Ong Chin Huat, our roving Malaysia-based writer and style guru, spends a day and night exploring the capital’s newest hotel, the Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur.
Located in the heart of town, the Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur, which opened at the end of last year has been making hospitality waves not just because of its graffiti-sprayed walls, uncompromising Italian fare and the perfect rooftop bar with sweeping views of Kuala Lumpur, but also because of its impeccable service and friendly staff who are decked out in outfits designed by Malaysian designer Melinda Looi.
Converted from what was once an office building along Jalan Sultan Ismail, the Hyatt Centric took 2 years to renovate and opened its doors on December 18th 2024.
With 312 rooms on 21 floors, its modern interiors, which exude a cool, luxury street vibe, were conceptualised by renowned interior design firm Silverfox Studios, which drew inspiration from Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage.
Reimagining the Malaysian capital’s tin mining past as a starting point, local industrial references are tastefully combined with contemporary design to create a comfortable and approachable type of luxury, which features rustic lighting and urban textures throughout the public spaces.
Offering valet services to all its guests, whether staying or just visiting to indulge in its F&B offerings, the Hyatt Centric KL ensures its guests are enveloped in a brilliantly warm and welcoming service.
The hotel also offers The C Map, an insider’s guide curated by their team, which gives a peek into the under-the-radar places, neighbourhood gems and some of the city’s best-kept secrets. Among the locations featured in this insider’s guide is the KL Forest Eco Park, an oasis of lush greenery amidst the city’s skyscrapers, located just beside the hotel.
With its centuries-old rainforest, canopy, and hiking trails, it’s the perfect place to immerse oneself in nature without travelling too far. Another hidden gem is the KL City Gallery, which traces the story of KL from its founding as a tin mining town to its present day.
Food is never far from any traveller’s itinerary, and at the Hyatt Centric KL, there are three different and diverse dining options to indulge in.
Its main restaurant, IL Forno, is a culinary journey to Italy with authenticity at its core. Located on the 19th floor, this cosy and cavernous trattoria is divided into four distinct spaces with industrial elements intermingled with homey touches in its décor.
Under the supervision of Executive Chef Vincenzo Carbone, the heart of this trattoria is its open kitchen, where a customised pizza oven, specially imported from Italy, takes pride of place and churns out mouthwatering handmade pizzas, such as Diavola, Capricciosa, and Gamberi e Rocola, apart from the usual favourites, including Margherita. Using artisanal pizza dough that is slowly matured for 36 hours and baked at 430 degrees for just 90 seconds, this dish is not to be missed.
Other must-tries at IL Forno are the appetisers of Tagliere Misto di Antipasto e Formaggi, a signature dish for two or four people, which consists of Burrata Salad, Roasted Vitello Tonnato, Tomato Bruschetta, Beef Bresaola, Grana Padano, Pickles, Marinated Olives, and Warm Pizza Bread.
The Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, featuring 18-month aged Grana Padano and Slow-Cooked Wagyu Beef Bolognese, and the Gnocchi con Fonduta di Grana are a must for pasta enthusiasts.
There are also main courses like Tagliata di Manzo (Grilled Australian Wagyu Beef with Rucola and 9-year-old aged Balsamic Vinegar), Filetto di Merluzzo alla Livornese (Baked Cod Fish, Cherry Tomatoes, Potatoes, Black Gaeta Olives, Capers with Italian Parsley and White Wine) and the Costoletta alla Milanese (Breaded Veal Chop, Rucola, Cherry Tomatoes, 18-month aged Grana Padano and Mixed Salad), enough for two or three people, are dishes which just might leave you in a food coma!
“IL Forno, in Italian, means ‘the oven’ and our entire restaurant concept is built around what we can create and enjoy from this essential tool,” says Chef Vincenzo. “Not only do we craft authentic Pizza Napoletana, but we also prepare dishes such as artisanal lasagna made from handmade pasta sheets and a variety of our antipasti and main courses.”
Breakfast, which shouldn’t be missed, is also served at IL Forno with a buffet consisting of both local dishes, such as Roti Canai, Mee Goreng, and Chinese Porridge, as well as traditional European breakfast fare.
Inspired by perennial favourites Such as Tandoori and Donburi dishes, TanBuri is a casual café located in the lobby of the Hyatt Centric KL, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
A standout feature of Tan Buri is the three custom-built tandoori charcoal ovens, which reinvent traditional flavours through the intense heat of tandoor cooking to create mouthwatering dishes such as the rice bowls, Tandoori Platter and the signature Nanini, a tandoori-based sandwich. But do save some room for the soft-serve ice cream in Mango and Coconut, because you won’t regret it.
The rooftop bar at the Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur offers a front-row seat to the stunning sunsets, which occur almost every night. Glamour is the buzzword when it comes to cocktails during happy hour at @21 Rooftop Bar.
Laze around the saltwater pool during the day and retreat into the illuminated sky bar featuring multi-level seating and an open-air terrace, and enjoy quesadillas served piping hot from the teppan grill, with bold flavours such as Larb Gai and Beef Rendang accompanied by a choice of homemade corn or wheat flour tortillas.
Quench your thirst with an extensive cocktail and mocktail selection, including Señorita Sting, Tropic Like It’s Hot and Vibe Check or non-alcoholic options such as Butterfly Hana and Jack-O-Jack. And if you fancy some more food, the spiral staircase located just beside the pool leads to IL Forno on Level 19.
For further information on Hyatt Centric City Centre KLCC, please visit: www.hyatt.com/hyatt-centric/kulct-hyatt-centric-city-centre-kuala-lumpur.
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