Best Hotel Pools in Kuala Lumpur

Element Kuala Lumpur, KL’s Green Hotel

Element Kuala Lumpur

Monica Tindall

Residing in the eye-catching Ilham Tower, Element Kuala Lumpur is one of the city’s first “green” hotels. Besides boasting earth-friendly practices, it is also known for stunning views, its central location and as a contemporary lifestyle hub that enhances both short and longer duration stays.

Element Kuala Lumpur
Element Kuala Lumpur

Location

With KLCC, its convention centre and park less than a 10-minute walk away, Ampang Park LRT on the corner (2–minute walk), and some of KL’s most renowned cafes, restaurants and bars just across the road, the location offers centrality and convenience. Ease of access to public transport and the ability to walk to shopping, dining and entertainment, supports sustainable transport choices, which leads to the most unique feature of the hotel, its environmentally-responsible design.

Element Kuala Lumpur
Element Kuala Lumpur
Element Kuala Lumpur

Green Building Index

Certified with the Green Building Index (GBI), the structure boasts an eco-friendly design with natural light, open spaces and breathtaking 360-degree views of the KL skyline. Grand applause is well-deserved as Element Kuala Lumpur is the first hotel in the city to completely do away with plastic water bottles! With an NSF Certified Filtered Tap Water system in every room (making drinking water of better quality than what’s actually found in many plastic bottles), they have greatly reduced their impact on the earth in the elimination of plastic waste. This is seen further in the use of refillable pump bottles for shampoo and body wash in the shower, again dramatically lowering the pervasiveness of disposable plastic.

Green Hotel KL
Reception Lobby

Art

Not a drop of style has been lost, however, in the implementation. In fact, It’s clear from the moment we arrive that the owners of the property are serious art aficionados (so much so, they run a gallery on the 5th floor – worth checking out). There are original pieces on every wall mostly sourced from local artists. From the ground floor, to the reception and every level’s elevator lobby there’s something to pause to contemplate.

Element Kuala Lumpur
Art In One of the Elevator Lobbies

The one piece that really captures our inspiration though is a fantastic work by Claudia Bueno, a light and shadow artist from Venezuela. Life Resilient, the installation piece that hangs almost in place of a chandelier in the lobby, is a tribute to Malaysia’s extensive flora and beautiful under-ocean life. A series of lights ebb and flow changing the focus on the network and giving a sense of life and movement.

Green Stays KL
Check Out the Installation Art
Reception

Element Kuala Lumpur – Rooms

Visually pleasing aesthetics carry through to the rooms, which are sleek in cool calming greys and whites with splatterings of colour in wall adornment. Hubby is immediately impressed with the ability to completely close off the bedroom, living area and bathroom (accessed from both the lounge and the bedroom). This means my early rising habits and his late nights shouldn’t disturb each other’s sleep. I’m drawn to the outlook over the city skyline. It’s grand in rain, sun or nighttime. This room faces west, so the late afternoon light is particularly enchanting.

Studio rooms are the most common with a sleek interior and 38 – 40 square metres of space, but one, two and three-bedroom accommodation are also available. We find it wise to take advantage of the times and splurge a little as we are unable to travel, so highly recommend a suite. Much appreciated is the kitchenette fit with microwave, sink and empty three-quarter-size fridge. A hot plate, kitchen utensils, crockery, cutlery and a coffee machine are also provided! Additionally, guests have access to an on-site laundry – possibly another first for Kuala Lumpur hotels.

Taking direction from sister brand, The Westin, Element Kuala Lumpur features Signature Heavenly Beds. “Ten layers of pure comfort” ensure a sumptuously sound night’s sleep. Bathrooms are pleasing too with immediate hot water and high pressure streaming on demand. Although we don’t use it on this stay, we do note the bathtub and would welcome a soak on a longer visit.

Further confirming the hotel’s suitability for “work from/ away from home” stays, is fast and free WiFi. From the gym and pool, lobby and restaurant and, of course, in our room, we have a smooth connection.

Green Stays KL
One Bedroom Suite
Element Hotel Kuala Lumpur
One Bedroom Suite
Green Stays KL
Bathroom
Element Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Views from the Suite

Food and Beverage

Food and beverage options are kept simple with a single restaurant serving the hotel, Trace. It is so-named for its philosophy of knowing the source of all ingredients and attempts at finding local, ethical suppliers. The kitchen cooks up a mix of western and Asian recipes, with some fusion and molecular techniques dispersed across the menu adding interest without going overboard. Almost 270-degree panoramas of the city are accessed from floor-to-ceiling windows, and the atmosphere changes throughout the day with the natural cycle of light.

Green Stays KL
Trace Restaurant

Considering the quality of the food and the vistas, prices are reasonable with various specials making dining affordable. Happy hours make sundowners with friends or family competitive with what’s on offer around the city centre, and it’s a great option for physically distancing yourself due to the expansive seating area. 

Breakfast is included in many room packages. While normal times see a buffet in the morning hours, over the pandemic the offerings have shifted to a Western or Asian set. Diners may also take their food-to-go, which is helpful for those heading early to the office or anyone who prefers to avoid the crowd.

Element Kuala Lumpur
Happy Hour

Wellness at Element Kuala Lumpur

The 39th floor is known as the wellness floor inclusive of a saline (fewer chemicals – better for people and the earth) pool, gymnasium, aerobics room and spa. The infinity pool is not only spectacular because it edges right up to the glass windows gifting the feel of swimming in the sky, but also because of artwork by Yusof Ghani which tiles the floor of the pool and is only seen in its entirety via the mirrored ceiling above.

The compact, yet sufficient, fitness room is made appear more spacious due to enormous windows and mirrored walls. Each cardio machine is fit with state of the art screens, but with panoramas of the Melawati Ridges directly in view, there are much better sights to behold.

Further supporting green efforts, complimentary bikes are available for use around the city on a first-come-first-served basis.

Element Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Saline Pool – Notice the Art Reflected in the Ceiling
extended nights KL
Motion Fitness Centre

Element Kuala Lumpur Hotel Review

Element Kuala Lumpur is much more than a hotel, it’s a lifestyle concept. With its green design and efforts towards sustainable practices, it’s a property well worth supporting. It’s a fantastic hotel for tourism but also an excellent get-away if you’re working from home and need a change of scenery (or perhaps, a quiet environment in which to work).

Reasons to stay at Element Kuala Lumpur: no plastic water bottles & refillable bath products – a concerted effort towards a better future; fantastic art pieces; central location; convenience with in-room kitchenette; on-site laundry facilities; excellent suites at value-for-money prices; an incredible indoor saline pool.

Element Kuala Lumpur
Ilham Tower, 8 Jln Binjai
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6 03 2771 3388
www.elementkualalumpur.com

8 Comments

  1. Interesting! Very abstract, the furniture and all. Oooo…dim sum!!!

  2. Wow I love it. Now if only everyone would go green. We were horrified when in the USA last year the amount of things that were thrown away and it appeared much did not get recycled, and so much plastic. France is a great recycling nation and others need to follow suit. Enjoy your weekend Diane

  3. Amazing hotel dear! Love the idea for the shelf, so creative! Have a great day! xoxo
    Vesna

  4. Awesome hotel, love the decoration & design..

  5. Thank you so much. I will book there for October. Can’t wit to visit KL and chack all your amazing hotspot eat list.

  6. It looks a fabulous place to visit.

  7. This place is so futuristic!
    How come they didn’t go there to film Westworld?
    Instead they went to Singapore. 😉

  8. Not a single element is overlooked in the design and layout of this hotel! The art helps add great visual interest throughout.

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