Kuala Lumpur in 3 days

Kuala Lumpur in 3 days

Anne Chua
I've lived in KL for 4 years previously, and KL remains one of my favourite places to visit for its food and culture. Here is a short 3-day guide in Kuala Lumpur with some of my favourite restaurants for you to choose from (with some extra suggestions that I could not cover in 3 days). I hope you enjoy this guide. Any tips would be appreciated 😊
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General advice:

Transport: Download Grab (equivalent of Uber / Lyft) to use in Malaysia 

Airport Transfer: From the airport, you can either get a Grab, Taxi, or pre-book a car through travel sites such as Klook. Be cautious if you do take a local taxi that they charge you by a running meter. You can also get the KLIA Ekspres from the airport, though prices for a car may be around the same. 

Hotel: Choose a hotel in city centre if possible as it would be more convenient to walk around rather than trying to get a Grab / public transport especially if it rains. KL traffic is notoriously bad during peak hours / bad weather.

Weather: Be prepared for flash floods and heavy rain

Money: Be sure to carry around some cash for some local roadside stalls / mamak stalls, though most places do accept card / contactless

Day 1

Morning

Petronas Towers
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Take a tour up the Petronas towers
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KLCC Park
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Take a walk through the KLCC Park (but be prepared for scorching weather)
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Lunch options at KLCC

Little Penang Kafé - KLCC
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My favourite Penang Char Kway Tiao and Prawn Mee in KL. If you want a taste of Penang but haven't been there, this is the perfect place to try it out! Lots of other local delicacies at this popular cafe.
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Ben's by The BIG Group (Suria KLCC)
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A popular restaurant to both locals and foreigners, Ben's has always been an affordable restaurant with both local and western cuisines and with a nice view overlooking the KLCC park
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Madam Kwan's Suria KLCC
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A well-known establishment in Malaysia, Madam Kwan is known for their local delicacies, including their char kway tiao and nasi lemak!
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Suria KLCC
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Shop at Suria KLCC, you can also visit the science museum and aquarium
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Walk from KLCC to Pavilion via the overhead bridge walkway

KLCC - Bukit Bintang Walkway
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The most crucial of all is this shaded overhead walkway that connects KLCC to Pavilion - is a true lifesaver in the Malaysian heat!
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Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
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Another large mall in the heart of KL
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Dinner 

Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 at Pavilion KL
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A famous Taiwanese xiao long bao restaurant (one of my favourites in Taiwan!)
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Grandmama's (Pavilion KL)
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Another local restaurant similar to Madam Kwan's with local Malaysian food
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Red Box Plus Pavilion
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Karaoke in KL is always worth it!
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Drinks

Changkat Bukit Bintang
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A famous street of bars and clubs
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The Rabbit Hole
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A nice ambience bar / cafe at the end of Changkat Bukit Bintang (even has a small swimming pool within)
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Jalan Alor Food Street
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End the night with some great street food at Jalan Alor
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Day 2

Lot 10 Hutong Food Court
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Has the famous black fried hokkien mee and penang char kway tiao, in a food court setting
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Berjaya Times Square
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Another mall with cheaper items and a theme park inside
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Mid Valley Megamall
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A large mall with many shops and restaurant choices also
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The Gardens Mall
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Linked to Midvalley, a more up-market mall next to it
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Nyonya Colors The Gardens Mall
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A small cafe selling local Malaysian delicacies including pastries (kuehs) and my favourite Mee Siam with curry
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Bangsar Shopping Centre
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A bit further out from town and nearer to Midvalley, another mall if you wish to visit.
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Afternoon

Base Camp KL
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A new area with lots of unique workspaces / cafes with new restaurants and bars
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Dinner / Drinks

Oversea Imbi Restaurant
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Famous for their meats (char siu, siu yok) and seafood dishes
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Kwai Chai Hong 鬼仔巷
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Picture worthy lane in Chinatown
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Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
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The Attic Bar
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Concubine KL
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Day 3

Morning/Lunch

Village Park Restaurant
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Best Nasi Lemak in KL (a bit far out but worth the drive - the fried chicken is chef's kiss)
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Jojo Little Kitchen @ Desa Sri Hartamas
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One of the famous KL Chili panmee stores
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NASI KANDAR BESTARI @ SRI HARTAMAS
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Any trip to Malaysia is not complete without the mamak experience, be sure to try out all the different types of roti's and my favourite indomie
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Nasi Kandar Pelita
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Another chain of Mamak stores
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Publika Shopping Gallery
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Another shopping area with lots of food choices, cafes, and bars
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Uncle Jang Dakgalbi
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The best Korean food - Dakgalbi in KL
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Rooftop Bars

WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur
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W Hotel's bar with the view of the KL twin towers, be sure to book early and note there is a minimum spend on Fri/weekend evenings.
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Canopy Lounge Rooftop Bar KL
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Another popular rooftop bar
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Helipad
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Bar literally on a helipad with views of the nearby skyscrapers
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Marinis 57 Bar
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A famous restaurant and bar on the 57th floor with views of the KL skyline
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THIRTY8 Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
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Restaurant and bar on 38th floor of Hyatt with views of the KL skyline
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Roofino Skydining
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Another rooftop bar / restaurant with an outdoor terrace for pictures and views of the KL Skyline
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SkyBar
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Skybar at the top of Trader's hotel
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Other attractions

Batu Caves
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A 30min drive out of KL city centre to the Batu Caves
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Sunway Lagoon
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A large waterpark / themepark in KL
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Sunway Pyramid
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Another large mall near Sunway Lagoon
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Other Food

Restaurant Kin Kin
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Another famous Chili Pan Mee place
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Restoran Super Kitchen Chilly Pan Mee 辣椒板面
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Another famous chain of chili pan mee
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Fuego at Troika Sky Dining
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Rooftop restaurants at Troika (condo) with nice views of the city
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Chua
I’m a doctor who loves food and travel. I was born in Singapore but grew up in Taipei, Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur. I have since lived in London/Southampton for 7.5 years. My guides will mainly be focused on food and attractions!
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