Photo Courtesy of Sephora Malaysia

Once inside you may find the space shockingly small but they have managed to stock well with rows and rows of shelves and counters. It’s also good to note that Sephora makes shopping a breeze with countless Beauty Bars, which are testing stations, equipped with large mirrors for you to test before you make the commitment to buy. For the hurried shopper, there are various counters carrying bestsellers from each product category which makes it quick and easy to pick up your desired products. It’ll be hard to miss the Sephora Color Wall- a mind boggling collection of color cosmetics. Here’s an entire wall dedicated to Sephora color cosmetics, ranging from lipsticks and nail polish to foundations and eye makeup.

Here are some of the brands you’ll find-
Urban Decay; Too Faced Cosmetics; Pop Beauty; Givenchy; Benefit Cosmetics; Smashbox Cosmetics and Make Up For Ever. Other conventional brands like Dior, Shiseido, Lancome and Estee Lauder

Sephora also stocks beauty accessories such as brushes, nail files, and tweezers.

Their skin care range include brands such as Mario Badescu, Ole Henriksen, Boscia, Dr. Hauschka, Strivectin SD, Perricone MD, Dr. Brandt and Murad and Baviphat plus a small collection of organic skin care like Juice Beauty and John Masters Organics. Their bath and body care range includes British skincare and bath brand Soap & Glory, Greek brand Korres and Burt’s Bees.

Sephora Malaysia
Starhill Gallery
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a city of contrasts, where modernity, tradition and culture collide. Here’s an intimate look at the city, its people and attractions.

17 more photos available

R.A.W. Cafe

Photo Courtesy of RAW Cafe

Stands for ‘Raw and Wholesome’ and it serves fresh coffee as they roast their own beans. Baristas prepare coffee using the Kees van der Westen lever espresso machine. Order cappuccino, macchiato (double espresso with milk micro foam) or piccolo (double espresso with textured milk). The result – sip thoroughly satisfying sips. R.A.W Cafe serves vegetarian dishes, ideal for a quick lunch. The best place in town for an excellent cup of espresso.

R.A.W. Cafe
Wisma Equity
150 Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mon – Fri: 08:00-18:30
Sat: 10:00-17:00

My Espresso Lab Coffee Roaster

Photo Courtesy of My Espresso Lab Coffee Roaster

Specializes solely in serving specialty coffee. Expert baristas churn out smooth coffees with their Synesso Cyncra espresso machine, using some of the best green coffee beans from around the world. Fragrant and flavorful, your latte or espresso may be one of the best in the city. No food is served here.

My Espresso Lab Coffee Roaster,
D1-G4-6, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.
9:30am-6pm (closed on Sundays).

If you relish Japanese food – there’s all you can eat shabu shabu, Japanese snack stalls, Shimino Japanese crepes, pastries, breads and Mochi sweets. Order steaming hot ramen from the famous Hokkaido Santouka Ramen or let the tempting aroma of bread and pastries lead you into one of the streets gems – En Ginza Café.

It’s the first outlet your eyes will settle upon – the baskets of bread protrude to get your attention. En Ginza Cafe brings together two distinct culinary cultures into the kitchen – the Japanese café culture and the traditional art of French baking.

Browse rows of handmade breads and pastries such as the French classics -croissant and pain au chocolate -and Japanese breads and buns. Try the curry bun, red bean bun or an array of macaroons and madeleines that peak from behind the counter display. Loafs of bread line the counter in huge baskets. Behind the counter, baristas busy concoct your favorite coffee and top it off with some coffee art such as a Japanese animation (think Hello Kitty, Doremon or even the Smurfs). The kitchen only churns out the best, most exquisite dishes such as pasta, sandwiches and pizzas, which are meticulously prepared by the café’s French and Japanese master bakers and its Japanese executive chef.

Photo Courtesy of En Ginza Cafe

Pop in anytime for a leisurely afternoon tea, a quick meal, a prolonged lunch or dinner or some French breads and pastries to takeaway. The interior – modern and sleek, and maybe even somewhat muted never takes away from the real star of the café – the food.

Photo Courtesy of En Ginza Cafe

Dishes that arrive at your table have an interesting Franco – Japanese twist. Order the En’s special hamburger (grilled beef burger with sautéed Enoki mushroom on toasted bun), chicken teriyaki steak, marbled beef shabu salad, green tea burger, and their tofu cheesecake – a silky, melt-in-your-mouth dessert of tofu infused with cheese. The dessert is a delectable combination of sweetness and tart flavors.

Other must-stops along Tokyo Street are Action City for quirky gifts, the Click Shop for lomo cameras and Daiso for a wide range of items sold at RM5/ US$1.60.

En Ginza Cafe
Lot No. : P6.24.1A, Level 6
Tel: 603-21480369
Open 10am to 10pm daily

How to get there:

The North-South Highway takes you from KL to Malacca. Express busses and taxis are available. There are countless tour agencies that will organize day trips to the historic capital. A taxi ride to Malacca from KL city will set you back around RM130/ USD.

Overview

Malacca – a port city – was the center of trade because of its strategic position on the Straits of Malacca. Malacca was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates before being conquered by the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch. Its historical importance is evident all around the city with physical remnants of past cultures existing in harmony with modern day structures.
Malacca earned its UNESCO World Heritage rating in 2008, making it the country’s most treasured tourist experience. Wandering around the city is a great way to explore the city’s architecture – expect to find Portuguese, Dutch, Islamic and Chinese architecture.

Here are some of the city’s must see historical attractions –

Photo Courtesy of Tourism Malaysia

Fort A Famosa – constructed by the Portuguese in 1511 it is one of the oldest European architectural structures still standing in the country. It is the city’s most popular attractions. A Famosa housed the entire Portuguese administration.

Photo Courtesy of Tourism Malaysia

The Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum – is a treasure trove of Peranakan heritage housed in a Chinese shop lot. The museum presents a detailed historical background for a better understanding of this group of people.

St Paul’s Church – constructed by the Portuguese, it is now part of the Malaccan Museums Complex.

Photo Courtesy of Tourism Malaysia

Stadthuys – strongly reflects Dutch architecture. It is today the Museum of History and Ethnography.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple – it is the most elaborate temple in Malacca and is located on Temple Street, right in the heart of the city’s heritage site.

Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple – it is the country’s oldest Hindu temple, built in 1781.

Kampung Kling Mosque – one of the country’s oldest mosques. Built in 1784, it is fitted with a minaret that resembles a pagoda and a tiered pyramid roof; both are very Chinese based features.

Jonker Street- amble about on this street and admire its wide range of antique stores.

Photo Courtesy of Pinchos Tapas Bar

We walked into Pinchos Tapas Bar last night. The bar was packed (reason enough to explore), brimming with people sipping on their drinks, eating and socializing. We instantly loved the vibe. We sat at the bar – our drinks arrived promptly. Everyone around us was having a great time. Everyone’s drink of choice – peach Sangria.

Photo Courtesy of Pinchos Tapas Bar

We ordered some delicious tapas from the menu, which also includes a selection of the tantalizing paella. Little plates of deliciously prepared tapas arrived at our table. We savored Spanish Cantabric Semi-Salty Anchovies on Tomato Toast; Spanish Serrano Ham and Tomato Spread on Toast, and Iberico Collar Pork Loin with Home-made Garlic Mayo on Toast. Our saffron flavored rice with seafood, chicken and pork was utterly scrumptious. On tap, you’ll find Carlsberg and Hoegarden. The bar stocks a wide range of wines from Spain, South America, Europe and Australia. You’ll also find Spanish beers such as Estrella Damm, El Gaitero Spanish Cider and the exclusive Estrella Damm Inedit by Ferrán Adrià which retails at RM89/ US30. The bartenders will serve you your favorite cocktails- order a caipirinha, Cuba libre, Caipiroscka or mojito.

The bar has seating outside, several high tables and stools around the bar and an elevated dining area. The kitchen stays open till midnight.

Pinchos Tapas Bar
Add: 18, Changkat Bukit Bintang
Tel: 603-2145 8482
Operation hours: 5:00 pm – 2:30 am
Closed on Mondays

Photo Courtesy of the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas

There’s something quite futuristic about the design of this concert hall that lends it an almost timeless appeal. The Dewan Filharmonik Petronas or the Petronas Philharmonic Hall is Malaysia’s first purpose built concert hall for classical music. It is the home of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Since it first flung open its doors in 1998, the hall has hosted many of the world’s leading artists and orchestras spanning several genres of music. Some of the typical highlights on the year-round calendar include international jazz performances, classical chamber concerts, traditional Malaysian music and cultural dances.

The interior will leave you spellbound. Observe closely – this 885 seater hall is a jewel box; a space designed to bring out the best acoustics for any type of performance from an orchestra with a chorus and a dance performance to a violin recital. Pay attention to the spectacular dome-like ceiling of the hall and its twinkling lights which switch from one color to another throughout the performances. Its ceiling, believe it or not, includes a concealed movable feature that can alter the acoustics volume from low to high depending on the function of the room. Seats are plush; and the stage is ample enough to incorporate large orchestras. The seating layout includes box seating at the ‘stalls’ level, and 20 luxurious corporate suites at the ‘circle’ and ‘upper circle’ levels. The surroundings evoke an intimate and special feel for the spectator.

You’ll find the magnificent, giant-sized Klais Pipe Organ staring down at you. Designed and built by German organ builder Johannes Klais, the pipe organ brings forth a sense of drama to the space; the 2, 977 pipes ranging in length from the smallest which is a little over an inch to the towering 32 feet rank (in the pedal division) are a sight to behold.

Photo Courtesy of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra

Audiences have witnessed world renowned musicians such as the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, The BBC Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Sydney Symphony, plus Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, conductors Lorin Maazel, Sir Neville Marriner, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Sir Andrew Davis and the late Yehudi Menuhin.

Other prominent artists who have performed at the hall include Harry Connick Jr, the Count Basie Orchestra, Yellowjackets, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pink Martini and sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar.

Hot tip- the MPO Happy Hour and Chamber Concert tickets are very reasonably priced. Also, when attending concerts do observe the strict dress codes.