The Westin brand needs little introduction. Renowned for its innovative programmes and signature services, a sojourn at The Westin is never just a stay but an experience.
Words: Chitra Santhinathan
Having heard praises sung of The Westin’s Heavenly® Bed and wholesome SuperFoodsRx™ menu, these experiences were naturally at the top of my to-do list when I checked into The Westin Kuala Lumpur for a recent weekend retreat.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long to sample either, as just minutes after diving into the downy comfort of The Westin’s divine Heavenly® Bed, the doorbell to my Executive Club room sounded, and in walked a gentleman bearing a tray laden with blueberries, dark chocolate coins and walnuts – healthy treats on the SuperFoodsRx™ menu.
This healthy eating programme is among the hotel brand’s pillars of well-being – Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, Play Well – that incorporate signature good-for-you initiatives.
Leaving the comfort of my room, a 452-square-foot space tastefully decorated in neutral tones and accented with dark wood, I made my way to the Executive Club Lounge for evening cocktails, one of the perks of staying on the Executive floor. The expansive lounge features windows that frame the skyline of Kuala Lumpur’s fashionable Bukit Bintang district and an outdoor terrace, ideal for sunset cocktails. Here, guests can have their fill of house liquors that include wines and draught beers while munching on a daily rotating menu of savoury and sweet bites.
Then, it was off for a taste of Latin America in the heart of KL at the hotel’s Qba Latin Bar & Grill. The enchanting rhythms of salsa filled the air as I walked through the cavernous two-storey outlet delineated into four sections: a wine bar and cigar lounge, dining room, an island bar and al fresco dining area.
The main dining room was evocative of a Cuban hacienda, with distressed walls in muted pastel tones and decorative elements, reminiscent of old Cuba. I took a seat in a cosy alcove, probably the most romantic spot in the outlet, as it could be curtained off for privacy. On the walls were black and white prints of Cuban street scenes including one featuring a vintage Cadillac, an icon associated with the island.
A waiter walked in with the drinks list and suggested I try the house specialty, the Qba Classic Mojito, a delightful concoction of fresh mint sprigs muddled with sugar and lemon juice, and topped with splashes of light rum and soda water. This refreshing and sexy cocktail certainly set the mood for the rest of the night.
While Qba’s ambience is decidedly Cuban-inspired, the restaurant specialises in regional Latin American fare – think big, bold flavours with plenty of meat (two pages of the menu are dedicated to beef!). Unable to make up my mind, I left the night’s menu to Cuban-born chef Alfredo Hernandez. If he was a tad disappointed to hear I did not eat beef, he certainly didn’t show it and instead sent me platters of beef-free dishes that included an amuse bouche of grilled tiger prawn, scallop and cod served on a skewer; a gorgeous tasting plate of grilled lamb rack and breast with guacamole and hot salsa; and a delicately cooked piece of black cod served with romesco (red pepper-based sauce). My better half and I were so stuffed and satiated by the end of that meal, there was little room for dessert!
As predicted, I slept like a baby that night, thanks largely to the plush 250-thread count sheets of the Heavenly® Bed, which promotes restful slumber. The next morning, I tried out the Hydrorider Aqua Bike at Westin WORKOUT®, as the gym is known at The Westin. I was told working out on the lightweight Aqua Bike burns calories twice as fast than on a regular stationary bicycle. And the best bit – I hardly broke into a sweat (the workout after all, takes place in the pool). Rather than simply pedalling the Aqua Bike, guests can incorporate cardio exercises such as weight training to make the most of their session.
That evening, I capped my stay at The Westin KL with a meal of operatic proportions at Prego, the hotel’s award-winning Italian ristorante. The centrepiece of this restaurant, which dishes up regional Italian cuisine, is its wood-fired oven and open kitchen. My meal began with a generous antipasti platter: zucchini slices stuffed with scamorza cheese, insalata caprese (salad with tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella), prawn salad with fat, juicy prawns, olives and cherry tomatoes, and batter-fried squid rings. For mains, we decided to select lighter options and went for galletto alla diavola (roasted spicy spring chicken with vegetables and roasted potatoes) and panzerotti di zucca (homemade ravioli stuffed with baked pumpkin and ricotta served in a sage and butter sauce). If I hadn’t been in a fine-dining establishment, I swear I would have licked the pasta sauce off my plate. This dish of classic half-moon shaped pasta was simply off the charts! Again, I had to turn down dolci (desserts) because I simply could not eat any more.
Well, I guess that means a return visit is on the cards, not just for the sweet treats that I unfortunately missed, but also to bask in the warm hospitality and attentive service that is The Westin standard.
THE WESTIN KUALA LUMPUR
Address: 199 JALAN BUKIT BINTANG, 55100 KUALA LUMPUR
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