The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Built in 1932 as the Hotel Majestic, this beautiful property eventually became home to the National Art Gallery until the late 1990's when the YTL hotel group began restoring it to its original purpose. The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur reopened in 2012 with a modern wing added to the historic building, all with an aim to provide guests with the experience of stepping back in time (despite modern touches in the rooms). From the staff in white jackets to the polished Art Deco interiors, the effect is impressive. And the lobby's thick Roman columns and gilded oval ceiling marked with a bull's-eye of tiered crystals makes a grand first impression.

Situated in the old colonial section of the city and across from the Moorish-style Kuala Lumpur railway station, the hotel is surrounded by historic buildings and bucolic parks on over three acres of private grounds. It's far from the modern city's shopping and nightlife, but within an 18-minute walk of the central rail hub at Sentral Station. The National Museum, National Mosque, and Planetarium Negara are all within a nine-minute walk. Lake Gardens, along with the KL Bird and Butterfly Parks, are within a six-minute drive. Expect a 55-minute drive to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The rooms occupy two wings of the hotel, with the newer tower building housing 253 modern rooms and suites with contemporary decor, while the Majestic Wing is home to 47 luxurious suites. Tower Wing rooms feature black wood furnishings and chrome accents that give them an Art Deco vibe, which fits in with the rest of the hotel. Each has a sitting area, big work desks with ergonomic chairs, and flat-screen TVs, as well as mini-fridges. The large marbled bathrooms have deep soaking tubs with wall-mounted TVs set between dual vanities, as well as separate walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Suites in the Majestic Wing feature hardwood floors dressed up with rich burgundy rugs, patterned wallpaper, and Art Deco furniture. The elegant bathrooms have clawfoot tubs and separate rainfall showers. Each suite comes with 24-hour personal butler service and free continental breakfast. 

The hotel's Majestic Wing pays homage to the past with its gentlemanly Smoke House, a gilded man cave to shame all others with a classic lounge and bar (billiard table included), a private dining room with an on-call chef, a tailor, library, and Old World barbershop Truefitt & Hill. There's also a card room, cigar lounge, and a movie theater with leather chairs that plays black-and-white movies from the 1930s (also available as a meeting venue). There are two outdoor pools, the largest of which is on the fourth floor terrace of the Tower Wing, and another is a lap pool adjacent to the Majestic Spa -- which offers the usual range of massages and body treatments. There's also a modern fitness center with cardio machines, weight trainers, and free weights.For two distinct types of dining, Contango serves international cuisine and has an open kitchen and a large buffet, while the wood-paneled Colonial Cafe harkens back to the colonial era with classic cuisine, an adjacent piano bar, and additional covered outdoor seating. Afternoon tea is served in a plush lounge with French doors, but guests can also book the glass-enclosed Orchid Conservatory, filled with natural light and wall-to-wall orchids. Apart from its sophisticated parlors, there are a few dedicated function spaces, including 14 different meeting rooms, and a grand ballroom that seats up to 1,500 people. There's also a roof garden with an open-air pavilion, pergola-covered seating, and excellent city views. Free shuttles operate on regular daily schedules to major destinations like Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, Starhill Gallery, the Bukit Bintang shopping district, and the Mid Valley Shopping Mall. Wi-Fi is free throughout.