The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel

The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel is a lively, good-value boutique hotel in Bukit Bintang, the city's main district for shopping, eating and nightlife. It occupies a modern tower on Jalan Beremi, just off Jalan Sultan Ismail, and has 117 rooms decorated with bold colours, modern design and mural-sized photography. The Michelin Guide, which includes it in its hotel selection, sums up the mood as modern and happening, and it is a fun base for travellers who want to be in the thick of things.

The highlight is on the roof. The Swimming Club is the hotel's rooftop bar, themed like a hazily remembered poolside scene from an 1980s film, with an infinity pool and views over the Kuala Lumpur skyline. It is a good place for a swim during the day and a drink as the city lights come on. Downstairs, the hotel's coffee bar serves breakfast items a la carte, which suits guests who prefer a quick coffee and a pastry to a big buffet, and there is also a restaurant, room service and a gym.

Practicalities are straightforward. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out at noon. The hotel is wheelchair accessible and offers adjoining rooms, and children of any age are welcome, so it works for families as well as couples and groups of friends. It is a non-smoking hotel with a designated smoking area, and pets are not allowed. On-site private parking is available, though it cannot be reserved and charges may apply. Note that, according to the Michelin listing, reservations are confirmed through the hotel's customer service team.

The location is the main selling point. Jalan Beremi is a short walk from the malls and street life of Bukit Bintang, the hawker stalls of Jalan Alor and the bars of Changkat Bukit Bintang, so you can eat and go out without needing transport. Congkak, a Bib Gourmand Malay restaurant, is on the same street. Bukit Bintang and Raja Chulan monorail stations and Bukit Bintang MRT station are nearby, and KLCC is a short ride away.

The Journal suits younger travellers, couples, friends and budget-conscious visitors who want design and a rooftop pool without paying luxury prices. Light sleepers should ask for a room on a higher floor, as Bukit Bintang is busy late into the night.