Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur Turns a City-Centre Stay Into a Journey Through KL
From a former Kuala Lumpur landmark to a contemporary urban base, Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur brings together adaptive-reuse design, local art, neighbourhood discovery, skyline dining and a distinctly Malaysian sense of place.
A Different Way to Experience Kuala Lumpur
For travellers visiting Kuala Lumpur, location can often determine the shape of an entire trip. Stay near the city centre, and the Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC, Bukit Bintang, shopping malls, restaurants, nightlife and cultural attractions are all within relatively easy reach.
But being close to Kuala Lumpur is not necessarily the same as experiencing it.
That distinction sits at the heart of Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur, a lifestyle hotel on Jalan Sultan Ismail designed around the idea of connecting travellers with the city beyond its most recognisable sights.
Within walking distance of the Petronas Twin Towers and the wider KLCC precinct, the hotel also places guests near Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Bintang, creating a convenient base for exploring the capital’s shopping, dining, nightlife, culture and creative communities.
Yet the hotel’s identity goes further than its central address.
Its design draws from Kuala Lumpur’s industrial past, tropical landscape and transformation into a modern capital, while its partnerships and neighbourhood experiences are intended to introduce travellers to the people, food, artists and creative spaces that continue to shape the city today.
In other words, the hotel is positioned less as somewhere to simply return to after sightseeing, and more as another way into Kuala Lumpur.
From Wisma KFC to a New Chapter in the City
One of the more interesting elements of Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur is its relationship with the building’s own history.
Before becoming the hotel it is today, the property was known to many Malaysians as Wisma KFC. Rather than completely replacing the existing structure, the project took an adaptive-reuse approach, giving the familiar city landmark a new role within contemporary Kuala Lumpur.
That history is reflected in the hotel’s physical transformation.
The arrival experience has been repositioned, while a double-height dining space was introduced for IL Forno. Higher up, the social level brings together @21 Rooftop Bar, the saltwater infinity pool and the fitness centre.
The result is a hotel that acknowledges the building’s past while creating spaces designed around the way Kuala Lumpur functions today — social, creative and constantly moving.
For a city that has undergone rapid transformation over decades, that approach gives the hotel an additional layer of relevance. It is not attempting to erase what came before. Instead, the building’s previous identity becomes part of the story.
Where Kuala Lumpur’s Tin-Mining History Meets Contemporary Design
The design story continues throughout the hotel.
Designed by Silverfox Studios, the interiors draw inspiration from Kuala Lumpur’s tin-mining history, its tropical environment and its evolution into a modern capital.
At the lobby, a wheel-inspired installation references machinery associated with the city’s tin-mining era, immediately establishing the industrial thread that runs through the property.
Elsewhere, exposed structural elements, industrial textures, warm timber, metalwork, greenery and contemporary finishes create an aesthetic that balances Kuala Lumpur’s past with its present.
The hotel’s relationship with Malaysian creativity is particularly visible through the work of graffiti artist Jefr. Vibrant graffiti murals appear across communal areas, bringing the energy of Kuala Lumpur’s streets indoors and placing contemporary local expression alongside brick, steel and industrial surfaces.
The hotel’s relationship with Malaysian creativity is particularly visible through the work of graffiti artist Jefr. Vibrant graffiti murals appear across communal areas, bringing the energy of Kuala Lumpur’s streets indoors and placing contemporary local expression alongside brick, steel and industrial surfaces.
There is also a fashion element to the design language.
Malaysian fashion designer Melinda Looi created the hotel’s denim-inspired uniforms, with their workwear influence offering another subtle reference to the city’s industrial heritage while introducing a contemporary Malaysian perspective.
Together, these details make the hotel’s visual identity feel connected to its location rather than interchangeable with a generic city-centre property.
Two Spiral Staircases, Two Interpretations of KL
Perhaps one of the most distinctive design details is found in the hotel’s two sculptural spiral staircases.
The first takes its inspiration from the pedestrian bridges and greenery of KL Forest Eco Park. Its curved form and surrounding garden-like elements reference the relationship between architecture and nature that exists within Kuala Lumpur — a city where pockets of tropical greenery continue to sit alongside towers, roads and dense urban development.
The second staircase takes a different route.
Located outdoors, it connects IL Forno on Level 19 with the rooftop experiences on Level 21. Its design references the spiral staircases found in Kuala Lumpur’s historic shophouses, while its industrial character recalls the city’s tin-mining heritage.
Most visually strikingly, the staircase is painted in the red, white, blue and yellow of the Jalur Gemilang.
As guests move between the levels, openings along the staircase landings frame views of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur’s skyline and surrounding greenery.
It turns what could have been a simple transition between dining and rooftop spaces into part of the hotel experience itself — a physical journey through several versions of Kuala Lumpur, from heritage and nature to contemporary architecture and the city skyline.
The Hotel as a Gateway to Jalan Tengah
For travellers who prefer discovering a destination through neighbourhoods rather than simply moving between major attractions, the hotel’s community-led experiences provide another point of entry.
Every Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., guests can join “Discover Jalan Tengah Market Like a Local”, a complimentary neighbourhood experience that takes participants from the hotel to the nearby market.
Registration can be completed through a QR code with assistance from the concierge team before guests meet at the concierge desk for the guided walk.
The experience focuses on local flavours, everyday market culture and recommendations from the surrounding neighbourhood. A Community Centric sticker trail also identifies selected vendor stalls, helping visitors navigate the market and discover places that might otherwise be easy to overlook.
There is something deliberately simple about the concept.
Rather than presenting Kuala Lumpur exclusively through major attractions, the experience encourages travellers to spend time within the rhythm of a neighbourhood — following food, vendors and everyday local life.
For guests who want to explore independently, the hotel also offers “The C Map”, featuring locally curated recommendations covering food, nightlife, culture, walkable neighbourhoods and hidden corners of the city.
As General Manager Sebastian Krack explains, “Location is only the beginning of the experience.”
The philosophy is reflected in the way the hotel connects its central location with opportunities to explore beyond it.
Bringing Malaysian Creativity Into the Hotel
The connection with Kuala Lumpur does not stop at neighbourhood exploration.
Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur has also developed partnerships with local creative and cultural organisations, creating opportunities for travellers to encounter different sides of Malaysia’s artistic landscape.
At Jadi Batek, guests can explore batik through workshops and locally made products. Hotel guests receive 20% off workshops and products when presenting their hotel key card.
The partnership with GMBB extends the creative experience into the hotel itself.
Through Artist Spotlight, a rotating lobby exhibition gives Malaysian artists a platform to showcase their work to hotel guests and the wider community. The initiative has featured Luqman Rosnan’s Colours of Unity, multidisciplinary artist Chetping’s Traces of Becoming, and Unity, Duality & Universe, a photography exhibition by Edmond Leong and interdisciplinary artist, poet and photographer Api Husien under Zontiga.
For travellers unfamiliar with Kuala Lumpur’s contemporary creative scene, the exhibition provides an introduction without requiring them to leave the hotel first. For the artists, the initiative places their work directly in front of visitors and the wider hotel community.
Another partnership, with Immersify KL, moves into the world of digital art and immersive technology, combining digital art, spatial sound, projection and interactive technology across multidimensional media environments. Hotel guests receive 20% off admission with their hotel key card.
Together, these collaborations reinforce the hotel’s broader approach: local discovery can happen through food, markets, traditional craft, contemporary art and technology — not simply through sightseeing.
312 Rooms Designed Around the City
At the centre of the hotel experience are 312 rooms and suites, including options with private balconies.
For guests spending their days moving through Kuala Lumpur, the property offers several spaces designed to complement that city-centre lifestyle, including a saltwater infinity pool overlooking the skyline, a dedicated observation deck and a 24-hour fitness centre.
The rooftop setting adds another dimension to the stay, particularly for travellers interested in seeing Kuala Lumpur from above.
And while the hotel’s location makes it convenient for exploring the city, its facilities give guests reasons to stay within the property between excursions.
That balance — city exploration outside, social and leisure spaces inside — is central to the Hyatt Centric proposition.
Dining, Drinks and Kuala Lumpur Views
Food and drinks form an important part of the hotel experience, with three distinct venues offering everything from Italian comfort food and tandoor cooking to rooftop drinks overlooking Kuala Lumpur.
On Level 19, IL Forno brings the atmosphere of an Italian trattoria to the hotel, with handcrafted Neapolitan pizzas, handmade pastas and classic Italian favourites served across its dining room, bar, lounge and alfresco terrace.
For a more casual option, TanBuri offers Malaysian and international flavours, with its three tandoor ovens adding a distinctive touch to the menu — ideal for a quick meal or a relaxed catch-up.
Up on Level 21, @21 Rooftop Bar takes the experience outdoors, set beside the saltwater infinity pool with locally inspired cocktails, wines and beers against panoramic Kuala Lumpur views. DJ evenings add an after-work and late-night energy to the rooftop setting.
Together, the three venues create a dining journey that moves naturally through the hotel — from dinner and casual bites to drinks above the city.
A City-Centre Base for Meetings and Celebrations
The hotel is also positioned for business gatherings and private occasions.
Its SunRooms can be divided into four separate meeting rooms, with natural daylight, flexible layouts, food and beverage packages and a central Kuala Lumpur location.
Vibrant graffiti artwork brings the property’s creative character into the meeting environment, making the spaces suitable for corporate meetings, workshops, intimate celebrations and social events.
This adds another layer to the hotel’s city-centre positioning: it is not solely designed around leisure travellers, but also around the meetings, events and social occasions that form part of Kuala Lumpur’s urban rhythm.
Seeing Kuala Lumpur Through a More Local Lens
What makes Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur particularly interesting is not any single feature in isolation.
It is the way its different elements are designed to point back towards the city.
The building’s adaptive reuse preserves a connection to a familiar Kuala Lumpur landmark. The interiors reference tin mining and tropical landscapes. Malaysian graffiti and fashion bring local creative perspectives into the physical environment. The spiral staircases interpret different aspects of the city, while the Jalan Tengah experience moves guests directly into a neighbourhood setting.
Then there are the creative partnerships, from batik and contemporary art to immersive digital experiences, alongside Italian dining, tandoor cooking and rooftop drinks.
The hotel’s General Manager describes the intention as helping travellers move between Kuala Lumpur’s landmarks and “the people, flavours, artists, and neighbourhoods that give the city its character.”
For a destination as layered as Kuala Lumpur, that approach offers a useful reminder: experiencing a city does not always mean going further.
Sometimes, it means looking closer.
And at Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur, the invitation is to begin with the city-centre address — then follow the design, food, art, neighbourhoods and people beyond the hotel doors.
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