Designed to inspire well-being, The Westin KL’s ‘A Delicious Weekend’ package helped me to eat, move, feel and sleep well to gear up for a new week. Here’s my experience.
Having never set foot in any of The Westin’s esteemed hotels before, I was genuinely curious and excited to see what I would find in their Kuala Lumpur establishment.
Admittedly at first, the idea of a staycation in the city appeared somewhat ironic, as I have been a KL girl all my life. However, the hotel’s new ‘A Delicious Weekend’ stay package appealed to me with its many perks, including complimentary breakfasts with extended hours, a weekend high-tea, Italian set dinner, complimentary carpark and WiFi access, as well as Sunday 3pm late check-out.
Of course, the fact that the hotel is strategically located in the heart of the bustling city comes as another plus point, as I could easily walk to any of the malls nearby to do some shopping or meet up with friends – minus the jam (and parking issues) too.
Hence, with an open mind, I set out on my 3-day 2-night stay at The Westin Kuala Lumpur.
Day 1
12.00pm: Arrival and check-in
Upon arriving at the hotel, I was greeted by courteous attendants who swiftly aided me with my luggage and guided me to the reception. I noticed quite a few people around the lobby, and was told it was the peak season whereby the hotel was almost at full occupancy. Nevertheless, I was pleased that checking-in was still an ease and within five minutes, I was making my way up to my home for the next three days. (Swipe left to follow my itinerary).
12.30pm: Welcome to my room
My first pleasant surprise came as I entered my Deluxe City View Room on the 33rd floor, where a welcome drink awaited me, accompanied by a chocolate dessert decorated with a personalised welcome message. I had half a mind to tuck myself into the inviting king-sized Heavenly® Bed, but knowing I had much to explore, I quickly shook the idea away.
12.40pm: Quick hotel tour
After settling in with my luggage, I was brought on a quick tour around the hotel and made a mental note along the way to revisit the Westin Workout Fitness Studio after (a predictably heavy) lunch. During the tour, I was again happily surprised to discover I had exclusive excess to the Westin Executive Club, available only to guests on the Executive Floors (33rd to 35th floor). (Disclaimer: The Westin Executive Club Lounge is not part of this weekend package, but guests can upgrade their room at an additional charge to enjoy the benefits.)
1.00pm: EAT WELL - Lunch at Prego
Although this weekend package originally comes with a set dinner at Prego, I was invited to a special lunch instead to witness a friendly cook-off between the Italian restaurant’s new Chef de Cuisine, Ricky Parlanti, and the hotel’s Director of Kitchens, Chef Rudy Junaidee. Being more of a carbonara fan, my vote was for Chef Ricky’s carbonara e castelmagno (aka Prego’s special carbonara), though those fond of aglio olio may prefer Chef Rudy’s dish. Competition aside, I personally highly recommend the carbonara.
Other must-try dishes at Prego include the Burrata Cheese Served With Grilled Spring Vegetables Basil and Pine Nut Emulsion (pictured above), Truffle Scented Cream of Field Mushroom and the Mascarpone Trifle, Espresso dessert.
7.00pm: Cocktails at the Westin Executive Club
Unfortunately, some work deterred me from visiting the gym as earlier desired, so after a quick Heavenly shower, I headed to the Westin Executive Club for some drinks and bites. To be honest, I was only expecting light refreshments to go with my drink, but I was grateful to find a reasonable selection of rice and meat dishes, as well as a delectable dessert spread.
9.00pm: Exploring the city
Later in the evening, I made use of my free time to visit some of the nearby malls and attractions. (Options: Shopping malls like Pavilion KL, Fahrenheit 88, and Lot 10 are all within a 5 to 10-minute walk away, while Suria KLCC and Avenue K would take around 20 minutes to reach by foot. Other foodie hotspots like Mr. Chew’s Chino Latino Bar and The Table @ ISETAN The Japan store are also within walking distance.)
Day 2
9.30am: EAT WELL - Breakfast at The Living Room
After half-heartedly getting up from my all-too-comfortable bed, I made my way to The Living Room to enjoy a large breakfast spread. From the usual cold cuts and Western-style breakfast foods, to Japanese sushi and soba, to our local flavours, there were so many options that even the most picky eater would leave satisfied.
3.00pm: FEEL WELL - 60-min In-room Massage
I decided to skip lunch after such a heavy breakfast and made an in-room spa appointment to fill my time instead. My masseuse arrived all-smiles and early to pamper me with the hotel’s Signature Massage treatment – allowing me to forget the world and all its worries for an hour. However, I found it odd that I only received a mineral bottle after the massage and not the ‘signature massage basket’ mentioned on their website (which I only read about later).
7.00pm: EAT WELL - Dinner at Five Sen5es
After hearing wonders about this Chinese restaurant, I have been longing to try its dishes. Not knowing what to pick from the menu, I simply went with the chef’s personal recommendations. I’m glad I did too – his soup-of-the-day, claypot three cup free range chicken, and baby spinach poached in superior stock definitely made for a wholesome Chinese dinner.
Five Sen5es' fried rice with seafood and XO sauce is a must-try, especially if you love rice and Chinese food. The scallops and prawns were really fresh and juicy, whereas the rice was full of flavour from spices and the XO sauce.
9.00pm: SLEEP WELL
When I returned to my room, I received a third surprise – the hotel left me with a jar of hot water and camomile tea to ensure I had a pleasant sleep. 9pm was way too early for bedtime though, so I slowly helped myself to the tea while watching my favourite show on Netflix.
Day 3
10.00am: EAT WELL - Breakfast at Westin Executive Club
The camomile tea certainly did its work and I slept like a log all night, which explains the late start to my day. Since I had breakfast at The Living Room yesterday, I opted for the Westin Executive Cub today. Though I was aware that the spread would not be as extensive, I did enjoy the more exclusive and peaceful dining atmosphere.
11.00am: MOVE WELL - A refreshing swim at the Splash Pool
Alright I admit, as much as I wanted to go for a swim to burn off all the calories I have accumulated the past few days, the weather and the pool’s cold temperature dissuaded me from doing so. In the end, I chilled by the poolside with a refreshing cocktail instead.
11.30am: A game of pool
I also attempted to play a game of outdoor table tennis with a friend, but again, the wind proved too strong. Determined to make use of the little time I had left at the hotel, I finally settled for a round of pool (indoors, of course).
1.00pm: EAT WELL - Weekend Hi-Tea at The Living Room
Seing as the Weekend Hi-Tea at The Living Room (included in the weekend package) would be my final meal at the hotel, I took my time to savour as much as I could. And if my eyes did not deceive me, I would say the hi-tea spread was even larger than the breakfast spread the day before. Finally, gathering all my things, I checked out of the hotel at 3pm, very much satisfied with my stay.
After experiencing the ‘A Delicious Weekend’ stay package, I daresay it lived up to its promise of relaxation and exhilaration to gear me up for the upcoming Monday work day again.
Whether you’re coming to KL for a business or family trip, or even if you’re a city-bred like myself looking for a different KL experience over the weekend, The Westin Kuala Lumpur’s A Delicious Weekend package is an alluring option to consider.
The A Delicious Weekend package is only available until 31st August 2017. For more information, visit westin.com; to make reservations, contact 03 2731 8333 or click here.