Neighbourhood guide

Bukit Bintang

Shopping, massages and a night market

Kuala Lumpur

The vibe

Giant malls, massage parlours, bars and street food: Bukit Bintang is Kuala Lumpur’s lively district. In the evening, Jalan Alor fills with plastic tables and stalls of satay, seafood and durian.

Good to know

An air-conditioned walkway links KLCC to Bukit Bintang: handy for escaping the heat and rain.

When to go

After 6pm for Jalan Alor.

Getting there

Monorail or MRT to Bukit Bintang.

The story

How the neighbourhood came to be

The name means “star hill”. First a residential area, Bukit Bintang became the city’s main shopping and entertainment hub from the 1990s, with its malls and the bar street of Changkat.

Did you know?

1Jalan Alor was once known for its gambling dens before becoming a food street.
2Durian, a fruit with a very strong smell, is banned in many hotels and on public transport.

Want to explore further?

See on the map Plan a day