Shopping in Kuala Lumpur
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Jalan Petaling
The commercial heart of Chinatown is one of the most colourful and busiest shopping parades in KL, particularly at night when stalls cram the covered street. It offers everything from fresh fruit and cheap clothes and shoes to copies of brand-name watches and handbags, and pirated CDs and DVDs. Be prepared to bargain hard.
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Pudu Market
Arrive early to experience KL’s largest wet (produce) market at its most frantic. Here you can get every imaginable type of fruit, vegetable, fish and meat – from the foot of a chicken slaughtered and butchered on the spot to a stingray fillet or a pig’s penis. Attached is Pusat Makanan Peng Hwa, an old-fashioned 24-hour food court where you can join locals and market traders wolfing down rice porridge, noodle soup or chicken rice (all under RM10).
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Ayurvedium
KL's spas draw on traditional therapies from India, China and Southeast Asia, reflecting the diverse ethnic groups who inhabit the city - a perfect way to unwind after a cramped flight or the train ride from Thailand or Singapore. The best place to start your quest for indulgence is the swish Starhill Gallery on Jln Bukit Bintang. The 'Pamper' floor is dedicated to exclusive spa and beauty treatments: Ayurvedium specialises in traditional Indian herbal treatments.
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Escentials
KL's spas draw on traditional therapies from India, China and Southeast Asia, reflecting the diverse ethnic groups who inhabit the city - a perfect way to unwind after a cramped flight or the train ride from Thailand or Singapore. The best place to start your quest for indulgence is the swish Starhill Gallery on Jln Bukit Bintang. The 'Pamper' floor is dedicated to exclusive spa and beauty treatments: Escentials specialises in facial treatments.
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Royal Selangor Pewter Factory
Located 8km northeast of the city centre is Malaysia’s leading manufacturer of pewter. As well as traditional tankards and the like, it has commissioned modern designers to produce some very appealing gifts. For RM50 you can try your own hand at creating a pewter dish. Take the LRT to Wangsa Maju station and then a taxi (RM3). Alternatively, visit its main outlet ([tel] 3182 0240) on level one of Suria Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
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Mid Valley Megamall
This colossal complex, next to KL Komuter Mid Valley station, is indeed mega and probably the best one-stop shopping, dining and entertainment experience in KL. In a separate building you’ll find the Gardens Mall, a more luxe environment embracing designer international brands as well as a hotel and serviced apartments. On level 2, check out local designers at 2201 Fashion Avenue and KN Key Ng (www.keyng.com.my).
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Chow Kit Market
It’s sensory overload at this lively market, where tightly jammed stalls sell clothes, toys, buckets, stationary, noodles, spices, fresh meat and live, flapping fish, as well as a staggering array of weird and wonderful tropical fruit. Shops in the lanes around the market, particularly Jln Haji Hussein, specialise in made-to-order songkok, the traditional Malay-style fez.
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Jln Bukit Bintang
A road packed with Chinese massage and reflexology centres if the top-end spas seem out of reach. Pricing is fairly consistent - around RM65 per hour for a full body massage and around RM25 for thirty minutes of foot reflexology, though you can bargain down - but standards vary and some places are slightly seedy. One reliable option on the strip is the local branch of Old Asia.
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Capsquare
A new focus of the Little India area is CapSquare, an attractive complex for business, residential and entertainment purposes bordered by Jln Munshi Abdullah, Jln Dang Wangi and the muddy Sungai Kelang (Kelang River) – head here on the first and third weekends of the month for a bazaar featuring food, fashion and interesting knick-knacks.
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Curve
The latest addition to the KL shopping scene, this swish, ubermodern mall has loads of international names, including Ikea and Tesco. It's about 15km west of the centre in Petaling Jaya; a free shuttle bus runs three times a day between the mall and the Royale Bintang Hotel on Jln Bukit Bintang (see the website for details).
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Starhill Gallery
Break out your platinum charge card – this glitzy mall is where you’ll find Louis Vuitton, Gucci and many other luxury brands, plus a great range of restaurants in the basement, and spas on the 5th floor.
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Malaysian Association For The Blind
In Brickfields there are numerous massage centres employing blind people who might otherwise be forced to beg for a living. Contact the Malaysian Association For The Blind for recommendations.
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Tenmoku Pottery
Based near the Batu Caves, the Tenmoku Pottery specialises in vases, bowls and other ceramics inspired by natural forms. There are branches at the Central Market and the Mid Valley Megamall.
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House of Suzie Wong
Antiques from across Asia are gathered together in informal room settings at this eccentric Starhill Gallery store. Staff can tell you the individual history of where each item was found.
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Avenue K
A relatively new arrival, this slick mall is slowly filling up with exclusive designer boutiques (eg CK, Hugo Boss) and upmarket home-décor stores. It's above the KLCC LRT station.
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Jim Thompson Silk
KL branch of the Thai silk company founded by Jim Thompson, who disappeared in 1967 in Malaysia's Cameron Highlands. You can buy sumptuous loose silk as well as ready-made clothes.
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Pasar Malam
Little India is an area that is best explored on foot. The best time to visit is late Saturday afternoon when Lg TAR fills up with the area’s pasar malam.
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Sungei Wang Plaza
SungeiWangPlaza is a mall in which it’s easy to lose yourself for hours exploring. Sungei Wang is particularly good for youthful fashion and accessories.
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British India
The Mid Valley Megamall store of a flashy chain selling sophisticated fashions with an ethnic flavour. (There are branches of this store in most of KL's big malls.)
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Art Seni
One of several upmarket galleries at the Art Colony in the Starhill Gallery mall, with lots of paintings and photos by up-and-coming Malaysian artists.
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Pavilion KL
Over 450 retail shops spread across seven levels in KL’s latest shopping extravaganza with its shiny ambience and wide range of international labels.
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Tear Proof
Good for backpacks, rugged outdoor wear and camping equipment. There are branches in Berjaya Times Square, the Curve and the Mid Valley Megamall.
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Touches de Siam
Bangsar Baru has half a dozen exclusive spas. Touches de Siam specialises in Thai massage, which focuses on the entire skeletomuscular system.
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Chow Kit Clothes Market
A useful market is the nightly clothes market in Chow Kit, which sells similar goods to the Petaling Street market at slightly lower prices.
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Plaza Low Yat
Plaza Low Yat is the place to head to for digital and electronic goods, including computers, cameras and mobile phones.
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