Else Kuala Lumpur

The restoration of the historical building that is now Else Hotel Kuala Lumpur is stunningly beautiful. I really enjoyed my stay in the Urban Room (there are 49 rooms). High ceilings, minimalist, peaceful and tranquil, and with views of the busyness of life in KL Chinatown. The chefs at Raw (downstairs) and Yellow Fin Horse (upstairs, with the rooftop pool for swimming laps) are amazing, especially Chef Jun Wong and her team. Creative and original cocktails too. Is a part of the nightlife in Chinatown with tucked away speakeasy type bars. Excellent and efficient service and much warmth and friendliness from the valet / concierge to front desk to room cleaning to staff at the two restaurants! I highly recommend this hotel that is a part of the Small Luxury Hotel collection.

A really unexpected lovely experience in the heart of the bustling Chinatown. The hotel is beautifully designed in a very modern design yet keeping some of the old touches of the original building. The staff were really incredible, very friendly and helpful. The rooms were spacious and nicely designed. Comfy beds and especially comfy sofa. The bathrooms were big with a nice big shower, and they provide a Dyson hairdryer too! Special mention to the breakfast at Raw, the menu was a nice concept as a set menu instead of a buffet. Everything was delicious and was nice to try different stuff daily.

Overall, it was a very pleasant stay. The hotel has a strong artistic and beautiful design, and is located right around the corner from Petaling Street (Chinatown). It’s within walking distance to various popular cafes and restaurants for both casual visits and dinners. The hotel staff are very friendly and do their best to meet the needs of the guests. The pool is saltwater and very clean, offering a beautiful view whether you swim at night or in the morning. Towels and refreshing lemon water are provided by the pool, which is a thoughtful touch. The only downside might be that while the public restrooms are beautiful, they do not have shower facilities, so you’ll need to go back to your room to shower while still wet. Lastly, the hotel doesn’t have its own parking, but it’s very convenient to take the MRT or park in nearby parking lots (you’ll need to survey the prices beforehand).

I stayed at Else for 5 nights and I highly recommend it! The hotel is gorgeous, clean and beautifully decorated. The staff is so friendly, and they think of everything - I would receive notices on events happening as an FYI, I had a handwritten note on my arrival welcoming me, and one time after a long day out I come back and have fruit delivered to my room as refreshment, complimentary! The concierge is always there to help you with recommendations and advice. The breakfast is honestly one of the best that I can remember having at a hotel. I recommend booking directly as you get a few extra perks including complimentary use of the mini-bar. They also have a nice selection of free movies for you to choose from, including new releases which was a pleasant surprise. A couple things I would comment on, the mini fridge was not working correctly in my room and I would have loved an ice maker available for guests. But they ask for feedback on checkout and I can tell this is an establishment that takes feedback seriously. This hotel is also located in Chinatown, so while you have the convenience and culture right outside you also know it's not going to be the cleanest and quietest neighborhood to stay in. Personally I love hearing the call to prayer and ear plugs blocked out everything else (I bring my own anywhere I go but they also provide these complimentary), so it wasn't an issue at all for me! Will be staying here for sure on any future trips to KL.

A short staycation turned out to be one of the greatest hospitality experiences of my life. Everything at Else was on point — from the comfort, service, and delicious food to the thoughtfully curated interior design and every little detail that made the experience feel so perfect. Kudos to the amazing team for delivering such top-notch service and quality. They truly made the stay unforgettable! It’s definitely one of the best hotel in Kuala Lumpur. If you’re looking for a place in KL that brings you peace and feels just like home, I highly recommend it!

Else Hotel (is it pronounced “Else” or “Elsie”?) is slap bang in the middle of Chinatown with all the street food restaurants and speakeasies that you could ask for but, be warned, this is definitely not Chinatown prices and is probably the most expensive hotel is the area and one of the most expensive we looked at in KL. As is the norm with SE Asia the staff are all amazingly friendly, from the front door to the restaurant to the cleaning staff. The room couldn't be faulted. It was immaculately clean with a huge bed and showerroom, and had all the amenities you'd expect (even earplugs for Chinatown bustle) The a la carte breakfast was the most varied breakfast menu I've seen in a hotel, with European, Malay and various other cuisines all represented over 2 courses. The pool area was clean and well maintained and offers some great views of Kuala Lumpur (if you ignore the dilapidated building in front of you). This was the first hotel on my trip and has set a completely unrealistic expectation for the rest of my accommodation. I can't see this luxury of the Else being beaten, which is expected given the price

Else is a beautiful memory starting with the first step into the hotel. The interior is an experience of contrasts --- light and shadow, open space and intimate coves, solid forms and plushness --- the architects (whom I've come to know are Farah Azizan and Adela Askandar of Studio Bikin) have reimagined this building in ways (e.g. full-height windows on one side of the building) that allow for it to be looked into, as well as for guests to look out into the bustling outside. We had arrived earlier than the usual check-in hour, and were met by the thoughtful Bella and Farisha, who helped us manage our luggage so we could go for breakfast. Their lovely attentiveness and warmth set the tone for our stay; at the ground floor, we met Aisha from Raw for the first time. Our first meal in KL was at a nearby spot recommended by Aisha, and our last meal at Else was served by Aisha and her wonderful colleagues Brenda and Siam. Over our short stay, we can already feel the heart at the core of Else's service. To Vanessa, the head of customer experience: we love your passion and professionalism, and look forward to seeing you again. So glad to have met you and your team.

What a positive experience, thank you to the great team at Else. Here are a few stand outs||1. Warm welcome and great service |- the team was v friendly and helpful. |- the WA chat was a super convenient way to communicate w the team/concierge. |- the team was v helpful with my requests, from bringing extra water, printing my boarding pass to arranging a room tour ||2. Great space and design |- I felt immediately relaxed and at ease standing into the space. It’s gorgeous, characterful and sophisticated but not fussy. |- so many nice details from the drinking glasses, the accessories in the rooms, the booklet describing the design process and neighborhood |- art heaven!! The tasteful local art and artist in residence work added a layer of culture and character. |- loved the urban tatami style room- the distinctive living room space and comfy couch made for a great chilling and light working space. ||3. Breakfast|- simply yummy and also eco friendly (no wasteful buffets!) |- the local flavours and ingredients were really celebrated. |- the design for raw (the name of the restaurant) was as great in the day as well as the night. ||4. Location was so colorful |- loved how vibrant and diverse the neighborhood is. |- enjoyed very authentic local and as well as innovative modern cuisine options all within 10 mins walk or less.