Bukit Bintang: A Guide by Locals

Bukit Bintang is the shopping and entertainment district of Kuala Lumpur. There’s tasty food, diverse accommodations, spectacular shopping, and high-energy nightlife. Welcome to the heart of the city!

Bestow is located in Bukit Bintang, so we know the neighborhood inside and out. Get the inside scoop on Kuala Lumpur’s most exciting place from—yours truly—the people who live there!

What is Bukit Bintang?
Bukit Bintang Map
Where to Eat in Bukit Bintang
Shopping in Bukit Bintang
Events in Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang Nightlife
Is Bukit Bintang Safe?
How to Get Around Bukit Bintang
Best Things to Do in Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang Hotels

What is Bukit Bintang?

Bukit Bintang is Kuala Lumpur’s bustling entertainment hub. It’s located right in the middle of the city, sandwiched between the city’s 4 largest towers.

The highlights include:

Large shopping malls (ranging from budget to luxury)
Restaurants and street food
Jalan Alor (the city’s most famous food street)
Changkat (Kuala Lumpur’s “party street”)
A large variety of hotels and hostels
Vibrant holiday celebrations

There are other cool things just outside of Bukit Bintang, including:

Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)
Chinatown
KL Forest Eco Park
Menara Kuala Lumpur (the large observation tower on the hill)
Batu Caves (you can get there by taking the MRT from Bukit Bintang)

Kuala Lumpur is a big, sprawling city, but you’ll find that Bukit Bintang encompasses everything that’s wonderful about KL and Malaysia.

Bukit Bintang Map

Where to Eat in Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang Street Food

Like the rest of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur’s cuisine is a “highlight reel of Asia.” The best example is Jalan Alor, a popular night market where you can taste an endless variety of Asian street foods. Everything’s delicious and budget-friendly.

But you’ll find great street food all over Bukit Bintang. Locals sell shawarmas, smoothies, and local fruit (if you’re not from around here, you’ve got to try Durian—love it or hate it).

On the street corners, you’ll find food outlets that basically serve a buffet of Asian cuisine. Pay 10-20 ringgits and get helpings of:

Nasi lemak (the staple dish of Malaysia)
Nasi kandar
Chicken/beef biryani
Chicken chop
Chicken fried rice
Roti canai

Bukit Bintang Restaurants

Of course, there are plenty of excellent places to sit down and eat.

Know that many of the restaurants in Bukit Bintang are halal-certified, or buy their ingredients from halal-certified suppliers.

The restaurants in our neighborhood reflect the diversity of Malaysia. You can find everything from:

Chinese
Indian
Pakistani
Sushi
Traditional Malay
Thai
Vietnamese
Western
And more!

There are also several fusion restaurants that skillfully blend cuisines from around the world. May we recommend Bestow Restaurant & Bar, if you’re in the mood for Asian fusion?

Then again, we might be a little biased. 😉

Shopping in Bukit Bintang

We love to go shopping here in Malaysia. And Bukit Bintang is probably the best example of this. There are roughly a dozen shopping malls in this part of the city, and many more street markets.

Shopping Malls

If you’re an international visitor, you might be surprised by how many shopping malls we have in Malaysia. [What better place to beat the heat and hang out with friends and family?]

Even if you’re not much of a shopper, Malaysian shopping malls are fun to explore because they’re bigger and more spectacular than the malls you’ll find elsewhere—especially if you’re coming from the West.

Here are some of the most popular shopping malls in Bukit Bintang:

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
The Starhill
Berjaya Times Square
Lot 10
Plaza Low Yat
LaLaport BBC

Street Markets

You’ll also find little street markets throughout Bukit Bintang where you can find very cheap shoes (used but in good condition), souvenirs, and fashion accessories. The markets are fun to explore and helpful if you urgently need to buy some new clothing on a budget.

Events in Bukit Bintang

No place in Malaysia is more festive than Bukit Bintang. These 4 holidays bring the most vibrant celebrations:

Christmas: The shopping malls are decked out with some of the most extravagant Christmas decorations you’ve ever seen.
New Year’s Eve Countdown: The streets of Bukit Bintang are packed on New Year’s Eve, especially at Bukit Bintang Street, outside of Pavilion Mall.
Chinese (Lunar) New Year: Lunar New Year is a big deal in Malaysia because so many Malaysians are of Chinese ancestry. The streets, bars, and shopping malls are adorned with Lunar New Year decorations, and there are official (and plenty of unofficial) fireworks celebrations throughout the neighborhood.
National Day (Merdeka Eve): The streets are humming with traditional music and street performances.

Bukit Bintang Nightlife

Apart from shopping, Butkit Bintang is best known for its legendary nightlife.

But you don’t need alcohol to enjoy the nightlife here.

Go for a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy live music, street food, and cold drinks. There are also numerous places to smoke shisha.

But if you are looking for a night of drinks and dancing, Bukit Bintang has a little bit of everything for everyone.

Bars range from budget-friendly to fancy, so you can have a good time no matter what your budget.

Changkat

Changkat is Kuala Lumpur’s famous party street.

It’s a bar-hopping hotspot that’s especially popular with backpackers and expats, but locals hang out there, too. If you only had one night to sample the KL club scene, then Changkat is where you’d want to go.

Sensory Overload

It’s fun to walk around Bukit Bintang because your senses will have plenty of things to feast on.

Sight: Bukit Bintang Street is highly Instagrammable at night, lit up by big billboards, hanging lanterns, and spectacular-looking shopping malls. Same goes for Jalan Alor.
Sound: Music! Live bands play on the street corners and every bar is jamming out.
Smell: We already mentioned Jalan Alor, which is conveniently located by Changkat for your post-partying hunger. Stroll around and see where your nose takes you.
Taste: There are endless eating options in Bukit Bintang. Have dinner by way of street food, or sit down at a restaurant and try a local menu. Many places offer shisha, in case you wanted some food-less flavor.
Touch: Get a temporary spray-on tattoo (or a real tattoo). Try on fashion accessories at the street markets or go window shopping at one of the shopping malls. Do as Malaysians do and shop for stuff.

Is Bukit Bintang Safe?

Yes, Bukit Bintang is a safe neighborhood.

This is the heart and center of Kuala Lumpur. There are plenty of tourists and a large police presence, so you can walk around the neighborhood with your family without the slightest unease–even at night.

Just like any big city, you should take basic precautions when you’re out late. Try not to walk alone in dark alleys, especially if you’re drunk. You can always take a Grab or Taxi to get back to your hotel safely if you’re not sure where you’re going or have no one to walk with.

However, you should know that Bukit Bintang is a friendly place. We know our neighbors and look out for each other and tourists.

How to Get Around Bukit Bintang

The best way to get around Bukit Bintang is to walk. Almost everything here is within walking distance.

Traffic can be heavy, especially in the evenings, and there’s limited street parking. You can park at the shopping malls, but the parking fees are a bit expensive. So if you’re going to drive to Bukit Bintang, it’s best to park your car in one place and then walk everywhere else or take a Grab. Otherwise, you can get to Bukit Bintang by taking the MRT or bus.

The Monorail is a fun way to get from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and it’s fast and cheap. Trains arrive every 10 minutes.

Best Things to Do in Bukit Bintang

Everyone has different travel tastes. But most people who visit Kuala Lumpur enjoy doing the following things in Bukit Bintang:

Jalan Alor: The iconic night market is hard to pass up. So tasty, yet so affordable.
Changkat: Changkat is a no-brainer if you’re looking for high-energy bars.
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur: Pavilion is Kuala Lumpur’s most dazzling mall. It’s fun to check out even if you don’t plan on buying any of the high-priced items.
Berjaya Times Square: Berjaya Times Square is a family-friendly shopping mall with an indoor theme park and amazing decorations. It’s also a great place to buy travel necessities (in case your headphones break or you realize you forgot to pack something).
KL Monorail: The monorail can get you around central KL, but it’s also a fun way to go sightseeing. You’ll have a nice view of the KL cityscape from the elevated rails.

Want to Stay in Bukit Bintang?

Bukit Bintang is the perfect place to stay if you’re visiting KL.

You’ll be close to Jalan Alor, Changkat, the Petronas Towers, and many other highlights.

You’re also not far from Batu Caves and the rainforests that surround the city.

But there are a couple drawbacks to staying in Bukit Bintang.

The area can be noisy and congested, especially if you’re staying closer to Changkat. People are up late partying, music beats long into the night, and you’ll hear honking and traffic noises until the bars close.

There are plenty of hotels just outside of the Changkat area, but you’ll pay a higher price for more quiet. Some of these hotels are “big brands” and lack some of the local character that makes Bukit Bintang so unique.

If you’re looking for a quiet hotel that’s still very close to the center of things, check out Bestow Boutique Hotel (opening in Spring 2023!).

Our hotel is an “oasis in the city” with natural lighting, lovely gardens, and a rooftop bar and pool. We have excellent rates and we’re only a 15-minute walk from Jalan Alor and Changkat.

On a super tight budget? Check out Bestow Capsule Hostel. Our space capsules are designed to give you the most privacy possible while you sleep.