The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur is the city's great heritage hotel and the best choice for travellers who want a sense of history with their luxury. The original hotel opened in 1932, designed by the architects Keys and Dowdeswell in a blend of Beaux-Arts and Art Deco styles, and in its heyday it was the grandest hotel in Kuala Lumpur. It played a part in the country's political history too: on 17 September 1951 the Independence of Malaya Party held its inaugural meeting here. The hotel closed in 1983, when the building was gazetted as a historic landmark, and it housed the National Art Gallery from 1984 to 1998.

YTL Corporation restored the old building and added a new tower, and the hotel reopened on 8 December 2012. It now belongs to Marriott's Autograph Collection and has 300 rooms and suites. The original building forms the Majestic Wing, with 47 heritage suites full of period charm, while the 15-storey Tower Wing next door holds 253 Art Deco-inspired rooms. Book the Majestic Wing if you want the colonial-era atmosphere; the tower rooms are more modern in feel.

The public spaces are a pleasure to explore. There are seven places to eat and drink, including the Colonial Cafe, The Tea Lounge for afternoon tea, The Drawing Room, The Writers' Room, The Smoke House and Contango in the Tower Wing, as well as The Orchid Conservatory. The Majestic Spa has its own outdoor pool, and there is a second outdoor pool in the Tower Wing, along with a fitness centre. A pillarless ballroom and 13 meeting rooms make it popular for weddings and events.

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out at noon, and guests must be at least 18 to check in. The hotel is smoke-free and does not accept pets. Self-parking and valet parking are available for a daily fee, and the hotel can arrange airport transfers; Kuala Lumpur International Airport is about 58 kilometres away.

The location, on Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin near the old Kuala Lumpur railway station, is quieter than Bukit Bintang or KLCC but very convenient for sightseeing. The National Mosque, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the Perdana Botanical Garden and the National Museum are all close by, and Muzium Negara MRT station is the nearest stop. The hotel also runs a shuttle to KL Sentral, the city's main transport hub.