15 Non-Touristy Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
As the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur offers a myriad of exciting cultural and gastronomical pursuits. It is tempting as tourists to stick to taking the Hop-on Hop-off bus and familiar sights like the National Park and Petronas Twin Towers. For those wanting something different, here are a few options.
Catch a play at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
Get a drink at Changkat Bukit Bintang
Enjoy a roadside Ramly burger
The Ramly burger is the burger to try when in Kuala Lumpur. Only available at roadside vendors, and deliciously cheap to boot, Ramly burgers are the city’s favourite drunk snack. They are delicious all day round, but especially so when those street vendors are the only things still open at 3 am when the bar’s kitchen closed hours before.
Chill out at a mamak till all hours
A mamak is essentially a streetside hawker centre you can find throughout the city. The mamak is where to find most Malaysians chilling out, cracking a cold Milo with the boys, and watching the football match projected on the screen if it’s football season.
Join the bubble tea craze
One of the biggest scandals in the food industry in Malaysia involves a legal battle about the ChaTime bubble tea franchise. The fact that it blew up to the extent it did, should give a vague idea of how seriously Malaysians take their bubble tea. There are three big chains to try while in Kuala Lumpur: the aforementioned ChaTime; its successor TeaLive; and the golden child, GongCha.
Take an ATMOS seat in the cinema
The ATMOSpheric seats in the Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) boast smells and movement that will add a jolt of excitement to your cinema-going adventure. Chase scenes will shake your seats. Flight scenes will tilt them back. It’s a new level of immersion that’s well worth a shot just to see whether or not it’s your cup of tea.
Eat durian (if it’s in season)
This is a challenge for the bold. Durian is known as the King of Fruits and is definitely a popular Malaysian favourite. When it’s in season, vendors will stand by the road selling their best wares. Pull up, take a seat, and choose the fruit that looks best. The vendor will crack it open and reveal its golden insides. Durian has been referred to as a cross between a custard and a toilet. And it is absolutely delicious. Nothing else in the world really comes close to the durian.
Go to an arts and crafts market (that is not Pasar Seni)
Market, Malaysian
Try the latest food trend
There is always a crazy food trend to jump onto in Malaysia. These trends are easy to spot because they pop up, ubiquitously, as stalls in the populated areas. The more recent trends include Hokkaido Cheese Tarts and Bingsu (a Korean ice dessert). Dig into one and find out what Malaysian tastebuds enjoy.
Walk the length of Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang is the epicentre of the city, the centre-point of major shopping malls as well as home to some impressive lights at night. Everything is there; from retails to karaoke bars, from churches to massage parlours. All within a 20-minute walking distance. Shopaholics will want to dedicate a day here.
Explore cheap tech at Plaza Low Yat
Shopping Mall
Belt it out in a karaoke booth
Inside the heart of every Malaysian is someone who dreams of auditioning for Simon Cowell in the shower. No, really. That has to explain why there are so many karaoke centres in Kuala Lumpur and why so many of them are packed to capacity. Bring a friend and belt out a song in a cramped two-man booth, or invite a whole party and get a room complete with a disco ball and mic stands.
Look at art at Galeri Petronas
Art Gallery, Shopping Mall
Visit a festive installation
Malaysia celebrates festivities all-year round. Make no mistake, the malls never miss out on a chance to throw up an impressive installation to welcome the crowd and get people into the mood. When these installations first go up, plenty of locals crowd with family to capture memories for the album. These installations are often accompanied by festivity-appropriate vendors so it’s a great place to get souvenirs. At this time of year, expect the malls to be decked in red to welcome the Chinese New Year.