Your ultimate guide to Kuala Lumpur

Discover the best Kuala Lumpur events, things to do, restaurants, music, film, art, theatre, nightlife and more…

10 things to do in KL this week
THINGS TO DO

10 things to do in KL this week

Looking for things to do? Read on for our guide to the week’s best events. If you manage to tick off all ten, head back to our homepage for daily updates on the best restaurants, events and whatever else KL has to offer before our next hot list is published on Monday.

Time Out KL Food & Drink Awards 2017
RESTAURANTS

Time Out KL Food & Drink Awards 2017

Presenting the shortlist for Kuala Lumpur’s biggest independent Food & Drink Awards

Mooncake flavours and gift boxes
RESTAURANTS

Mooncake flavours and gift boxes

Besides a host of traditional and creative new flavours to choose from, mooncake season also means the return of pretty (and functional!) mooncake boxes that you’ll want to salvage long after Mid-Autumn Festival is over. Here are the mooncake flavours and gift boxes that are available this year.

Best travel apps for families
KIDS

Best travel apps for families

Smartphone apps can save time and money while travelling. From getting hotels discounts to booking last-minute flights, there’s an app for everything! We’ve rounded up the best travel apps that’ll make holidays with the family that bit easier.

Best pubs for cover bands and mainstream hits in KL
MUSIC

Best pubs for cover bands and mainstream hits in KL

These pubs might not be the hippest places to be, but they offer a reliable and unpretentious night out with live music we could all sing along to.

What’s on this week in KL

Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix
THINGS TO DOBUY TICKETS

Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix

This 19th edition of the Formula 1 in Malaysia will be the last one in our country. So bring the kids to the final flag off and watch the best drivers in the world race at Sepang International Circuit for the last time. There will be a host of family-friendly activities leading up to the races as well, ensuring a great time for the family.

BUY TICKETS

Chester Bennington tribute show
MUSIC

Chester Bennington tribute show

In tribute to the late Chester Bennington, a host of local rock bands will be performing covers of the songs from Linkin Park. Some names you can look forward to hearing include Nervedeless, Daylight Descends, Lux Spectra and more.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown the Musical
KIDS

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown the Musical

Based on the classic ‘Peanuts’ comic strip series, this musical adaptation of ‘You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’ features a stellar cast of local performers. Expect to see beloved characters such as Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and more as they experience the ups and downs of childhood life and figure out the true meaning of happiness.

Mahavidya Dance Theatre presents Natya - through time
DANCE

Mahavidya Dance Theatre presents Natya – through time

In conjunction with Navarathri – the nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi – this dance performance by the Mahavidya Dance Theatre will bring to life the history of natya, spanning over a 2,500 year period.

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New restaurants and bars in KL

Beard Brothers' BBQ
RESTAURANTS

Beard Brothers’ BBQ

Beard Brothers has garnered a lot of hype over the internet recently and for good reason; they’re probably the only people in the country to take barbecue as seriously as they do. All their meats are smoked for about 14 hours with fire wood, guaranteeing an authentic Texas-style barbecue. We recommend coming early as they can sell out as quickly as two hours after they open. The beef brisket here is something that the founder, Nazri, had worked on for about six months before getting it right. That in itself makes the beef brisket worth trying. Apart from that, try the beef short ribs; the ribs are smoked so perfectly that the meat slides off the bone smoothly. But if you’re an insatiable carnivore, we recommend the Triple Threat Platter which consists of 100g of brisket, 100g of pulled lamb, short ribs and four side dishes.

Piu Piu Piu
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Piu Piu Piu

This minimalistic café is located on the second floor of The Zhongshan Building, right above OUR ArtProjects. One way to reach this eatery is to go through the Tintabudi bookstore and head out the back where you’ll be greeted by a mural drawn by Japanese chalk artist Chalkboy. The intimate space and alfresco area is filled with wooden decor and little knickknacks nonchalantly scattered around. The drinks are Piu Piu Piu’s calling card. Crowd-favourite Sour Lemon + is preserved lemons in a concoction of soda and shochu; sweet, sour and bitter all at once (there’s also a non-alcoholic version). For coffee, barista Unagi sources his beans from local roasters Aim Coffee and uses them in the café’s espresso, black and white coffee drinks. Pair that with the kaya butter walnut toastie made by home baker Queeny, who also bakes cakes on a rotation basis.

Drop Exchange
RESTAURANTS

Drop Exchange

Drop Exchange is a Wall Street-themed bar and restaurant that serves Persian and North Indian cuisine. Go figure. Oddly paired ideas aside, this place has plenty going for it, not least the prices of drinks and spirits that fluctuate on a stock exchange-like board (there’s even an app on the Apple App Store that helps you keep track of the prices). Drinks aren’t the only draw here, however, as co-owners Deepak Shettigar, Jyoti Mishra and Payal Gautam – who all hail from India – are determined to introduce KLites to true Indian cooking, using authentic recipes from Bombay chefs and their grandmother’s kitchens, as well as importing almost half the spices used in the dishes from India. You won’t go wrong by sticking with the Northern Indian dishes you know: the Rogan Josh has a richer and deeper flavour than what is served at other Kashmiri eateries; and the Chicken Chargrills (chicken marinated with cream cheese cooked over a charcoal tandoor) are tender little chicken bites. However, it’s the traditional spice-laden dishes and breads that stand out: the Cutlis, vegetarian cutlets made with green coconut chutney, captures the spirit of Parsi cuisine in one spicy green bite, and the rumali (which means ‘handkerchief’ in north India) bread is worth eating on its own – or to mop up the curries, chutneys and sauces clean off your plate.

The Rum Bar KL
BARS AND PUBS

The Rum Bar KL

With a centuries-long history that involves drunken sailors, sugar-cane labourers and uni students getting toasted on two-for-one daiquiri nights, rum has come to be regarded as little more than a party drink or mixing spirit.

Area guides

Bangsar
THINGS TO DO

Bangsar

Bangsar has gone through many phases – unobtrusive residential area, clubbing haven, arts and culture quarter, and now, café district. From the busy streets of Telawi to the more laidback Jalan Bangkung and Jalan Kemuja, we round up the best restaurants, bars, cafés and things to do in Bangsar.

Hartamas
THINGS TO DO

Hartamas

Populated by expatriates and upper middle class families, Hartamas is fancy – even its name says so (‘harta’, treasure; ‘mas’, gold). This isn’t saying that the area is inaccessible for us ‘mere mortals’ – in fact, it’s quite the opposite now. With many cafés and eateries opening up around the ‘hood, plenty of non-Hartamas residents flock here, and not just for the lineup of Japanese restaurants. By the way, we’re also including the best places to eat and visit in neighbouring areas Mont Kiara and Solaris Dutamas.  Fun fact: The area was the premise of a local TV show titled (surprise, surprise) ‘Hartamas’ starring Ida Nerina and Rashidi Ishak.

Damansara
THINGS TO DO

Damansara

The wide land that is Damansara has the privilege of being both KL and Selangor. It can be confusing – Bukit Damansara for example, is not exactly near the main Damansaras while Ara Damansara is somewhat Subang (and sometimes even Shah Alam). To make things easier for you, we’ve picked some of the best restaurants, cafés, bars and things to do in each Damansara area.

KL City
THINGS TO DO

KL City

Your cheat sheet to all the best restaurants, shops and things to do in the main areas of the city centre including Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and Pudu.

Damansara Utama
THINGS TO DO

Damansara Utama

Damansara Utama is home to Damansara Uptown, the land of hard-to-find parking spots and more cafés than you can shake a stick at. We say park in the new Starling Mall and walk about the area before you eventually step in to an eatery. Here are our picks of restaurants, cafés, shops and things to do in the area. PS: If your favourite spot isn’t featured here, let us know in the comments.

Sunway
THINGS TO DO

Sunway

Let’s not mask the fact that Sunway is an area dominated by students, which isn’t saying that it’s a bad thing. If you need help getting around the area, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is making things better. It’s fast – not a concept Malaysians are accustomed to hearing and practising. Let’s not also forget about Sunway Pyramid and Sunway Lagoon, where there are plenty of things to do. If you don’t have plans in Sunway, you do now.

The best of Kuala Lumpur

100 best local dishes and drinks in KL
RESTAURANTS

100 best local dishes and drinks in KL

We are a food city. One that caters to the food-obsessed; one that alternates between street and traditional dining, at any budget and time of the day. Here are the 100 best dishes and drinks that truly defines us, from the contentious nasi leamk to the humble roti canai. Loosen your belt – you’ve got much eating to do.

The best coffee shops in KL
RESTAURANTS

The best coffee shops in KL

KL’s coffee culture is an expanding landscape of imported beans, state-of-the-art machines, hip baristas, and silky smooth pours. Here are the best coffee shops in KL that call the shots.

Best banana leaf restaurants in KL
RESTAURANTS

Best banana leaf restaurants in KL

Tired of the usual suspects when it comes to banana leaf rice? We bury our fingers in rice and curry to track down some of Klang Valley’s lesser-known banana leaf restaurants, plus a few old favourites.

Best nasi lemak in KL
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Best nasi lemak in KL

We pick the best places in town for a satisfying plate of the country’s pride and joy – the mighty nasi lemak. Hunt down these nasi lemak joints for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even supper, because our national dish doesn’t restrict itself to a certain meal time – which is why we love it so much.

KL's best cafés for desserts
RESTAURANTS

KL’s best cafés for desserts

If your sweet tooth is what some would call ‘legendary’, we’ve picked out the best dessert cafés in town for cake, pastries and everything else to keep you happy.RECOMMENDED: The best coffee shops in KL

The best cheap eats in KL
RESTAURANTS

The best cheap eats in KL

Eating well doesn’t mean you have to pay more. We’ve got you covered for the best cheap meals under RM15 our city has to offer.

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