When deciding what to do in Kuala Lumpur (KL), there are many to choose from, including a lot that are right on the tourist path. From visiting the KL Twin Towers to admiring birds at the Bird Park, there is a lot to keep you busy.

But if you are looking for some unique things to do in Kuala Lumpur, that is slightly off the beaten track, well then, you’ve come to the right place.

Table of Contents

13 Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur
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- Discover More to Eat + Drink in Kuala Lumpur

13 Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Experience Afternoon Tea in the Orchid Conservatory

This was truly one of the most unique experiences I have had on my travels.

Afternoon Tea at the Majestic Hotel in KL | What to do in Kuala Lumpur - Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur | Hello Raya Blog — Enjoying Afternoon Tea in the Orchid Conservatory with my Dad at the Majestic Hotel in KL

I am a sucker for a traditional style English afternoon tea – I love a good quality tea and some cakes in the late afternoon, while light classic music plays in the background and you’re in good company.

The Majestic Hotel in KL offers an excellent afternoon tea. And for an even more unique experience, make sure to sit in their Orchid Conservatory. Reservations are a must, especially if you want to sit in the orchid conservatory.

Read more about my afternoon tea experience at the Majestic Hotel here.

Dine & Dangle 45 meters up in the Sky with Dining in the Sky

Imagine being hoisted 45 meters up in the sky, and being able to enjoy a 3-course dinner whilst being surrounded by 360 degree views of Kuala Lumpur.

That’s exactly what you’ll get with Dining in the Sky KL.

This was not like dining in an airplane – this was a next level dining experience that is one of those once in lifetime experiences you have to try out.

Reservations are limited to just 22 people per session, so booking in advance is a must-do. To learn more, you can read about my experience Dining in the Sky here.

Get Jazzy at No Black Tie

No Black Tie has invited some of Southeast Asia’s most established jazz musicians to play, which has made No Black Tie a crowd favorite when it comes to jazz bars in KL.

It is one of the oldest Jazz clubs in Kuala Lumpur, having been around since 1998. The design of the space is simple, yet intimate, making the primary focus the main stage. Wooden trimmings decorate the main space, with wood space on the walls, the floor, and furniture.

To sit in the main hall and listen to the jazz sets, there is an admission fee that you will have to pay. The fee really depends on the musicians that are playing, but generally ranges from RM50 – RM70 per person (A$15-A$22 / U$12 -U$16 per person).

To check out who’s playing and for further information such as admission fees, the No Black Tie Facebook Page has all this info.

To visit: 17, Jalan Nagasari & Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang

Learn How to Cook Delicious Malaysian Food

Malaysia is well known for their food, and for good reason. I mean it is delicious. The beauty of Malaysian food is that it is a melting pot of different cultures including Malay, Chinese and Indian.

To find good quality Malaysian food outside of Malaysia is not an easy task. So instead, why not learn how to cook it? Learning how to cook Malaysian food is not only a great way to take home recipes and techniques, but it is an excellent way to learn about the Malaysian culture.

Looking to join a Malaysian cooking class? I recommend the LaZat Cooking School. All of their classes are run in a traditional Malay style home and are conducted in English. The classes are fully hands on, which means you are learning the exact techniques you need to make delicious Malaysian food at home.

LaZat have been running classes for over 9 years and have climbed the ladder to be THE leader on TripAdvisor for cooking schools in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more about my cooking class experience here.

Explore Kuala Lumpur on a Segway

There are so many ways to explore Kuala Lumpur – on foot, by bus, by car… but when I heard about the company Eco Ride Malaysia, which specialises in Segway tours around KL, I knew that I HAD to try it.

All I can say is – YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!

Eco Ride Malaysia currently run 2 different tours – one is a tour around the Lake Gardens, and the other is around Putrajaya. Zooming around the KL on a Segway has made me love exploring KL even more.

The Lake Gardens is such a big area, spanning 200 acres of greenery in the middle of the city. So the best way to explore this vast place, PLUS have so much fun along the way is on a Segway. Altogether the tour takes approximately 2.5 hours, and covers about 10 kilometres with plenty of photo and filming opportunities along the way.

Then there’s Putrajaya, a planned city which houses Malaysia’s government buildings is just a short drive outside of Kuala Lumpur. It is a great place to visit, because the architecture of all the buildings is fantastic. BUT, Putrajaya is HUGE and if you are exploring Putrajaya on foot, it is exhausting. So when I heard Eco Ride Malaysia was offering a new tour in Putrajaya, I quickly jumped on the bandwagon and heading out to do a Segway tour of Putrajaya.

If you are interested in finding out more information or to book, click here for Lake Gardens and here for Putrajaya.

Enjoy a Farm-to-Table Farmer’s Luncheon at A Little Farm on the Hill

A Little Farm on the Hill is a lovely sanctuary not too far outside of Kuala Lumpur in the green surroundings of Janda Baik. It’s the perfect respite from the concrete jungle of the city.

The farm grows an array of organic produce, which they supply to various restaurants and boutique grocers. And if you want to get a taste of their wonderful produce, you have to book yourself for their Farmer’s Luncheon which happens on the first Sunday of each month. It’s a oh-so-delicious farm-to-table experience that is available for up to 45 guests.

You can read more about the farmer’s luncheon at A Little Farm on the Hill here.

Dine in Complete Darkness at Dining in the Dark

Our eyes play a big role when it comes to dining experiences…so what happens when your sense of sight is taken away? Experience what it’s like to dine in complete darkness, and let all our other senses do the talking.

Dining in the Dark KL is the only restaurant of its kind here in Malaysia, and it’s a fun experience. Expect a lot of laughter as you try to manoeuvre your way around the plate and try to guess what you are eating.

Savour a 4-Course Kelantanese Dinner at Dapur Mekwa’s Supper Club

Dapur Mekwa is no ordinary supper club. It’s the first of its kind in Malaysia, and is the perfect way to savour a 4-course traditional Kelantanese dinner and learn more about beautiful Malaysia.

The menu at Dapur Mekwa takes inspiration from the cultural history of Kelantan, a state in the eastern part of Malaysia. And during dinner, as each dish is presented, Hisham and CJ, our hosts, shares the dish’s story.

The Dapur Mekwa supper club is an amazing experience and a wonderful way to try Malaysian food and make some new friends!

Go Hunting for KL’s Speakeasy Bars

Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur - PS150 | Hello Raya Blog — At PS150 at Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur

Speakeasy bars are a bit of a craze at the moment, with a whole number of them opening up. Whatever it is, it is fun hunting for them.

Some have asked me, what exactly is a ‘speakeasy bar’? Well young grasshopper, speakeasy bar were seen back during the Prohibition Era and were considered illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages. Because the sale of alcohol was illegal during this era in America, these speakeasy bars were hidden bars so it wasn’t always easy for officials to find them.

Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur - Omakase + Appreciate | Hello Raya Blog — At Omakase + Appreciate, one of Malaysia’s top bars.

Today speakeasies are back, and not because alcohol is necessarily illegal, but because it adds an added element to the experience of visiting a bar. It’s fun and quirky, and adds for a memorable evening out.

I have explored a whole host of speakeasies in KL including PS150, P&C, Deceased Bar, and Omakase + Appreciate (it was the only bar in Malaysia to make onto the Top Bars in Asia list in 2016 and 2017).

Go Off the Eaten Track

There are so many delicious food to eat in KL, and the hardest decisions to make are what to eat and where. Where’s the best nasi lemak? How about the best banana leaf? And the best afternoon snacks? Let’s just make these decisions a little easier for you by joining a food tour…even better, a food tour in Kuala Lumpur that’s off the eaten track!

KL Food Tour | What to do in Kuala Lumpur - Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur | Hello Raya Blog — Charles, our tour guide, introduced us to a range of fantastic local eateries

Less hassle, less stress, a food tour in KL is a great way to learn more about the food culture, and go where the locals go. Our tour guide was Charles and he was extremely knowledgeable about KL, its history, and he introduced us to a variety of food to try. In totally we got to try about 15 different foods in a span of 4 hours. Plus it was a fun way to explore a more local side to Kuala Lumpur.

If you want to learn more, check out my experience on the Off the Eaten Track food tour in Kuala Lumpur.

Sip on Cocktails at a Sky Bar

One thing I love about KL is the beautiful cityscape, especially the views overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers. My favorite way to enjoy the view? By having cocktails at one of KL’s Sky Bars. There are 3 bars that I would recommend for its excellent views, each offering a unique experience so why not try all 3?

So when you are deciding what to do in Kuala Lumpur, I highly recommend heading up to one of the Sky Bars to enjoy the view.

Heli Lounge Bar

Heli Lounge Bar is a bar set up on a heli pad – a fully operational heli pad during the day, and a bar at night. It has stunning 360 views of KL city, which is best seen at sunset. The bar officially opens at 6:00pm each day, but does close if it rains. Best to reserve a table, as it does get busy. If you want to reserve a seat, there is a minimum spend which is roughly RM100 per person. Alternatively, sometimes it is possible to buy a drink from the bar one floor down and head up to the Helipad. A word of caution – the service is a tad bit slow, so I would recommend pre-purchasing your drinks in the bar below before heading up to the helipad. The view makes the experience worth it.

To visit: Heli Lounge Bar, Level 34, Menara KH, Jalan Sultan Ismail

Pacific Standard Bar

Pacific Standard Bar is set on level 41 of the Alila Bangsar Hotel, and boasts wonderful views of Kuala Lumpur city. It’s not until you stare at the view from Pacific Standard that you actual start to realise just how big and vast Kuala Lumpur actually is.

Pacific Standard Bar pays homage to the best of California in the 1950’s and 1960’s; a time when the glamour and romance of vintage Hollywood was on the rise, and rules were made to be broken. The cocktails are delicious, and the views are stunning – two wonderful combinations! A must-try is their Fat White Russian, which is topped with a boozy house-made donut liquor.

To visit: Pacific Standard Bar, Level 41, Alila Bangsar Hotel

Marini’s on 57

Marini’s on 57 is located in the Menara 3 building, which is next door to the Petrona Twin Towers. It is located on level 57 and offers great views of KL city. You are able to get up close and personal with the twin towers that it almost feels like you can touch it. Best to go in the late afternoon for happy hour drinks, and then keep the party going into the night. Keep in mind that you can’t wear short or flip flops to the bar.

To visit: Marini’s on 57, Level 57, Menara 3 Building, KLCC

Sky Bar

The Sky Bar is located at the Trader’s Hotel. It has the best view of the Twin Towers, because the bar is located literally opposite the Twin Towers (across the park) and it is unobstructed. The Sky Bar has a decent vibe during the night, while during the day the hotel pool is located at the Sky Bar. This means that you will get hotel guests using the pool, making the atmosphere a lot more casual. So Sky Bar is a good spot to have a cold beer and enjoy a lovely view of the twin towers. And yes, shorts and flip flops are allowed during the day.

To visit: Sky Bar, Level 33, Traders Hotel

Scrub Away at Hammam

With all the things to do in Kuala Lumpur to keep you busy, you are also going to need to give yourself some time to relax. So why not spend some time in a spa? After all, you’re on holiday!

I have added this spa experience to my unique list, because it is not your typical day at the spa. A hammam is also known as a Turkish bath or steam room in various Middle Eastern countries, with roots tracing back to ancient Greek-Roman culture.

Hammam Spa | What to do in Kuala Lumpur - Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur | Hello Raya Blog — Scrub away all your worries at Hammam Spa in KL

Hammam opened its doors in KL in 2007 and became the first Morrocan style hammam in Southeast Asia. The main purpose of visiting Hammam in KL is to vigorously exfoliate from head to toe in the steam room until you are ‘shiny’ clean. Basically after the treatment, your skin is so soft for days, just like a baby. My favorite package is the Concubine Hamman, which includes the exfoliation treatment and an aromatic massage.

To visit: Hammam has two outlets, one at the Publika Shopping Centre and the other at Bangsar Village 2.

Go Café Hopping in KL

Unique Things to do in Kuala Lumpur - Botanica + Co | Hello Raya Blog — Looking for brunch options in KL?

While there is plenty of local Malaysian food to experience while in Kuala Lumpur, this city also plays hosts to a wide range of fantastic cafes that are worth visiting.

From excellent coffee to delicious brunch style dining, there are plenty of cafes to tickle your fancy. With cafes opening up all over KL, it can be hard to decide which ones to visit – especially if you are only visiting KL for a few days.

So to help you make your decision on which to visit, check out these cafes for the best brunch and breakfast options in KL. Or if you want to grab some of those instagrammable worth-it shots, then check out these cafes in KL.

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Discover More to Eat + Drink in Kuala Lumpur

Ain’t No Brunch Like a Lisette’s Sunday Brunch in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

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Dining in the Dark KL – a Sensory Dining Experience in Kuala Lumpur

We didn’t even need to close our eyes. It was pitch black and we just had to trust our server to guide us to our table without tripping

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Because the Queen Said So – A British Fare at W1 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

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Gooddam – An Italian Inspired Restaurant in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur

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I'm Soraya, travel & food blogger and sunshine chaser at Hello Raya. You know that travel bug? I have been well and truly nipped, infinite times.This is my online nook to share my lifelong experiences of travel & food in hopes to inspire you to explore our beautiful world.

20 Comments on 13 Unique & Awesome Things to do in Kuala Lumpur that is Off the Beaten Path

Sasha says:

October 24, 2016 at 11:05 pm

This is a great list. I wish I had thought to have done a cooking class, though I was there for such a short time. Next time! I also visited Heli Bar but wish I had visited Sky Bar instead. Again, next time. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Tina and Jimmy says:

October 24, 2016 at 11:40 pm

How gorgeous is that to have afternoon tea in the orchid garden. Breath taking! Kuala Lumpur looks quite beautiful and really want to go some day! Taking a cooking class followed by a food tour would be fantastic. I would love it!

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Helene says:

October 25, 2016 at 12:32 am

Hello Raya! Thanks for this post ! This looks amazing!!! Kuala Lumpur is on my bucket list! pastries, cocktails and Hammam ? yes, please! ^^ I’m pinning this for later !

Reply
Naomi says:

October 25, 2016 at 4:00 am

I would definately want to try to cooking! It looks like a fun activity to get to know more about the culture and the heritage.

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Roger Wellington says:

October 25, 2016 at 9:19 am

Wow, I can’t wait to visit Kuala Lumpur! All these attractions look so fun. Afternoon tea looks absolutely delightful and lovely. I would love to learn how to cook Malaysian food and relax at a hammam.

Reply
Sheena says:

October 25, 2016 at 12:05 pm

I’ve been to KL countless times but I’ve only done 1 out of 6 of these things! That 1 would be the Sky Bar at Traders Hotel, which I have probably been to about 5 times, to even out the numbers a little 🙂 Malaysia is the best place for foodies, I would love to try some of these experiences on my next visit, especially the high tea & food tour. Thanks for the recommendations!

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Gina says:

October 25, 2016 at 12:05 pm

Woah! I didn’t know that you could do all those unique things in Kuala Lumpur. My favorite would have to be the afternoon tea at the orchid garden. You look like you had a great time with your dad and this is something my mom would absolutely love since her favorite flowers are orchids. LaZat cooking school sounds like an amazing place to learn home cooked meals and the fact that it’s in English is also a plus!

Reply
Ivy says:

October 25, 2016 at 12:26 pm

Beautiful pictures, Soraya!! Malaysia sounds like a foodie heaven- just the way I like it! 15 different foods in the span of 4hrs? Sign me up. I wanna do that one the same day as the cooking class, AND go for afternoon tea 😛

Reply
Neni says:

October 25, 2016 at 12:37 pm

I love this city. I wanted to take part in a cooking class, but the vegetarian classes were full. 🙁

Reply
Soumya Nambiar says:

October 25, 2016 at 3:55 pm

I did not know that there were so many unique things to do in KL. I am a huge fan of musicals and Mud sounds like the perfect thing for me. Soraya do you know of any vegetarian food tours in KL? Afternoon tea in the Orchid room sounds heavenly.

Reply
Ashley says:

October 25, 2016 at 5:54 pm

I always try to find a place to eat/drink with a sky view in every city I visit. It is such a great way to get an… overview if you will! ? You found 3! I’ll have to up my game.
And a food tour, what a great idea. I’m always down to try new things but it helps to have some information on what I’m actually eating since Asia is full of ingredients I’ve never heard of.

Reply
Lauren West says:

October 25, 2016 at 8:28 pm

We’re trying to figure out what to do to spend a few hours in an overnight layover in KL. We just might have to hit up some of these sky bars! The tea and hammam look great too, maybe for another trip!

Reply
Kristina says:

October 25, 2016 at 10:56 pm

I LOVE going to see shows while abroad! I’m so happy to hear you saw a musical while in KL, that’s so cool! I was only there for a night when I went, saw the towers, and then crashed in my hostel. I hope I can actually go explore in the future.

Reply
Deni says:

October 26, 2016 at 3:20 am

These are all great experiences you can have in KL! I never would have thought to go see a musical while in Malaysia! Also the sky bar and having high tea in the orchid conservatory would be quite high on my list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur! Thanks for sharing your experiences 🙂

Reply
Ozzy says:

October 30, 2016 at 9:34 pm

Even I have been in Kuala Lumpur I didn’t do the most of them, damn it! Cooking workshop and orchid conservatory look interesting! And of course should be very unique to spend time with father! Double jealous..

Reply
Flo @ Yogawinetravel.com says:

November 16, 2016 at 8:32 am

I love that there are so many food and drink-related things to do! I’ve always loved Malaysian food so will need to take a cooking class and go on a food tour – your experience sounds amazing!

Reply
Stacey says:

November 16, 2016 at 10:43 am

I would have loved to visit a few of these, but we were on a long layover. I hope to go back one day and check out more.

Reply
you.theworld.wandering says:

December 13, 2017 at 1:37 pm

What a great comprehensive list Raya! I stayed in KL twice this year, once for a month back in July. I love Kl – especially the food tour and street food scenes. I would really like to try the speakeasy bars! Sky Bar is amazing!

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Benjamin Grimm says:

April 11, 2018 at 2:31 pm

Heading to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow! Very cool post I will use to guide my ways! Thank You!

Reply
Bhushavali N says:

December 18, 2018 at 7:17 am

My friends living in Singapore have been inviting us since long. I am planning to do a Malaysia and Singapore trip together.
Super happy to have come across this list. Cafe hopping sounds yumm. That plate of pancakes looks divine! I’m yet to try out a segway tour, but with my little baby in hand, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it anytime soon. Tea in Orchid Conservatory is indeed a top thing to do!

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