Jalan Bukit Bintang is a famous, some locals even say premier street in the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The street begins at the Pavilion Shopping Centre running all the way down to the junction with Jalan Pudu, another parallel running street which is active 24 hours per day. The street is especially famous for it’s high quality malls and hotels located at the far end of the street. Though the street also has a cheap side right after walking by KFC, this area can also become rather shady especially during the night with a few souvenir stalls and hustlers offering massages or sex.
A pedestrian walkway is situated at the side of the Pavilion Shopping Centre, it’s filled with restaurants, cafe’s and bars. Most of them offer killer happy hour deals on meals and drinks, though as a visitor be prepared on busy times during these hours, as well the constant running cold air-conditions, along with loud music coming out of each individual restaurant, bar or shop. It doesn’t stop here, most restaurants have several LCD flat-screens playing on several channels, along with other customers talking, laughing and eating it generates one big cluster of sound. Love it, or hate it, the food being served it cheap and enjoyable. To avoid the crowds, simply go beyond happy hours.
Most of the shopping centers in the area are high end and provide luxury like the Star Hill Shopping Centre, Sungei Wang and BB Plaza. They are huge, have several levels and are filled with branded stores, for endless shopping on clothes, high tech electronics, perfume and other goods sold on average 450 shops per mall. All of the malls are open from 10 am till 10 pm, have a food court, fast food, coffee shops, restaurants, game stations and ATM machines to the customers availability. Another popular mall in Kuala Lumpur is the Mid Valley Mega Mall just about 15 minutes from Jalan Bukit Bintang.
There’s just one nightspot on the Jalan Bukit Bintang street, named Not which is situated upstairs at The Ship, opposite of BB Plaza. It’s been ongoing for years, have a live band playing and a cover-charge like most night places in KL. The main crowds are young locals, the bar gets packed around midnight. Although the lady-boy show can also be a good portion of fun for the open minded traveler. While semi-naked men, pretending to female dancing is stage has permission from authorities, there’s no authorities for actual females dancing alike.
All by all should the Jalan Bukit Bintang street be on the checklist of travelers to Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur. Just like a visit to Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown and Jalan P. Ramlee nightlife area.
