Kuala Lumpur has a lot going for it, and, as many travellers from Singapore will attest, it’s worth the trip north just for the food, hotel stay and the growing cocktail scene.

The trek from SG to KL took twice as long as we’d planned, so when we eventually entered the Banyan Tree lobby – on the 53rd floor – we were exhausted. A welcome beverage from the reception team helped to revive us for the adventures ahead, dinner at Altitude and cocktails at Vertigo.

The hotel lobby starts from the 53rd floor, and everything else goes upwards. It is atas in every sense of the word, since you get a panoramic view of the city from every corner.

The glamour at this city resort is understated, and this is most apparent in Altitude, a spacious restaurant with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, intimate dining areas and a view of the city from way up high.

Altitude serves a fun fusion of Japanese and Peruvian dishes. The global kitchen is also known for its decadent signature Afternoon Tea.

Banyan Tree is situated in the bustling Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur. Around us are the city’s best malls, restaurants and attractions, but it’ll have to wait: we’re recharged after our Altitude dinner, and we’ve got a date with Vertigo.

On the 59th floor, you can go toe-to-toe with the Petronas Towers.

The stylish Vertigo bar is a true respite from the chaos below. Here, there are only stunning views and good vibes. The menu has a mix of no-fuss classics (Paloma, Espresso Martini, Whisky Sour) and signatures that lean towards sweet: Pineapple White Lady (gin, pineapple puree, orange liqueur) and Mount Genting (gin, dry vermouth, lime juice, lychee and raspberry puree, egg white) are highly recommended.

Pair ’em with the sustainably sourced tapas, and that’s your night sorted.

We couldn’t resist. We loved hanging out in the room so much that we brought our drinks back there.

Banyan Tree occupies only the tower’s top floors, and between the 53rd and 58th floors are the suits, rooms (known as ‘retreats’) and a world of luxurious comfort. As much as we loved the bar and restaurant, we retreated to our sanctuary to enjoy all the offerings. The room offers personalised treats where you can choose your pillow stuffing, favourite scents, and toiletries.

The bathroom by the window offers yet another dramatic way to appreciate KL’s skyline. Haven indeed.

Rooftop pools are plain sexy.

To rejuvenate, it was a toss-up between the gym and the pool. The moment we saw this open-air beauty, there was no more talk of treadmills!

The reason why we needed to rejuvenate…

Champagne breakfast at Horizon Grill. Order from an ala carte menu or enjoy the selection from the international and local spread.

Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur is a tropical metropolis connected by a bridge to the city’s best mall — Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. It’s an award-winning mall that will take up to a whole day to explore. Between the mall and the resort hotel, we never stepped foot into the rest of the city. Room > restaurant > bar > pool > mall > room > repeat — that was pretty much our itinerary.

This is definitely something we hope to repeat the next time we visit KL. Maybe we’ll make time for the rest of the city then.

Book Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur here.

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