A showstopping, locally inspired design sets the scene for sophisticated stays in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
The reception at The RuMa features a pressed copper ceiling. (All photos courtesy of The RuMa)
Why You Should Go
Tucked inside a 37-story tower on Jalan Kia Peng, a short stroll from the Petronas Twin Towers and the greenery of KLCC Park, The RuMa is discreet yet astonishingly beautiful. Its sublime contemporary interiors by British designer Andy Hall take their inspiration from Malaysia’s history of tin mining and rubber tapping (Kuala Lumpur, after all, started out as a village supplying tin miners with foodstuffs and essential goods). That heritage is expressed through the luminous copper elements throughout the public spaces, while a terra-cotta “birdcage” in the entrance foyer recalls how canaries were once used to detect toxic gases in the mines. It’s not just the interiors that come with a local flair: the hotel’s collaborations with leading Malaysian creatives range from a glittering lobby installation by fashion maestro Bernard Chandran to staff uniforms by Paris-based designer Joe Chia.
The staircases that flank Bernard Chandran’s sculpture Kebayaku were inspired by mining drill bits.
Inside a Corner Studio at The RuMa.
A chaise longue graces the living area in the 60-square-meter Deluxe suites.
The Rooms
Guest quarters at The RuMa comprise 253 elegant rooms and suites, all with a contemporary colonial feel. Expect to see woven rattan headboards, wicker-backed chairs, and blond wood paneling; beds are layered with silky 330-thread count sheets in Egyptian cotton. Bathrooms feature his and hers vanity basins made from copper (naturally), as well as rain showers and, in most cases, freestanding tubs by the window. Some of the accommodations, including the 111-square-meter RuMa suites, offer views of the Petronas Twin Towers. Early-morning or late-night arrivals will be glad to know that 24-hour check-in and late checkout are offered at no extra cost. Contemporary minibars in each guest room are restocked on a daily basis, and those bedding down in the suites can also take advantage of the hotel’s butler service.
The sixth-floor outdoor pool at The RuMa.
Treatment rooms at the on-site UR Spa come with outdoor lounge areas.
A spread of modern Malaysian dishes at Atas, The RuMa’s all-day dining venue.
Things You Can Do
In a city with no shortage of excellent eateries, young Canadian chef Tyson Gee has turned The RuMa into a dining destination. Afternoon tea in the lobby lounge is especially decadent, while Atas, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, has garnered rave reviews for its modern spin on Malaysian cooking. Seasonal, sustainable produce goes into reinterpretations of local favorites like pai tee and nasi ulam — the latter has been recast as a jasmine rice salad with crispy chicken skin and homemade XO sauce. On the sixth floor, you’ll find a glass-edged outdoor pool clad in gold and black tiles, a 24-hour gym, and UR Spa, where locally inspired wellness treatments (like the Silat Stretch and Urut Abdominal Massage) make use of organic skin and body products from Italian brand Comfort Zone.
