The New Wonder

The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel is where extravagance and simplicity, as well as tradition and modernity, exploration and relaxation collide.

BY SYAZIL ABD RAHIM

Touted as one of 52 Places to Go in 2020 by The New York Times, The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel, marrying old energy of the city with cosy comfort, is a traveller’s sanctuary that is not just for leisure but also for a unique exploration and artistic inspiration. A one-of-a-kind boutique hotel that it is, The Chow Kit is the first design-led, experience driven hotel that simplifies grandeur in its glitzy and old-Hollywood style seven-storey building and sits cheek-by-jowl with Kuala Lumpur’s golden triangle of entertainment and commerce capital, Bukit Bintang in the well-trodden street of Jalan Sultan Ismail. The new, simplified, luxury boutique concept foregrounds commendable service, design, and price ensures that guests get to experience while cosseted with the highest quality essentials alongside beautifully designed space.

Both the exterior and interior architecture of The Chow Kit are commissioned by Brooklyn-based design practice, Studio Tack. The design and feature concept take after the late-night folic that lingered in the shadows of Chow Kit’s alley’s and bars circa 1970s and 1980s. The boutique hotel boasts 86 rooms and 27 suites layered in the aesthetic and somewhat noir-ish moody colourway that is both discerning and sophisticated, from the polished timber floor to the bed frame in mahogany to the white plushy linen. Putting art as a talking point, guests will also find curated art pieces that were individually selected and tailored by visionaries in Malaysia and Southeast Asia making up the walls and as articles in the guestrooms as well as the public areas. The free spaces at The Chow Kit flawlessly blend the zestful, bold atmosphere of its location with the serenity desired from an upscale boutique hotel. The lobby is a reminiscent of the casual social parlor with grandiose ceiling heights and bespoke warm-glass chandeliers that bring a palatial feel to the space while the furnishings play within the idea of modern-classic in romantic colourway and are treated in detailed trims with references from the early 19th to mid20th century.

Situated at the heart of the hotel is The Chow Kit Kitchen and Bar where people come together to participate in the most basic human function – to eat or simply to hang out while having a good time. Operating all-day, guests are welcome to dive into Chef Ell’s exquisite passed-downfrom-generations recipes, bringing back the authentic tastes of Malay cuisine, drawing from the north and south Malaysia. From the rich rojak-rojak bowl to the juicy satay set to the creamy daging salai masak lemak and zesty ikan asam pedas platters, all of its crowd-pleasing classics are made to celebrate the honest flavours of locally sourced produce, from local artisanal vendors and the nearby Chow Kit market. Exclusively from now until November 30, enjoy a dining credit that is equivalent to the room rate when you stay at Den, Twin Den or King Den.