Alila Bangsar, Alila, Five Star Hotel, Neri&Hu, Kuala Lumpur, Travel, Review, Entier, Botanica + Co

Bangsar, pronounced as [bang-sar], is a residential suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysians refer to Kuala Lumpur as "KL"). Popular amongst ex-pats and tourists, one can find an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping, and nightlife – on Telawi Street (Jalan Telawi).

Alila Bangsar gained a lot of hype in the local media when it first debuted in 2018. Designed by Shanghai-based designers Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu from Neri&Hu, the property is one of a kind in KL – an urban oasis, and the view from the lobby and the hotel room – is spectacular.

If you're looking for a simple, comfortable, and affordable five stars Hotel in KL, then Alila Bangsar is a great choice. Hotel reviews are among the most common content in travel blogs, but this post will be a little different. I’m providing my honest review!

Arrival Experience:

The ride to the lobby is a disorienting one – however, with the helpful staff on the ground floor, it can be quite simple to navigate! As you entered the lobby space/ground floor, walk towards the end of the hallways which you’ll see two elevators – take the elevator to the highest floor, and you’ll be greeted by the hotel staff, where you’ll be assisted for check-in.

I recommend taking the taxi or use a taxi service to the hotel, the parking garage can be a little challenging to navigate, especially if you have a larger car, like an SUV.

Arrival Experience:

The check-in experience was fine – pretty standard if you asked me, compared to all the other Hyatt properties. I was done with the check-in process in less than 5 minutes. The elevators to the guestrooms are located on the same floor but in another location. The check in time is 3pm, while the check out time is 12pm.

Public Amenities:

The public amenities include a pool, gym, lounge, bar, and restaurant. The pool is an open-air pool deck looking over the skyline of KL and is complete with landscaping, loungers, and a full-service bar.

Room:

I picked the Deluxe King Room for my stay. There were signs of wear and tear at the millwork, but nothing major. The room was clean, and fairly comfortable. There were some noises traveling into the rooms – you could hear the sound of the vacuum cleaner running, or bar carts rolling down the corridor – this only occurs in the morning or afternoons, mostly when the housekeeping crew were busy tidying and cleaning the rooms and had to transport coffee/food for room services. if you're like me, who likes to sleep in, these noises would probably wake you up. Based on my observation, I suspected there was no carpet pad underneath the carpet, which affected how the sound traveled from the corridor into the room.

Restaurant:

Two restaurants inside the property include Botanica + Co and Entier. Botanica + Co, located on the first floor serves International and Asian cuisine. Entier, a popular restaurant in the fine dining scene in KL serves French cuisine – with a focus on local produce. Guests have the option to go with an a la carte or tasting menu. Read more about Entier 50 World’s Best Discovery here.

About the Hotel & My Thoughts:

The 143-room Alila Bangsar hotel occupies the top six floors of the 42-story building. It's a mixed-used building with residential apartments below. The hotel is beautifully designed, embracing an open design – a minimalistic approach with a neutral palette. The finishes are consistent: grey stone floors, Balau wood wall details and ceilings, and crafted bronze details can be found throughout the property. The rooms are spacious and modern, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The bathrooms are luxurious, with double vanities, a separate wash closet, and a shower area. The hotel has 6 floors in total, all located on the top floors, with breathtaking views.