[Stay Blog] Within Walking Distance of KL Sentral Station! Staying at City Central Hotel

This time I actually stayed at “City Central Hotel at KL Sentral,” located at a transportation hub of Kuala Lumpur.

“Where’s a cheap, convenient hotel around KL Sentral?”
“I’m arriving late at night, but I want to stay somewhere close to the station and safe”

Are you torn like this?

Choosing a hotel on your first or last day in Kuala Lumpur especially is an important point that determines how smoothly the whole trip goes.

Beyond the overwhelmingly good location right in front of the station, the rooms are spacious, which is rare at this price range.

In this article, I give a candid review from a guest’s perspective, covering the access from the station that I learned by actually walking it, the local food nearby, and even the cleanliness of the rooms you’re probably wondering about.

After reading this, you’ll know clearly whether you should stay at City Central Hotel at KL Sentral.

Who is City Central Hotel at KL Sentral recommended for?

“City Central Hotel at KL Sentral,” in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, sits in the KL Sentral area lined with modern high-rise buildings, yet it’s an extremely convenient base from which you can easily reach other areas such as Penang Island.

Around it are the city’s largest transportation hub, “KL Sentral Station,” and one of Malaysia’s largest Indian districts, “Little India,” and many people from around the world gather here for business and sightseeing.

“NU Sentral,” directly connected to the station and open until 22:00, has the latest cafes and apparel shops, and Instagram-worthy spots are rapidly increasing.

It’s especially popular with backpackers in their teens to thirties and with efficiency-minded group travelers.

Kuala Lumpur has countless hotels, but based on actually staying, the people for whom City Central Hotel at KL Sentral is suitable are as follows.

Those who want to handle late-night arrivals and early-morning departures smoothly and without stress

First, people who want to handle late-night arrivals and early-morning departures smoothly and without stress.

If you arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) late at night, getting from there to a hotel in the city can feel like a bit of a hurdle in an unfamiliar place, especially regarding safety.

Joe felt the same way when I first came to Malaysia.

However, at this hotel, just a few minutes’ walk from “KL Sentral Station,” the terminus of the KLIA Express, you can check in right after getting off the train.

The streets are lit around the station at night and not deserted, so even on your first time in Kuala Lumpur the mental burden is much lighter.

Those who want shopping and local food both within walking distance

Next, people who want shopping and local food both within walking distance.

The huge mall right across from the hotel, “NU Sentral (New Sentral),” is just so convenient.
As the photo shows, it’s open and very clean!

Trying local street stalls takes a little courage at first, but the mall’s food court is reassuring.

Malay, Chinese, Indian, and cuisines from all over Malaysia gather here, and the appeal is “cheap, close, and quick to eat.”

The menus have photos and numbers so you can order by pointing, so there’s no need to worry about language.

Surprisingly, it even includes Japanese favorites “Nitori” and “Uniqlo,” and having brands you know in a foreign land is more reassuring than you’d imagine.

Those who prioritize value but don’t want to drop the hotel grade as much as possible

Last, people who prioritize value but don’t want to drop the hotel grade as much as possible.

As the photo shows, it has a very clean, modern interior.

Of course, it’s a 3-star hotel, so you can’t expect much from the extra facilities, but it clearly cleared the minimum line where Japanese guests don’t feel stress during their stay, such as air conditioning performance, bed comfort, and cleanliness.

[Access] Within walking distance of the station! A huge mall right in front makes it the most convenient

City Central Hotel at KL Sentral is a modern, highly convenient hotel at a transportation hub of Kuala Lumpur, within walking distance of KL Sentral Station.

By train, it’s about a 7-minute walk from “KL Sentral Station,” Kuala Lumpur’s largest hub, so access from the KLIA Express and every line is just so smooth.

Right in front of the hotel is the huge shopping mall “NU Sentral (New Sentral),” and inside it are Uniqlo, Nitori, and a food court open until 22:00, which is as convenient as it gets for small shopping and for the kind of meal you need on the first day of a trip.

Hotel name	City Central Hotel at KL Sentral
Address	No 80 & 82, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone	60-03-22764100
Check-in	13:00
Check-out	12:00
Rooms	106 rooms
Access	About a 7-minute walk from KL Sentral Station
Shuttle	None
Parking	None
Wi-Fi	Free
Smoking	Not allowed
Vending machines	None
Coin laundry	None
Credit cards	Visa、MasterCard、American Express
Luggage storage	Available before check-in and after check-out
Other	Gym, garden view

[Stay report] Reviewing the hotel from check-in onward

Now let me introduce the details of City Central Hotel at KL Sentral, where I stayed this time.

This time I walked from KL Sentral Station carrying my suitcase. With access of just a few minutes on foot from the station, even with a heavy suitcase there was no stress, and I arrived without getting lost.

The lobby is by no means large, but as the photo shows it’s clean with a modern design.

The indirect lighting on the ceiling and the front desk lighting are stylish, and there was a reassuring feeling of being welcomed brightly even when arriving late at night.

At the front desk the staff served me with a smile, and check-in was very smooth.

At check-in you’re asked to show your passport, and something not to forget at that point is payment of the “Tourism Tax.”

There was a notice at the front desk, but in Malaysia a tourism tax targeting foreign travelers has been in effect again since January 1, 2023.

• Amount: RM10 (about ¥400) per room per night
• Applies to: All foreign travelers who are not Malaysian nationals
• When to pay: Pay directly at the front desk at check-in

After check-in, I headed to the guest room floor.

Stepping out of the elevator, a simple, bright, white-based corridor continues.

The corridor is designed without unnecessary decoration. Bright orange doors line up, with the cleanliness typical of a business hotel.

I was assigned Room 109 this time.

The door has a sensor to hold the card key to. The door plate reads “WELCOME TO CITY CENTRAL HOTEL,” giving a bit of a welcoming mood.

The moment I tap the card key and open the door is full of the excitement of starting a stay in a new city.

Now, let’s look at the inside of the room you’re curious about.

Guest room and amenities

My first impression of the room was one word, “Pretty!”, for a 3-star hotel.

The bed is made in a clean white base, and on the wall at the headboard side are a green lattice design and botanical art.

Combined with the soft light of the indirect lighting, it feels like a Japanese designer hotel.

There’s no window, but thanks to the bright interior and lighting I didn’t feel much of a closed-in feeling.

Across from the bed, a built-in desk counter runs along the whole wall.

The TV is wall-mounted, designed to keep the desk surface wide.

There is, at least, enough space for doing a bit of PC work while traveling or spreading out drinks you bought.

Let’s check in detail the amenities prepared on the desk.

As seen in the center of the photo, the outlets are BF type.

With a conversion plug, I could charge my phone using a Japanese Type C and the like.

Bottled water (free) is provided, and mugs, instant coffee, and tea are also fully equipped.

In one corner of the room is an open-type closet space built into the wall.

To keep the depth shallow, it uses a type where hangers are hung facing forward.

There is space under the hangers, which is handy for putting carry-on bags and organizing small items!

A refrigerator is compactly stored on the shelf under the hanger rack.

A stylish mini fridge with a glass door so you can see the contents.

When traveling to a perpetually summer country like Malaysia, the hotel’s air-conditioning performance is a matter of life and death.

What was installed in the room was, no less, a reassuring Panasonic!

You can freely set the temperature with the remote, so you can keep the room at a comfortable temperature for you. The operating noise was quiet too.

I was very satisfied with the room’s cleanliness and facilities, but one thing bothered me: “noise from the corridor.”

On the other hand, regarding sound, the corridor is simple in construction with a rather hard floor material, so voices of people talking outside, the sound of rolling suitcases, and doors opening and closing sometimes carried a little into the room, so just be aware of that.

Well, it’s a 3-star hotel, so it can’t be helped.

How clean are the washbasin, bathroom, and toilet?

The plumbing area is a complete change from the natural atmosphere of the room, a space unified in calm beige tile.

Cleaning was thorough, and the floor and washbasin had none of the grime you worry about at budget hotels.

It has a clean design, and the hand bidet shower familiar in Malaysia is provided on the left. It’s hard to grab, but there was toilet paper too.

One nice touch: blue beach sandals were prepared exclusively for the bathroom.

Even if the floor is wet after a shower, these keep your feet from getting wet, a thoughtful touch that Japanese travelers will appreciate.

The washbasin in the bathroom is a compact build that makes good use of the corner.

On the edge of the sink are mini bottles of shampoo and body soap. A small bar of soap is also provided, and it seems the bare minimum is covered, but I thought it wouldn’t suit my hair, so if you care about amenities, bringing your own from Japan is a good idea too.

It has a large rain shower, rare for a hotel in this price range.

The rain shower pouring down from a position close to the ceiling is perfect for soothing the day’s fatigue. The water pressure was average, but I was able to relax.

A Midea electric water heater is mounted on the wall, and turning the dial gives hot water with a stable temperature, but it was only lukewarm, so some people may mind.

[Shared facilities] A sky garden and gym on the 6th floor too!

In the elevator I noticed an intriguing notice.

It seems this hotel has newly opened shared facilities on the 6th floor.

Let’s go take a look!

From the notice I’d imagined a rooftop garden, but it was actually a roofed, breezy semi-outdoor lounge space.

Artificial turf covers the whole floor, with impressive maroon leather sofas and wood-grain tables on top.

There’s a giant TV monitor on the wall and a ceiling fan on the ceiling.

It seems built for watching sports or mingling with other travelers while feeling the night breeze, but the TV wasn’t on in particular when I used it. lol

Furthermore, vivid artificial turf is spread across the whole space, making it a very open area!

In front are three large sun beds with white cushions, and next to them modern reclining chairs are lined up.

Lying here and relaxing while looking up at the Malaysian blue sky sounds nice.

From the 6th-floor terrace seats, you can see Kuala Lumpur’s modern skyline right before your eyes.

On the left, luxury hotels and residences such as the “ST REGIS” tower, letting you feel the urban energy.

In the distance you can also see skyscrapers like “Merdeka 118” with its distinctive spire, a view that makes you realize you’re right at the center of Malaysia now.

The 6th floor also has a fitness gym exclusively for hotel guests.

It has serious treadmills, fitness bikes, a dumbbell rack, and a flat bench, and free-weight training was also possible.

[Breakfast] A local experience at the lively “ABC BISTRO CAFE”

Breakfast was included in this stay.

When I woke up and asked at the front desk where to eat breakfast, they gave me this breakfast voucher.

It’s nice that even a budget hotel lets you have breakfast at a proper restaurant.

However, it used to be a buffet, but now the content apparently differs from the photos…

When I asked for directions, I was told to go left out of the hotel and it’s right near the station gates, so I decided to just walk there. The map said about 1 minute.

As for the breakfast included in this stay, the venue was, in fact, “ABC BISTRO CAFE” near the hotel!

A very open, thoroughly local-feeling cafe facing the street.

The biggest appeal is that you eat breakfast blended into everyday Malaysian life, and since it’s free, nothing is cheaper than that! I went in right away.

There was a staff member at the register, so I handed over the breakfast voucher and went inside, and there spread out the everyday life of Kuala Lumpur.

The hotel breakfast served at “ABC BISTRO CAFE” is a style where a main dish comes with coffee or tea.

When you take a seat, a staff member brings this menu and you order on the spot by pointing.

Looking at the menu, dishes unique to Malaysia are lined up:

• Nasi Lemak: Malaysia’s national dish! A classic plate of rice cooked in coconut milk with sambal sauce and egg.
• Roti Canai: A thin flatbread, crisp outside and chewy inside, eaten dipped in curry sauce.
• Tosai / Dosa: A crepe-like dish of South Indian origin. Recommended if you want to start the morning healthily.
• Toasted Bread: A reliable toast set. You can also enjoy the Malaysian style sandwiched with kaya jam and the like.
• Others: Plenty of variety, such as steamed-bun-like “Idly,” Malay-style okonomiyaki-like “Roti Telur,” and soft-boiled eggs (Telur Setengah Masak).

It’s my first breakfast in Malaysia, so I chose the nasi lemak here!!

Centered on rice softly scented with coconut milk, it came with a boiled egg, cucumber, small fish (probably ikan bilis) and peanuts, and the sambal sauce that decides the flavor!!

It’s perfectly edible, but frankly, it wasn’t to the point of being really delicious.

The colorful fried crackers on the plate further bring out the local feel.

By the way, what are these crackers, I wonder.

The hot black coffee I chose with the set.
It was served so piping hot that I couldn’t help saying “seriously hot!”

Why is it in a glass…? That’s my comedic retort.

But it goes well with the sambal sauce, a coffee to wake up to in the morning! Thank you for the meal.

[Summary] Close to KL Sentral Station and unbeatable value! A stay report on City Central Hotel

This time I arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the evening, and reaching KL Sentral Station at 18:00 at the earliest, I chose this hotel on the assumption that I’d basically just sleep.

The area around the hotel radiates heat and energy, and once inside, a bright glass-fronted entrance welcomed me!

What surprised me in the room was the cleanliness of the plumbing area for this price range, and having a large rain shower was rare.

From the hotel’s 6th floor you get a full view of the high-rise cluster including the St. Regis, and the towering “Merdeka 118.” Next to it is also a gym where you can run while enjoying the view.

For breakfast, I went to “ABC BISTRO CAFE.”

Handing over the breakfast voucher and eating while feeling the Malaysian atmosphere, mingling with the locals, is pleasant. What I chose from the menu was the classic nasi lemak.

Since it’s free I can’t complain, but the taste was ordinary, and the hot coffee is so hot it’s funny, so be careful.

That heat too became a good memory of this trip.

The convenience of being near the station, plus this cleanliness and the rooftop. You can feel the energy of Kuala Lumpur firsthand and still relax at a leisurely pace.

Other Westerners were using it too, so it was a good-value city hotel.