There's nightlife to spare in KL, from fashionable lounges to cavernous discos, to casual pubs. There are several hot areas for nightlife in the city. Along Jalan P. Ramlee, near the corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail, you'll find mostly tiki bars with Polynesian thatched roofs and live music. Changkat Bukit Bintang has a good selection of restaurants and bars for almost any taste and budget. In recent years, Jalan Bukit Bintang has become a trendy spot for clubs, bars, and late-night cafes -- it's also a great people-watching spot. Bangsar, just outside the city limits, is 2 or 3 blocks of bars, cafes, and restaurants that cater to a variety of tastes (in fact, so many expatriates hang out there that they call it Kweiloh Lumpur, "Foreigner Lumpur" in Mandarin). Every taxi driver knows where it is. Get in and ask to go to Jalan Telawi Tiga in Bangsar -- fare should be in the neighborhood of RM10. Once there, it's very easy to catch a cab back to town.
Bars, Pubs & Clubs
Expect to pay about RM10 to RM25 for a pint of beer, depending on what and where you order. Although quite a few pubs are open for lunch, most clubs won't open until about 6 or 7pm. Bars and pubs close around 1 or 2am, while bigger discos will stay open till 3am. Nearly all have a happy hour, usually between 5 and 7pm, when drink discounts apply on draft beers and "house-pour" (lower-shelf) mixed drinks. Dance clubs charge covers most nights of the week, which typically run from anywhere between RM25 and RM45, depending on the entertainment, and include a drink.
Stop for a sunset cocktail at SkyBar (tel. 03/2332-9888), the alfresco rooftop lounge at Traders Hotel, which by day serves as the hotel's pool and spa facility. The sleek lounge offers the best view of the Petronas Twin Towers in town. Make an advance reservation for a table with a view.
What city doesn't have a Hard Rock Cafe? KL's is on Jalan Sultan Ismail next to Concorde Hotel (tel. 03/2715-5555), where you can see local bands playing evergreen rock and blues.
Delaney's (The Federal Kuala Lumpur, 35 Jalan Bukit Bintang; tel. 03/2141-5195) is a reliable pub with decent pub fare. No Black Tie (17 Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari; tel. 03/2142-3737) is a cool jazz club that offers live jazz music, a laid-back atmosphere, and a decent Japanese menu.
By far the biggest dance club in town is Zouk (113 Jalan Ampang; tel. 03/2171-1997), which is fashioned after the ultrasuccessful Zouk in Singapore. At press time, Pulse Ultra Club (Grand Millennium KL, 106 Jalan Bukit Bintang; tel. 03/2117-4186) was the hot club for hearing live music and seeing DJs spin.
The Performing Arts
The Malaysian Tourist Centre (109 Jalan Ampang; tel. 03/9235-4900) has an auditorium where Malaysian traditional dance shows are staged every Tuesday to Thursday at 3pm and every Saturday at 8:30pm. Cultural performances like traditional Malay dance and martial arts demonstrations are held on Friday and Saturday nights at the Central Market, but it's best to call ahead to make sure there's a show (tel. 03/2031-0399; www.centralmarket.com.my).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
