Else Kuala Lumpur

Else Kuala Lumpur is a small, high-end boutique hotel in the heart of Chinatown, and the best choice in the old city for travellers who want style and calm in the middle of the street life. It occupies the Lee Rubber Building, a 1930s Art Deco landmark on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, and the Michelin Guide awards it one Michelin Key, describing it as a very special stay. With just 49 rooms, it feels intimate and personal.

Inside, the historic building has been given a soothing, minimalist modern style. Room categories are called Mantra and Sanctuary, and the clean, pared-back interiors make a restful contrast with the busy markets, food halls and shops outside the door. The hotel's leisure facilities are unusual for a property of this size: there is an outdoor pool surrounded by cabanas and sensory deprivation pods, and a boutique gym, so you can recharge between bouts of sightseeing.

There are two places to eat. Raw Kitchen Hall is the casual-chic option for everyday meals, while Yellow Fin Horse is a high-end Malaysian restaurant and a good reason to dine in at least once. There is also a bar and a lounge, along with room service and a concierge to help with bookings around the city. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at noon. Valet parking is available, and the hotel is fully non-smoking.

Else suits couples, solo travellers and design-minded visitors who want to stay somewhere with character and are happy to trade the space of a big chain hotel for a more individual experience. Its location is the main draw. Petaling Street, Central Market, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Kwai Chai Hong are all on the doorstep, and Merdeka Square and Masjid Jamek are within walking distance, so you can see much of old Kuala Lumpur on foot. Some of the city's best-loved local eateries, including Nam Heong and Lai Foong on Jalan Sultan, are a few minutes away.

Book directly to ask about room categories and any packages. Pasar Seni station on the LRT and MRT is the nearest rail stop, with easy connections to KL Sentral for the airport train and to KLCC and Bukit Bintang. Chinatown can be noisy late at night, so ask for a quieter room if you are a light sleeper.