Shopping

Shopping in KL is sheer fun and awfully exciting as well. One can enjoy bargain hunting within the cool comforts of ultra-modern, one-stop shopping complexes or the thrill of browsing among antiques and curio items in establishments in the older parts of the city. Mingle with the jostling crowd at the numerous roadside stalls or share in the heady excitement of the carnival like "pasar malam" or night markets.

The main shopping areas in Kuala Lumpur are the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman area, Jalan Petaling or Jalan Bandar area, and Jalan Bukit Bintang area.

Central Market

Just across the Klang river from Daya Bumi Complex is "Pasar Seni" (Art Market), which is housed with conserved structure that was formerly the wet Central Market of Kuala Lumpur. It still bears the same name today. There are numerous specialty shops inside that offer a range of handicrafts, antiques, curios, and works of local artists.

Petaling Street

Petaling Street and Jalan Bandar are at the hub of Kuala Lumpur's bustling Chinatown. Shops here offer a variety of textiles, clothes, shoes, and handbags at bargain prices. The area is also known for its jewelry items beautifully crafted in gold and set with priceless gemstones. Nepalese traders offer exotic ethnic jewelry , wall hangings, ornaments, curios, and teapots from India and Myanmar. Make-shift and mobile stores jam the streets with their offerings of dried foodstuff, herbs, fruits, flowers and herbal remedies. This is the place to hone your bargaining skills, where a poker face and the gift of the gab would be plus points in your favor. This unusually busy street becomes more lively at night with the sprouting of stalls offering a diverse range of products from ethnic goods, clothing, and cosmetic to 'designer watches'! The bright lights from the shop fronts and stalls combine with the blaring music lend the area a festive carnival air.

Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC
The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, otherwise known as KLCC the world's tallest twin structures. Located in the heart of the capital city, the crown of the Kuala Lumpur contains a complex of office buildings, conference halls, a sprawling park and an upmarket shopping complex.

Inspired by the geometric shape found in Islamic architecture, this gleaming mega-structure was designed by Argentinian-American architect Cesar Pelli.

Stretching out to one side of this architectural masterpiece is the spacious and beautifully landscaped KLCC Park. Other attractions at KLCC are Suria Shopping Complex, Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Petrosains Science Centre, Petronas Art Gallery and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where The Aquaria Oceanarium is situated.

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
This was the 'grande dame' of KL shopping, in the days before modern shopping complexes took the KL metropolitan city by storm.

This stretch of road is flanked by pre-war buildings whose distinctive facades are preserved and re-adapted to accommodate modern retailing businesses. Here, you can walk through the archways of shops for an immersion into a shopping and cultural experience that goes back several decades to the days before modern shopping centres.

Many established names like GS Gill, P. Lal and PH Henry chose to remain when others moved out. The shops here offer a wide range of fabrics and textiles, imported leather goods, bags and luggage, carpets, sports goods and winter clothing.

Narrow alleys between the shops offer a fantastic range of clothing material at irresistible bargain prices. Other established names offer collections of silver and crystalware. The very modern Sogo Shopping Complex and Maju Junction Mall are also located along this stretch.

Every Saturday between 5.00 pm -10.00 pm, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman is closed to traffic and transformed into a night market where petty traders and hawkers sell an assortment of goods in the open air.

The night market, or literally translated as "Pasar Malam" in the Malay language, offers you an interesting place to walk through and perhaps pick up some casual attire, local products, as well as sample some local delicacies. This experience is a feast for the senses.

Bintang Walk
For both shopaholics and coffee-sipping night owls, Bukit Bintang is one of the hippest streets in the city. It's a perfect place for people-watching over a latte between bouts of bargain-hunting.

A wide pedestrian walkway running the length of the street has transformed it into an exciting rendezvous point with open air cafes and restaurants.

The many shopping centres along Bukit Bintang ensure that you will never run out of options.