Rustic charm, convivial ambience, a new journey of culinary discovery, red brick arcades, traditional French tea time, a reflection of a neighbourhood’s rich character, and distinct architecture – these are all ingredients relating to a stay or dining visit to Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur – an Autograph Collection Hotel.
‘A hotel like no other’. That motto will go for any member hotel in this collection from Marriott – which consists in an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent hotels – beginning to include properties also in Asia.
Malaysian YTL Hotels has a pedigree of stylish hotels with class and history, not least including its flagship property The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, a hotel that has also been welcomed to this exclusive collection (along with its Hotel Stripes).
These hotels are all about individuality and one-of-a-kind experiences – a trend that is likely to increase within the world of hospitality going forward. The Majestic Hotel is already an iconic landmark from yesteryear and that embodies the synergy of classic and contemporary. The Stripes, meanwhile, is a new-build hotel pushing the envelope, but also one that blends modernity with history, reflecting the rich character of the neighbourhood.
Brasserie 25 restaurant, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur
It takes cues from the community’s heritage – in its design, architecture and experience for guests. This kind of cultural identification with a place and its past, present and future is certainly beneficial in several ways. It fosters uniqueness, highlights a particular part of a city, and generates curiosity among travellers to choose this experience as well as explore the history of the surroundings.
Then, for such curious guests, it also matters less if the hotel is in a particularly well-trodden area or not.
Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur in colonial heritage zone
Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur is situated on historical Jalan Kamunting, only a few monorail stations away from Bukikt Bintang, and with KLCC in sight from the rooftop pool area. This neighbourhood is also popular among locals for Asian Heritage Row – which is a row of art deco shop houses with restaurants, cafés, art galleries and nightlife venues. And these shop houses have that European, colonial architecture, which is not the case for more modern buildings that otherwise dominates the area.
Back in the mid-19th century the area had a main tin mining settlement, which led to development, including a melting pot of various cultures. Later, the British colonial administration stipulated that buildings should be made bricks and tiles, which resulted in the area’s distinct eclectic shop house architecture.
This new hotel is a nod to the culture and heritage of this KL neighbourhood, featuring subtle juxtaposition of past and present. For instance, every room and suite has an enlarged photo showing a street, vehicles and buildings from the same area in the past.
The hotel building’s facade is an interesting one, and has the mark of authenticity in that its lower section has a similar colonial-European, whitewashed and arched façade (not a entire building though), with pillars and a five foot walkway where it also hosts alfresco seating for the hotel’s French bistro.
Behind and above this outer European building facade (it is not able to tell if this is an original part of a former building or a reconstruction), the construction is a new-build and higher up the exterior consists in a brownish brick-and-metal outer wall – with a form of angled modern shutters outside of the hotel rooms’ floor-to-ceiling windows. The bricks obviously reflects the material used also during Malaysia’s colonial period. It’s a fascinating accomplishment and from inside the hotel room it is like having an extra protection – and shade. (It’s quite common in Malaysian architecture in modern times to build extra outer walls, that often seem to have the purpose of keeping the heat away from the actual concrete of the building and to generate cooling airflow around the building.) This makes the hotel to be also sustainability-driven.
Pool view, night, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur
Wow rooms at Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur
Inside, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur balances an aura of nostalgic past with modern urban accommodation. First and foremost the wow factor must be attributed to the accommodation as such – a sanctum of soft lighting and muted colours.
With great eye for details YTL Hotels has come up with something design-driven and beautiful, and that sets a benchmark in style and inspiration. What a bright and stylish interior, blending the heritage with contemporary aesthetics! Paired with the rooftop pool and bar this will most certainly go down well with a young savvy clientele, as well as heritage-loving boutique hotel fans in general.
Boarded in a Studio room type for the review, its enlarged and striking black-and-white photography above the bed showcases the 1940s-50s Jalan Kamunting, paired with a matching bed lamp in what resemble brass material and a black lampshade. The reading lamp can be tilted to illuminate the photograph in the evening.
The design that makes the room so appealing includes beige wallpaper; bright, sandy “classic” hotel marble floor in entrance and bathroom; and a bedroom wall-to-wall carpet with a brown-greyish pattern resembling vegetation.
A very thick bed mattress has a bedspread in grey with golden lines, and those round decor pillows, while the en suite bathroom comes with a partly veined marble party frosted glass partition, and where an oblong round mirror (well lit for ladies to be able to properly do make-up) and sink standing on black veined marble is in the bedroom section. It is furnished with a bathtub as well as a rain shower stall.
Along the window is a blonde built-in wooden work desk with as colonial-style wall lamp, and a (not so ergonomic) good-looking egg chair and a comfy sofa, for relaxation or taking care of work. There is also a round tempered glass table with a black foot.
Outside the window is the fascinating shade-inducing extra bricks-and-metal wall structure – which certainly gives also character to the room itself, as if being inside a refurbished older building. The room is also finessed with a La San Marco coffee maker.
(It should also be mentioned that at night the entertainment from Asian Heritage Row can be heard so for those looking for ultimate peace and quiet should request a room on the side facing the river.)
Elsewhere, the rooftop infinity pool and cabana-designed ‘Man Tao Bar‘ (closed for private event during our review) is another wow factor of this boutique gem. Its pool deck overlooks a section of downtown with lush tropical trees, and beyond it downtown high-rise skyline. It’s a delight to enjoy the night view of the illuminated blue mosaic pool, and the skyline including the TV tower and Petronas Towers in the distance.
On level 2 ‘The Snug’ all-day restaurant – designed with blonde wood flooring, brick walls, black tile sections and built-in book shelves – offers a pit-stop for a “quick caffeine fix” or for grab-and go food like sandwiches, smoothies, juices and salads.
Bartending, Brasserie 25, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur
French dining at Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur
And with ‘Brasserie 25’, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur’s French-style restaurant (drawing inspiration, we are told, from its sister YTL property, hotel Muse St Tropez) things get really interesting.
Brasserie 25 is a perfect blend of traditional and modern bistro, offering refreshing and delectable French-style menu, including excellent lunch specials. For top-notch cuisine on a business lunch it’s an excellent choice!
Its “rustic charm” includes faux red brick arcades, mid-century copper sputnik chandeliers and diagonal-angled wooden flooring. The open kitchen and bar sections are placed behind counters under the vaulted ceiling, along one side of the restaurant. Aside the option of al-fresco dining, semi-private dinner tables by the windows come with crescent sofas in mustard yellow. Other seating, in this convivial atmosphere, includes beige velvet, or brown leather, upholstered armchairs. In its centre is a long table with leather stools seating ten guests.
Cassoulet for lunch is great French potluck: Stewed white bean with lamb sausage, duck confit.
For dinner, Soupe A L’oignon, French onion soup, is just the right starter. Other choices for ‘entrée froides’ are: Salade Nicoise, Salmon Fumé (Home smoked salmon, iceberg lettuce, pomery dressing) or a Terrine: here Foie Gras Terrine, toasted broche, fig jam.
And for hot starters – ‘Entreés Chaudes’ – choose from Escargots (Baked Burgundy escargots with garlic herb butter) or Foie Gras Poêlé (Pan seared foice gras with warm onion marmalade and spice bread).
For main course, Plas Principaux’, the choice falls on Cabillaud, Pan roasted black cod fillet with ratatouille. The beautiful white chunk of cod is perfectly cooked.
And ‘Les Gourmandises how aobut La Crème Brulee, Crepes Suzettes, or Les Formages Fermiers (a selection of gourmet cheeses). It is even harder to choose because there is laso Grand Marnuer Soufflé with vanilla ice-cream on the menu. The Soufflé brought to the table lifts just nicely from the cup just as it should, and with a sprinkle of icing sugar on top.
It’s a delight that also the cocktails have a French focus: Rose Noire (vodka and blackberry syrup), French Martini, The Sidecar (cognac and Cointreau with lemon juice), French Blonde (Carpano Bianco, gin, elderflower and grapefruit), or The Montparnasse (Calvados, elderflower, Sauvignon Blanc)
Last but not least: Afternoon Tea – which has become so commonplace in hotels and restaurants in Asia. But here we get served the quintessential French version ‘Le Goûter’ tea time, tasting experience, with its origin dating to France in the 17th century. The French made notable headway in delightful pastry concoctions and decadent desserts. Delicious French pastries and savouries with a local twist, served from trays the French way between 3 pm – 6 pm including irresistible French éclair and the most the most amazing chocolate-layered pastry, and a tarte with upward-pointing strawberry halves. Truly sumptuous and special! A culinary discover indeed, and a highly recommended hotel!
