Stepping into Moxy KL Chinatown is like stepping into an Atari game (yes, you can clearly tell I am of a certain age) – you know you’re in for a good time. The only other time we’ve stayed in a Moxy was in England but that served only as an overnighter for us as we got in late at Heathrow and needed a room just to crash for the night. We were eager to get going the next morning and thus didn’t truly experience a stay at a Moxy. As such, a staycay at Moxy KL Chinatown was something I eagerly looked forward to.
Getting to Moxy KL Chinatown was easy-peasy with Waze. However, locating it at the end of the route was not as clearcut. The entrance and signage are up on one side of the building, which is on a side road. Tip: the entire building is gunmetal grey, which if you know beforehand, makes it is easy to spot.
Décor which celebrates Malaysia and screams FUN
The lobby of Moxy KL Chinatown is an open concept which oozes inviting living room charm, with playfulness written all over it. The décor is hard to resist especially with ample seating topped with cute Malaysian themed cushions and throws, along with a multitude of games strewn all over, it simply begs you to plonk yourself down and just be.
Cosy and functional rooms
Check-in was at the bar as they call it, and was a quick and smooth process. We were given a Moxy Executive Room, which whilst teensy (all rooms at Moxy are on the small side in terms of space), was welcoming as it was decked out in wooden laminates in warm neutral tones, with the bathroom and WC fitted from floor to ceiling in subway tiles.
If need be, there were also a desk and chairs which were folded and hung on pegs. I simply love the pack, fold and stow concept! “Everything has its place” as I like to say (to death, if you ask the teen).
The only snag here was that we could hear the LRT making its rounds throughout the day and into the night, and also the Muslim call to prayer in the morning. This didn’t bother us much as the husband will sleep through all noises and I wake early. If you are a light sleeper though, you might want to bring along ear plugs.
Vibes at Bar Moxy
After dropping off our luggage in the room, we headed down to Bar Moxy for sundowners. Bar Moxy is a wide-open space, with the bar in the middle, a DJ area off to one side, and the pool at the end. Sitting out on the deck was nice as it had been raining earlier in the day and was cool out.
The cocktail I ordered, Sexy Moxy, was strong – always a yes from me, and much appreciated. The Koobideh Kofta was smoky, and flavoursome, which went well with the warm and fluffy pita bread. The Nicoise Salad however, was a letdown and looked like it’d been sitting out for a bit and came from the Grab n Go at the lobby.
As it was a Saturday, I was in for a treat as Saturdays are Ladies Secret Saturdays at Bar Moxy. From 8pm to 10pm, ladies get free drinks throughout, if they know the password (hint: it’s on their IG account and pinned at the top). Two cocktails were on offer for Ladies Secret Saturdays – Gin and Tonic, and Sangria. There was also a live DJ playing and it was L-O-U-D (there I go again letting on about my age). The millennials who were there though had no issues with the volume and could clearly carry on conversations with no trouble.
Proximity to Chinatown
Before I started, ahem, treating myself at Bar Moxy, we headed out to Petaling Street (a mere 5-minute walk from the hotel) just to have a wander around and to pop into REXKL. I think it’s fab that Chinatown is so close and easy to get to, without actually staying in Chinatown. Plenty of local food options and street shopping to partake in!
Moxy KL Chinatown has got to be the coldest building in town, and I mean it literally – the a/c is probably set to arctic – but this is very much welcomed especially if you’ve gotten all icky and sticky after a walk in Chinatown!
Timing matters
The buffet breakfast at Zone Out in Moxy KL Chinatown the next morning was a small affair but more than ample to fill you up. I feel that the smaller options work better sometimes as you’re not inundated with choices especially for a meal that’s as standard as breakfast.
We’re I am an early riser (the husband just has to go along) and was truly impressed that the breakfast buffet line was fully stocked at the time they said breakfast would be served – 6:30am. We’ve been to numerous hotels where the buffet breakfast wasn’t completely ready at the opening time and we’ve even come to expect it(!). I also liked the fact that they offer the style of eggs of your choice, cooked fresh, should you not take to the scrambled eggs on offer on the buffet line.
The extras
Lockers! Which are always handy to store your bags when you need to get that last piece of souvenir or eat that local dish one more time, before you have to catch your flight. Also, laundry room! I know when the teen was a kid, this was my utmost priority when travelling – access to clean washers and dryers.
Our stay at Moxy KL Chinatown was indeed a true getaway, albeit in town. The teen would have had so much fun had he come along – he opted to stay home to study for his IGCSEs. Perhaps I’ll book us in when he’s done with his exams as a treat. There’s the Moxy Executive Loft, which has a bunk bed, which I know he’d truly get a kick out of!
We were invited by Moxy KL Chinatown. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
