FEATURE/HOTEL – KL Lifestyle

Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur

A Luxurious Local Experience

BY JACQUELINE BENITA PAUL

Standing elegantly as the second tallest building in Kuala Lumpur is internationallyrenowned luxury hotel, Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur (Four Seasons KL). It stands at the centre of the Golden Triangle right next to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Recently, we had the pleasure of being guests at this esteemed 65-storey luxury hotel to experience all that it offers from the spacious rooms, intuitive service, impeccable dining options and more.

CLUB PREMIER PARK-VIEW ROOM

We were ecstatic to be staying at the highly sought-after Club Premier Park-View Room for its bird’s eye view of the KLCC park – a view to be especially appreciated at night when you see the lake come to life with the Symphony Lake Water Show. High ceiling and masterful space design were the first impressions we had of the room. Luxury meets practicality with the placement of the cozy day bed and a study desk equipped with easy-access plugs. The room is equipped with some of the most sophisticated technology we’ve ever come across. There’s a touchpad by the toilet that gives you plenty of personalisation options, bedside switches to adjust the curtains or lights and an iPad by the bed to let you order in-room dining or contact housekeeping, besides a comprehensive guide to the city and access to various local and international publications.

CURATE

If delicious local variety is what you’re after, then Curate is where you need to be. The natural lighting illuminates the gorgeous buffet display enhanced with local architectural influences from the deconstructed national flower on the ceiling and Peranakan-style divider. Most of the food here is prepared at the live stations, ensuring the freshest meals are on your plate. There’s even a barista on standby to make the coffee of your desire. My order was the Mocha which did not disappoint.

Arabic sous chef, Moustafa whom we met during dinner at the Pool Bar and Grill, often visited our table to get our feedback on the food. His enthusiasm made us enjoy the meal even more.

IN-ROOM DINING

Typically, we would never order room service because we have been disappointed with the subpar food quality at ostentatious prices but since all six restaurants were booked out for dinner, we conceded. There is no room service at the Four Seasons KL, only in-room dining. We didn’t think much of it till the food arrived at our room. Instead of a tray filled with the food we ordered, our food arrived in a professional dining set-up. We requested for the round table which seats two people to be placed by the window so we could admire the view of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Symphony Lake Water Show. Our waiter tactfully handled the setting up of the dining table and assisted with placing the napkin on our laps. The experience was astonishing and the Mushroom Risotto and Rigatoni Alla Bolognese were incredible. For those of you who enjoy privacy apart from flavourful meals, this experience is for you.

After dinner, we decided to head down to Bar Trigona, a new nightlife gem in the city. To get here, you’ll need to head to The Lounge and walk all the way back where you will find a door that opens up to an excitingly posh world with thoughtfully designed local homages with weave inspired walls made with ceramic and reflective materials. During our visit, we sampled the signature Trigona honey which comes from a local bee farm in Negeri Sembilan. The flavour profile was unlike anything we’ve ever had, with a prominent sourness and hints of spice at the back of our throats. We were told that the unique taste profile was because the honey was 100% raw. The use of Trigona honey or known locally as madu kelulut, is the not-so-secret ingredient of Bar Trigona’s cocktails. We highly recommend an order of the Pollen for a refreshing start to the evening and the Old Fashion for a boozy finish.

FOUR SEASONS SPA

Working in the city can be demanding on both the mind and body. To remedy that, we paid a visit to the Spa to try the signature Rotan Manau Herbal Tungku Massage. The main feature of the treatment is the use of the massaging rattan pole to administer a deep-tissue treatment for better blood circulation. Our therapist Amelia was gifted with her hands, using just the right amount of pressure to loosen the stiff muscle areas and intermittently asked if we were comfortable. At the end of the session, we felt like new people.

FACILITIES

Hotel guests are also given the privilege to access the Steam Room, Sauna and Nap Room throughout their visit. We certainly took advantage of that and spent some time at the Jacuzzi area with a delicious cocktail, courtesy of the Pool Bar and Grill manager, Dharshan. Later, after taking a dip in the pool which plays harmonious music which you can listen to as you dive in the water, we relaxed by the poolside with a complimentary shot of ice blended coffee, a refreshing glass of water with lemon slices and a face spray to help avoid getting too heated up.

POOLSIDE GRILL AND BAR

For dinner, we were craving for scrumptious Middle Eastern grill. Chef Moustafa spoiled us with the most delicious Grilled Lobster and Harissa Prawns, grilled to perfection with just enough seasoning to highlight the taste of the sea. We would also recommend trying the starters of mezze platter and Fattoush Salad. Our dessert featured a fusion of Indian and Arabic elements, the Mango Kulfi served with blueberries, golden flakes, candied fruit and mango. Even for a poolside restaurant, the menu is astoundingly complex and offers more than meets the eye.

VERDICT

With heavy hearts, we concluded our most luxurious 5-star experience at the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur, though we also left feeling proud that the reputation of the luxury hospitality industry is in the hands of experts. The generous value-added benefits from the facilities in place, incredible restaurants that have their own unique interpretation of Malaysian culture and most of all, unrivalled service will forever be etched in our memories.