotel companies. No matter where you are, you can rely on exquisite furnishings and personalized attention from the staff. (You might recall my stay with The Ritz-Carlton Bali, in 2015.)

ritz carlton lion chocolates, cupcakes

The hospitality began at the airport, where Yukiro and I were met by a private driver with a sign. When we arrived at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, the staff was waiting at the door to greet us by name, and take us to our suite.

My jaw dropped when I saw these sweets on the dining table. The Ritz-Carlton truly went above and beyond: the staff researched our aesthetic, and customized pastries to welcome us! Devil horn cupcakes, black and pink macaroons, dark chocolates… they nailed it.

ritz carlton malaysia suite

It’s these small touches that make the brand stand out. Yukiro and I quickly posed for this photo before devouring the raspberry and blackberry macaroons.

kl tower kuala lumpur sunset view

The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur is located right in the city center, near all the major landmarks. Our two-bedroom suite had this view of KL Tower and surrounding skyscrapers, which took on a Blade Runner vibe at sunset.

Address: 168, Jalan Imbi, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ritz-carlton kuala lumpur luxury suite

We couldn’t believe the size of our luxury suite. 1,885 square feet with two bedrooms, a spacious living / dining room, full kitchen, and more bathrooms than we could count (we kept on opening doors and discovering more!). The space is decorated with elegance, and equipped with the latest technology to satisfy both business and leisure travelers.

(Find out more and book a room at the Ritz-Carlton KL here.)

spiral uk sequin fanny pack

Outfit of the day: I’m in a 80s retrowave mood, and couldn’t resist this glitter fanny pack by Spiral UK. I haven’t worn a belted retro-style pouch since my visit to Disney World in the early 1990s!

spiral uk money belt purse

My crop top is this exact Michi Onyx bra. More designs from this label below:

two bedroom suite ritz carlton hotel

Yukiro and I had fun strutting down this long hallway, which opened into the living room like a catwalk.

No need to be a water-bearer: the Ritz-Carlton has 24 hour in-room dining, laundry and valet. Since we were staying in this luxurious suite, we also had butler service at our beck and call.

ritz carlton kl pool

The Ritz-Carlton’s pools and gardens are always beautifully designed. Love the stepping-stones over the swimming pool, and tropical foliage. 

spa ritz carlton kuala lumpur

Not a bad place to lounge, wouldn’t you say?

kuala lumpur luxury pool hotel

The terrace feels like a secluded garden, even though the hotel is located in the bustling “Golden Triangle” district. It’s an easy walk to nearby shopping malls, as well as the entertainment / restaurant hub of Bukit Bintang. 

ritz-carlton ballroom malaysia

We wandered through The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur’s meeting / conference / event rooms…

art design luxury hotels kuala lumpur

… and leapt for joy when we saw this futuristic art space. 

5 star boutique hotel kl malaysia

We loved chatting with our outstanding guest services liaison, Stefano. We asked him about alternative culture in Kuala Lumpur, and he passionately recommended that we visit SS15, a hip district in Subang Jaya. He snapped this photo of us, helped us call an Uber, and we were on our way.

teenage head records kuala lumpur

I came across an article about Teenage Head Records online, and decided this should be our first stop. Located in SS14, this fabulous record store is family-owned and run. The posters on the doors featured grunge, punk, indie and underground bands… all signs point to Yes.

asia cassette store day retro

As you can see from the DIY signs, the music shop celebrates “Cassette Store Day.” Every October 17, fans gather and pay tribute to the analog format that defined the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

(I have plenty of room in my holographic backpack to hold cassette tapes and a Walkman. This Spiral UK bag is also available in rainbow sequin, black glitter, and other scintillating colors.)

kuala lumpur record store music shop

Inside, it felt like a party. Co-owner Radzi greeted us like friends, and joked that “Sigue Sigue Sputnik has arrived!” His young daughter hung out on the couch, engrossed with solving a Rubik’s Cube.

cassette store day logo sign

The staff is passionate about music, especially obscure bands and nostalgic formats. I was excited to run my fingers through several boxes of cassettes, featuring both regional and international artists. There are even cassette decks for sale, in case you’ve decluttered your old Sanyo or Teac player.

kuala lumpur alternative subculture underground

If you prefer to listen to vinyl, Teenage Head Records has got you covered. I spot Bowie, Queen and Tupac — there’s a wide selection of musical genres here.

depeche mode 80s cassettes

I’m in throwback mode to the 1980s and 90s these days, perhaps due to the dreadful world affairs right now (in comparison, these decades seem like a golden age). It’s fun to rewind a cassette and blast synthpop, and pretend you’ve night-riding through Miami in 1987.

I was excited to turn up Depeche Mode’s Black Celebration, perhaps my favorite DM album. It was a must-get, and only about $2 US. (Remember when I visited the Depeche Mode theme bar in Tallinn, Estonia?)

malaysia hipsters, weird strange

Kuala Lumpur is a conservative city compared to other Asian metropolises – but we can always find pockets of alt culture!

spiral uk holographic metallic backpack

Take a ride to Teenage Head Records, and maybe you’ll pick up a cassette or two as well. (I got this Malaysian mix of Italo Disco songs, win.)

eyeballs larme kei pastel skirt

Another day, another outfit. My seeing-eye skirt is by Print All Over Me. Anyone can customize a “template” such as this miniskirt, and create their own designs printed to order! PAOM also collaborates with fab artists, so there are thousands of designs you can choose from.

It matches my Spiral UK iridescent backpack – love the unicorn mermaid metallic look, which shifts and shines under the sun. This backpack is lightweight but sturdy, and comes in various finishes including rainbow sequins, black glitter and more below.

long clothing tshirt, rainbow iridescent backpack

My geometric Ouija board cropped top is by Long Clothing.

ss15 kuala lumpur hipster area

Malaysia is a Muslim country, and the culture veers on the conservative side. In Kuala Lumpur, you won’t find a crazy youth culture hub like Harajuku in Tokyo, Hongdae in Seoul, or even Causeway Bay in Hong Kong.

Subang Jaya’s SS15 district would be the closest it comes to a neighborhood like this. There are several colleges in this area, and students come to this entertainment / shopping hub to hang out.

cosans coffee shop kl

Cosans Coffee is a popular meeting spot in SS15. The drinks and snacks are excellent (and inexpensive).

If you’re in the mood for a drink or Malaysian food, there are plenty of choices in this area. And if you’re looking for something to do, we spotted pool centers and even a virtual reality gaming lounge.

lejen youth bookstore malaysia

We popped into the small stores found in SS15. Loved the mission of I Am Lejen, a bookstore that encourage youths to read and be part of their community. The cute lion logo sums up the mission of empowerment.

kuala lumpur youth culture stores

Lejen publishes paperbacks by emerging local authors, in small runs. The books are in both Malay and English, and always have eye-catching graphic covers.

street art graffiti kuala lumpur

The street art on the staircase was calling out for a photoshoot. Upstairs, I Am Lejen has a vape shop, and a boutique that sells clothes with positive messages.

ss15 Subang Jaya hipsters neighborhood

Horror, cassettes and videotape… these are my type of paperbacks,

kuala lumpur gay clubs lgbt

Lejen also carries works from local independent presses. We encourage you to swing by to give them some support.

november culture yuna zarai store

Many women in Kuala Lumpur wear headscarves or more (I counted nine burkas in my customs line at the airport). Even if you cover up, you can dress fabulously at November Culture, an independent lifestyle store in SS15.

The shop is founded by Malaysian singer Yuna Zarai, and carries her brand 14Nov as well as others. We were impressed by the scarves and long dresses and jumpsuits. The garments covered up limbs and hair, but had creative cuts, colors and sparkling sequins.

malaysia muslim fashion models

When fashion has restrictions, it often encourages creativity. Check out these Malay magazine covers: the women cover up their heads and bodies, yet rock a fierce pastel style.

inside petronas towers architecture

Before returning, we made an visit to the famous Petronas Twin Towers, conveniently located within walking distance from our hotel. These were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004.

petronas twin towers klcc

The Petronas towers were designed by Argentinian architect Cesar Pelli. The style is postmodern steel and glass, and makes tributes to Islamic art motifs and Asian culture (there are 88 floors, a lucky number).

ritz-carlton chef restaurants malaysia

It was hot outside.. after a day of exploring, we were relieved to relax back at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur. 

We were regulars at the Club Lounge, which is open to VIP guests. (How could we resist the food and drinks at all hours?) Nay Tun and his team spoiled us with fine wines and freshly prepared dishes, such as Malaysian noodles.

cute cakes Kuala Lumpur

KL is a foodie city, and The Ritz-Carlton delivers with multiple dining options. The Patisserie serves up both freshly-baked sweets and savories. How cute is the teddy bear red velvet cake above?

kuala lumpur afternoon tea ritz

In the Lobby Lounge, we enjoyed a leisurely Afternoon Tea. The experience was pure “eleganza” – Yukiro and I sank down into plush high-backed chairs, and drank from a perfectly steeped pot of The Ritz-Carlton’s signature tea blend. Our server brought over a three-tiered tray of fresh scones with clotted cream, mini sandwiches, quiches and desserts. We indulged in these treats while listening to a live music quartet play jazz favorites.

library fine dining ritz carlton

Dinner at The Library was equally delightful. I’m a book-lover, and felt at home amidst these colorful shelves filled with volumes about film and art. The cuisine is international fine dining, featuring a daily Menu Du Jour paired with fine wines from around the world.

kuala lumpur fancy restaurants

The deep red wines were a perfect match for our tender steak and salmon. For dessert, our server brought over a rolling cart of in-house sweets; we had a hard time choosing only these three.

spa ritz carlton kl malaysia

To top off the pampering, I visited The Ritz-Carlton spa — talk about “serenity now!” This spa integrates contemporary with ancient Malaysian healing practices, using herbs and oils from the region. The spa menu includes unique offerings such as a “sound bath” and hot stone massages. I went for a treatment named after the Malay princess Tun Teja: a long massage and body scrub, followed by a soak in a giant round tub of milky water topped with rose petals. 

ritz-carlton kl hotel

Every time I’m at The Ritz-Carlton, I know I can expect a world-class stay like the one I had in Malaysia. The staff works hard and graciously to make every guest’s experience unforgettable. I was especially impressed by the attention to detail: they always greeted us by name, and knew our quirks and interests by heart.

devil horn cupcakes goth baking

Such as the devil horn red/black cupcakes that they made for us… perfection! Yukiro and I are also both Leos (born in August), and the Ritz’s lion logo felt like our spirit animal.

kuala lumpur ritz carlton review

Thanks to The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur and lovely staff, for this memorable stay. (Book a room here, and learn more about the hotel.)

Have you been to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia? Did you find any other hip / underground culture attractions in KL, which you can recommend?

SHARE & COMMENT

18 Comments

  1. Eline
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 7:30 am | Permalink

    Those macaroons and cupcakes are to die for!!

  2. VVivi
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 7:31 am | Permalink

    Oh you’re in Kuala Lumpur! I wish I could meet you -.-

    • lacarmina
      Posted August 15, 2017 at 6:42 pm | Permalink

      Aww! We were only here briefly, but glad we were able to finally come.

  3. Mark Dwyane
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 7:32 am | Permalink

    Where in the world have you not been LC? Hello from Australia, Mark.

  4. yukiro
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 12:30 pm | Permalink

    Fabulous hotel, suited for Queenery!

  5. lacarmina
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    they’re superb! Wish I could be there for Cassette Store Day.

  6. TH
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    Awesome! Hope to see you again.

    Regards

  7. Jay
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    That’s so cool !!

  8. Lejen
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 6:45 pm | Permalink

    Thank you so much for the article!

  9. Amanda May
    Posted August 15, 2017 at 6:59 pm | Permalink

    Looks amazing, Ritz Carlton!!

  10. Hetty's Blog
    Posted August 17, 2017 at 11:56 pm | Permalink

    Beautiful and im into cassettes toooo

  11. lacarmina
    Posted August 20, 2017 at 6:38 am | Permalink

    It’s a dream hotel for sure.

  12. Dirk
    Posted August 23, 2017 at 5:49 am | Permalink

    Ohh nice

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