If what comes to mind when you think of Chinatown are old haunts, dingy hawker stalls and fake branded goods, it is time to make your way to the heart of Kuala Lumpur . What awaits you are refurbished eateries — each with its own identity — shops stocked with local snacks and ware, carefully restored buildings, a recharged energy fed by the history and culture of the locale, as well as Four Points by Sheraton.
The 318-room hotel, the third by Sheraton in the country, opened on Dec 2, bringing stylish comfort to the enclave that has been rejuvenated in the last few years. It offers guests an immersive cultural experience of the neighbourhood, so they can get acquainted with cherished landmarks, traditional trades and means of livelihood, veteran craftsmen and curated activities that add colour and meaning to this part of the city that is a stone’s throw from the Klang River.
Four Points’ design is inspired by the stories of Southern Chinese migrants who sailed in to work in the country’s tin mines from the 19th century. Burnt-brick walls, floor to ceiling metal lattice work, customised wall art by local creative brand Loka Made, and a spacious seventh floor from which you get a sweeping view of the area combine a modern feel with a sense of nostalgia of days gone by.
The hotel, built by developer and interior fit-out company Federal International Holdings Bhd, has two dining venues — Lady Yi’s Tea House, which serves Peranakan delights for tea, and Quan’s Kitchen, with all-day culinary specialties in an open kitchen — and Jann, a chinoiserie-styled bar that will have guests raising a glass to all that is authentic about Chinatown after a day out and about.
Look out for more info about the hotel in Options soon.