10 years later, my review of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has not changed: it remains an excellent hotel in the heart of KL.
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Review
I enjoy updating older reviews and in KL I was fortunate to return a property I enjoyed with my brother during a 2013 trip. The original review is below and if you read this review followed by the older one, you will see that very little has changed. I find that is more the case than not at nicer hotels…
I paid $125/night for my stay.
Check-In
Upon arrival, I was directed up to the Grand Club to check-in.
This hotel has a lobby on level 39 but Globalist members and Grand Club guests can bypass it and head directly to level 37, where the Grand Club is located.
Inside the Grand Club, I was welcomed and thanked for being a Globalist. I was also presented with a letter detailing the Grand Club facilities, which I will address in depth below.
King Bed with Tower View Deluxe
I was upgraded to a (Petronas) “Tower View Deluxe” room, 2209, that was quite spacious at 699 square feet. It included an entryway that led to the bathroom or main room. The room had floor-to-ceiling windows with great views of the skyline and included a couch and easy chair in addition to the bed.
Amenities included a fully-stocked minibar and a Nespresso espresso machine.
There was also a nice welcome amenity that included a mix of savory and sweet snacks and some fruit.
The L-shaped bathroom included a walk-in shower, separate tub, single sink, toilet, and dressing table.
Great views from the room:
I love wooden floors, but the floors in the room had seen much better days:
I would have also liked to see more power outlets and find the USB-A outlets far less useful, though I travel with a long laptop cord so it was not a big problem.
Fitness Center
The exercise machines had been updated since my last visit and included modern TechnoGym equipment.
Spa + Wellness Area
The hotel includes a full-serve spa (which probably would have been smarter than going out into the city for a massage…) and gender-segregated wellness areas in each locker room. My first stop on arrival was to spend some time in the sauna, steam room, and whirlpool.
Swimming Pool
An outdoor swimming pool is available outside the fitness center and spa.
Even a year after the movie, the hotel has Barbie-themed rooms and the pool deck has Barbie-branded stuff too.
Grand Club
It’s always nice to visit a Grand Hyatt in Asia, where the Grand Club plays a central role in the guest experience.
The Grand Club is open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, with breakfast served from 8:00 am to 10:30 am during the week and until 11:00 am on weekends. In the evening, drinks and canapés are served from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The seating area has great views of the KL skyline.
Tip: Grand Club guests can also enjoy breakfast in THIRTY8 Restaurant, which I recommend.
The “canapés” are really enough for a full meal if you so desire. I enjoyed some tomato soup, a green salad, oven-baked chicken legs, and vegetable crudités with guacamole and hummus. A delicious snack that could have easily been “dinner” had I gone back for seconds.
During the afternoon, light snacks are available along with coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Breakfast selections in the Grand Club included pastries, salads, congee, and eggs.
Breakfast At THIRTY8
I slept in and did not linger long in the Grand Club, for breakfast at THIRTY8 is always a treat. Breakfast is served from 6:30 am – 10:30 am and the buffet is one of the largest I have experienced (it felt like I was in Las Vegas) with breakfast staples and specialty items from around the world. Great views from this restaurant as well.
I loved the juice bar, where you could make whatever juice you wanted from a selection of fresh vegetables and fruits.
I enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast.
Tip: There are self-serve coffee machines, but order coffee from your server and it will be made in the back with a much better machine.
CONCLUSION
One night was not enough, but I had a great stay at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. This hotel is aging, but it is aging well. The Grand Club and THIRTY8 restaurant are special treats and the guest rooms are spacious. I look forward to returning.
My original review, from October 2013, is below. Not all that much has changed!
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is the best category 3 property in the Hyatt collection. Period.
My brother and I spent three glorious nights at the property. Although we were unable to confirm a suite upgrade, no big deal — our room was spacious and the hotel has become one of our favorite Hyatts in the world. Cost was $220/night or 17,000 points or 6,000 Points + $68 USD (our method of payment).
Warm Service at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
First thing that made this hotel great: warm service. At check-in, in the lounge, and even in trying to get an Uber. Everyone was really friendly. That may seem like given at a five-star western hotel, but a little smile goes a long way. I mentioned in my Air Asia X review that we arrived at 4am. I e-mailed the hotel prior to boarding about an early check-in and had a response in my inbox upon landing inviting us to check-in early.
Grand Club at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Second thing that made this hotel great: the Grand Club. As it turns out, we did not eat dinner each night in the lounge. While that is usually my modus operandi as a way to cut travel costs, we enjoyed two nice meals out that I will cover tomorrow.
But we could have easily had dinner in the lounge each night. Great food, like beef stroganoff from a German chef, and a great collection of wine and cheese.
Breakfast at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Third thing that made this hotel great: breakfast. We had breakfast in THIRTY8 each morning (the hotel’s signature restaurant) and it was one of the best buffet breakfasts I’ve ever had. Not only is the restaurant itself a beautiful setting with great views, but the international selection of food was amazing. You’re welcome to knock me for sticking to my western breakfast items, but there is something for everyone here.
Other dining at the hotel includes JP teres, featuring Malay, Indian and Chinese food also in an open kitchen, buffet-style (a la carte too). The poolside terrace also offers drinks and food.
Room at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
So how about the room? Our room had a narrow hallway that opened up into a large room. Two twin beds with nightstands sat adjacent to a sitting area with a desk, lounge chair, and floor-to-cieling windows overlooking the Petronas Towers.
Not a bad view from the room–
The bathroom was not very private, but with a the press of a button the transparent windows frosted.
We did spend the bulk of our time in the room so the comfort and fast high speed internet was appreciated.
Fitness/Pool at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
The outdoor pool on the ground floor and expansive (yet empty) fitness center made exercise very easy.
CONCLUSION
K-L is great destination that does not require a (semi-)expensive hotel to enjoy it. Still, it was so nice to have an oasis at the Hyatt in a fairly hectic city. The location is great. Uber is incredibly cheap, but public transport is nearby as well if you so choose. We enjoyed the value, service, and comfort of this hotel and I highly recommend it.
This is part of my Star Alliance Business Class Adventure in Europe and Asia report. I outline in that post why I post older flight and hotel reviews.
Hey Matt, I think your review might have gotten cut off with some formatting or a pic or something. In your description of the Gym it states “The exercise machines had been updated since my last visit and included modern…..” Fairly certain some words are missing there. Just an FYI
Fixed it. It did indeed get cut off. Thank you!
I used to frequent this hotel often. The buffet breakfast was a highlight!
How were the Apam balik for breakfast?
Didn’t try it
That is a nice property overall. The options in the club and restaurant look good (though unless those were some really small plates, some would classify what you had in the club was a meal lol).
And that room looks good with some great views.
What was the rate? I’m interested in the comparison to the crazy $80 a night at Alila.
$125. I meant to put that in review.
Very Nice Place,But, Not the easiest place to find and if you do get lost near the Mall, no one knows about the place.
Changing elevators like Alila in KL is mojor inconvinience.
The Barbie stuff has been there for at least a couple of years now. I’m unsure if there’s any direct correlation with when the movie opened but before that it was just a poolside dining area.
Was the breakfast buffet included as a Globalist? Thanks for the review; looks amazing.
Yes, included! Great breakfast.
I’m planning a visit in May, 2025. This review is excellent, and I’m looking forward to staying at the GH as Globalist. But if the new Park Hyatt is open by then, I may be tempted to try it.