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Asia, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, A night of luxury at the Shangri-La Hotel

Autumn Mooney 02 Aug 2012 Read 4369 times

A stay at the award-winning Shangri-La Hotel in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur is perfect for indulging an elegant holiday, or bringing well deserved perks to any business trip.

Located 45 mins from the airport, near KL's central business district and shopping malls, and just a quick step from the monorail station, you will find the Shangri-La to be one of Malaysia's most exclusive hotels.

Walking into your softly carpeted room, (one of an outstanding 662 rooms) it is hard not to immediately smile at the opulence surrounding you. If you've arrived for a business trip, a handy executive desk sits with complementary wireless access and adapter chord. Put your feet up in a luxurious lounge-chair by a large window with city view of bustling KL. Chill in front of a large flat screen TV with satellite and cable TV channels including movie channels. Walk into the elegant marble tiled bathroom with rain shower, large bath and an assortment of complimentary toiletries of the highest self-branded quality, hairdryer and comfy dressing gowns to wear around the room. As you fall asleep in your huge soft and dreamy bed which is overflowing with sleep inducing pillows (swap them from the pillow menu to suit your style) and sheeting of the highest quality, you will not need reminding of the surrounding elegance while falling asleep in comfort.

If you're after a snack, there's a complimentary daily fruit bowl, or the Mini bar is hidden away in a stylish cabinet, tea and coffee making facilities are available, or in-room dining is on offer 24/7. Why not leave your valuables in the electronic safe and go enjoy one of the many food and beverage facilities located in the hotel.

The restaurant selection at the Shangri-la is similar to the restaurant to restaurant selection in any city called Soho; there are just so many choices. Local, international, fine dining, even a bakery are all serving tasty food and drinks here. The Shangri-La's most popular restaurant, Zipangu, offers Japanese cuisine of the finest calibre. Modern and chic Japanese décor has you seated in dim lights overlooking a trendy restaurant with Chef-viewing pleasures - and it's always fun to see cooking skills at work on your expertly made meal.

My recommendation for Zipangu is to definitely start with the warm edamame beans (steamed green soy beans.)  In the same way you can tell a good French restaurant from the fresh warm bread served - you can always tells a good Japanese restaurant by how fat and juicy the salty edamame beans are. Zipangu got off to a good start with me. The warm sweet sake was a great choice. And I couldn't go past the salmon sashimi, agedashi tofu or vegetable tempura - these dishes are superb. Surprisingly to me, the most popular dish at Zipangu is duck liver called Foie Gras Tohgan. My very helpful waitress recommended this dish, so I tried it... and unfortunately I have never been a liver fan, and couldn't get past that, however the waitress assures me it is the chef's specialty, and one of the most ordered, so I'd guess that would be for good reason - if you like liver. What I would have guessed to be the ‘most ordered' was Zipangu's Gindara cod (Grilled cod fish with teriyaki sauce.) This truly melts in your mouth, and would have Madonna converting from trendy Zuma's to Malaysia's Zipangu, if only for the access!

Breakfast is a special treat at the Shangri-La that must no be missed with any stay. When presented with a large flowing dark chocolate fountain next to the same of the flowing strawberry flavour (yes for breakfast,) what does one do? Err; dive in like a kid floating in a pool of candy? The Shangri La Hotel knows that if the way to a man's heart is through his belly, then the way to everyone's heart must be through the most varied and delicious treats at the breakfast brunch. This is exactly what the colourful and vibrant Lemon Garden Cafe offers for morning diners every day.

If you ever tire of shopping in KL or businessing it up, (understandable) this hotel has many answers. Relax by a large hotel pool with city skyline views. Sit by the view of a fountain in an elegant area for a coffee or cocktail, and watch the business world go by. Meet people in a glossy lobby lounge area under magnificent chandeliers (a buzzing meeting point for non-guests.) There's also an afternoon treat area for special guests (called Horizon club members) to cocktail, or delight in afternoon tea canapés, do business coffees, or to just sit and read the paper.

Sports freaks will be happy - an impressively large gym-centre, full of top of the range fitness equipment (the treadmills have your own mini TV screens and headphones) and an profusion of strength training, toning and bodybuilding equipment fills this world class gym, which offer membership to the public as well (only above 18 years.)

And the wellness-wallowers will be more than satisfied with Shangri-La's health area, where you can dip in an indoor Jacuzzi, relax in the steam room, release tension in the sauna. Or sit in chairs, which with one press of a button have your electronic chair massage beginning. Hair dryers, deodorants and powders are provided and towels are a plenty. An energising drinks station will cool you down.

Other facilities include a Business centre, conference centre, hair salon, tennis court, as well as massage and reflexology also available.

Whether you're on a business trip or just after a touch of elegance to a city holiday, a stop at Kuala Lumpur's Shangri-La is a must-do.

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