In January 2026, I checked into the King Deluxe Room at Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. Located in downtown Kuala Lumpur, the 252-room hotel is set between levels 75 and 114 of the iconic Merdeka 118, the tallest skyscraper in Asia-Pacific (and the second tallest one in the world behind the Burj Khalifa in Dubai). Stadium Merdeka and Merdeka MRT station are steps away, while a short walk brings you to Petaling Street, home to destinations such as the award-winning Penrose bar, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, RexKL and Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Lai Foong Lala Noodles. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is an hour’s drive away.
Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has the distinction of being the second tallest hotel in the world (the tallest being Rosewood Guangzhou). Nearby hotels include Else Kuala Lumpur, a Member of Design Hotels; JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur; The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur; and The Ruma Hotel. Other Park Hyatt hotels in the region include Park Hyatt Kyoto, Park Hyatt Jakarta, Park Hyatt Siem Reap and Park Hyatt Bangkok.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Second tallest hotel in the world sets bar for ultra-luxury.
Must Dos: Take in the sky-high views from different parts of the hotel, have a good rest in the luxurious accommodations, use the wellness facilities, enjoy breakfast at Park Lounge, have a tipple at Cacao Mixology & Chocolate.
PARK HYATT KUALA LUMPUR
It is hard to miss Merdeka 118’s striking multi-faceted diamond-shaped glass facade in the cityscape, its unique design said to be inspired by Tunku Abdul Rahman’s outstretched hand gesture during the Malayan Declaration of Independence of 31 August 1957. Conceptualised by G.A Group (behind Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, The Langham Hong Kong, The St. Regis Osaka, JW Marriott Hotel Nara and W Taipei), the hotel’s interiors pays tribute to the traditional Malay Kampung house – think batik canting patterns, timber accents and woven textures. Artworks curated by hospitality art consultant Artlink adorn the public spaces, with the most memorable being the two moon-like pieces which flank the lobby.
The hotel’s lobby and F&B concepts are housed on the 75th level, while wellness facilities are located on the 99th floor. A 30m indoor infinity pool offers sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling windows, while the relaxation lounge provides heated loungers, an aromatherapy steam bath, a Himalayan salt alcove, a sauna and a vitality pool. The impressive fitness centre is fitted with equipment from Life Fitness, while The Spa offers a variety of circadian therapies which harmonise the body’s natural 24-hour internal clock to improve health and treat conditions, with treatments featuring products from Ground Wellbeing as well as Hungarian luxury skincare brand Omorovicza.
A combination of factors – the hotel’s height (a rarity in Southeast Asia), the exchange rate making this a very accessible Park Hyatt, an influx of positive reviews from aviation/loyalty programme enthusiasts as well as local marketing efforts seemingly geared towards the mass market and cafe-goer set – has made the hotel quite an attraction, drawing large crowds across the hotel’s public spaces ranging from the high society and well-heeled to young ladies in midriff-baring tops with L’Oréal advert-ready tresses and Instagrammers keen to make videos with hooks such as “the prices are daylight-robbery” and “inside Kuala Lumpur’s tallest and most expensive hotel”. To that end, I was rather annoyed that, even though I was an in-house guest, I was seated at a rather dark and dingy corner of the natural light-blessed Park Lounge when I walked in for lunch despite the space seemingly being less than half occupied throughout the eventual entirety of my meal simply because the more comfortable seats with city views are “reserved for those with reservations”. This would not have been something I would have experienced at Rosewood Guangzhou.
KING BED DELUXE
Boasting soaring views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline and plenty of natural light via floor-to-ceiling windows, the 83sqm King Bed Deluxe offers a walk-in dressing room and an expansive living area, including a multi-purpose work/dining table with access to power outlets; a window-side daybed with an abundance of cushions and an accompanying coffee table; and a room-length ledge for you to sit or climb to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city’s landmarks far down below. The pantry offered Nespresso coffee and Harney and Sons tea-making facilities, while the minibar was handsomely stocked with bottled alcohol, including Billecart Salmon champagne.
The sizeable bathroom comprises double vanities and a light-up mirror; a standalone deep soaking bathtub; and an enclosed rainfall shower with an aromatherapy shower steamer. Shower amenities are from Le Labo’s Bergamote 22 range. Interestingly, the bathtub’s depth and length makes it less suitable for solo relaxation and more tailored to seat a couple for foamy bubble fun.
During my stay, I received a variety of welcome amenities, including a Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur-branded Kelantan 70% dark chocolate bar, a collection of snacks served in a traditional tingkat and a bottle of wine. Also, a traditional hand fan and bottle of Puras Pillow Mist greeted us on the bedside after turn-down service.
With the exception of maybe Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur (which I have yet to revisit since 2018), the guest room experience here might well be one of Kuala Lumpur’s first ever which can properly be considered ultra-luxurious.
DINING
Breakfast is a semi-buffet affair offered at Park Lounge (and, on days of high occupancy, the adjacent Merdeka Grill) on the 75th floor. The buffet spread comprises Western breakfast sides such as Streaky Beef and Potato Lyonnaise; an extensive variety of bakes such as Matcha Financier, Fruit Tart and Vanilla Chiffon Cake; wellness beverages such as Kombucha and Protein Shake (chocolate or vanilla); and a Nasi Lemak station with Chicken Rendang. The impressive a la carte menu comprises dishes such as Plant Based French Toast and the winningly sinful and buttery Kaya Toast which deserves its own a la carte limelight beyond breakfast; Malaysian dishes such as Roti Jala (Malaysian crepe, chicken curry), Lontong Sambal Bilis (tempeh, rice cake, glass noodle, turmeric coconut gravy) and the happily flavourful Grouper Congee; Indian dishes such as Roti Canai (chicken curry, dahl) and Potato Masala Dosa; and dim sum selections such as Crystal Prawn Dumplings and Fried Bean Curd Skin Roll. The table-side service of pastry of the day (cinnamon twist) was a nice touch.
Beyond breakfast, the all-day dining restaurant serves heritage Malaysian dishes and afternoon tea. Park Lounge’s menu features strong Malaysian and Asian influences – think Umai Ikan Merah (red snapper ceviche, calamansi, chilli, coriander), Jenahak Asam Pedas Bunga Kantan (golden snapper, torch ginger, kesum leaves, ulam, sambal belacan), Udang Kara Nyonya Laksa (lobster, egg, fried tofu, yellow noodle, micro coriander), Hainanese Chicken Rice (poached pineapple chicken, seasoned rice, cameron greens, condiments) and Puff Pastry Lamb Biryani (braised spicy lamb shank, mango chutney, dhal cha, raita).
The Daging Dendeng Cili Berapi (braised beef, Malay spices, ginger floss) was rich and indulgent with a savoury spicy sauce which demanded spoonfuls of return visits, while the Botok Ikan Daun Mengkudu (spiced red snapper steamed in banana leaf, fresh coconut, wild leaves) was a piping hot and luscious affair. The standout, however, was the Mille-Feuille (puff pastry, Penang vanilla cream), carved and served table-side amidst a sense of elegant occasion and ceremony which put the Park Hyatt in the proceedings. The pastry was a magnificent and luxurious creation, firm enough to withstand clean cuts whilst simultaneously being soft and crisp upon arrival in your mouth.
Modern grill Merdeka Grill offers a menu which showcases premium cuts, sustainable seafood and locally sourced produce, presented in an elegant, sunflower-kissed setting with uninterrupted views of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. The restaurant offers a two or three-course set lunch, with dishes such as the intense, oceanic frolic that was the Coconut Lobster Bisque; the Roasted Duck Confit with its crisp skin and beautiful rub of spices; the juicy and tender “Butcher’s Cut” from the Steak & Fries; and the Pear Helene Sundae, which played like a posh French take on a classic hot fudge sundae.
Chocolate-themed bar Cacao Mixology & Chocolate offers a chocolate-centric cocktail menu, with tipples from their debut menu generally being light, breezy affairs – think Cacao-Nut Highball (Kelantan 70% cacao bitters, Ford’s Gin, house pandan coconut soda, hinoki) and Cacao White Negroni (Fernet Hunter Holger Deh 71% Cacao, Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Iichiko Shochu, Gentian). My favourite was the Cacao Coffee Martini (Holger Deh 71% chocolate, brown butter, Ron Zacapa 23 Dark Rum, Siete Misterios Mezcal, local coffee, Fernet Hunter coffee, popcorn foam), which played like a salacious romp between an Espresso Martini and a particularly naughty Taiwanese milk cap tea.
CONCLUSION
I visited Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur twice since its opening, and while there were many operational hiccups during the first stay (e.g. the supply of hot water in my shower not working properly, the “Do Not Disturb” button being faulty, some operation inconsistencies at Park Lounge during breakfast), my return visit was a decidedly more smooth and pleasant experience. The pastries (that Mille-Feuille!) are sensational, while the guest room hardware is one of the city’s most luxurious even when you disregard the height and views.
I imagine that once the hotel has settled down nicely, the local curiosity regarding the property dies down and the Instagrammers move on to places like Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur or Rembayung for their topical content, this would be one of the best and most comfortable hotels in Kuala Lumpur for your next stay.
Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Menara Merdeka 118
Presint Merdeka 118, Wilayah Persekutuan
50118 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Comments are closed.