“IT’S like you come to my house and I show you around,” says Ezaz as he escorts me to my Grand Twin Room, on the ninth floor of KL’s brand new boutique hotel, The RuMa Hotel and Residences. I nod, agreeing with him.
The front office officer is the first to welcome us. He leads us through a corridor into a gorgeous bird cage-like structure before pushing the heavy double-door that brings us into the g lobby.
The earth tone soft furnishings and the expensive deco prove to be quite a distraction. I love the copper ceiling and the polished marble.
The first thing that catches my attention is the lobby’s centrepiece — a shimmering golden kebaya that is flanked by a pair of beautiful spiral stairs.
The masterpiece titled “Kebayaku”, which was created by award-winning designer Datuk Seri Bernard Chandran, has golden butterflies scattered all over the golden kebaya. The shimmering palette of gold symbolises prosperity and health. Meanwhile, another designer and fashion practitioner, Joe Chia is the man behind who conceptualised the hotel’s staff uniform.
The RuMa pays homage to our rich historical past, when the economy was driven by the prospering tin mining industry. Indeed, everywhere you turn, you will see inspiration from the past such as metal grills that are hung on the walls or the copper sink in your room.
Named after the Malay word for home, The RuMa was designed to be a home away from home by Shanghai-based British architect and interior designer Andy Hall. The hotel marks Shanghai-based Urban Resorts Concepts’ first foray outside of China. Its Chinese sister hotels are The PuLi in Shanghai, The PuXuan in Beijing and The PuShang in Xiamen.
URBAN RESORT
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and within the Golden Triangle area, the hotel is easily accessible via the air-conditioned walkway that leads to more malls and other facilities within the vicinity.
The RuMa is straddled between a luxury condominium and another hotel along Jalan Kia Peng, which is tree-lined with centuries-old raintrees. KLCC Park is less than five minutes’ walk away.
Although the nearest MRT and monorail station are within walking distance, my sister and I decide to drive and enjoy the easy weekend traffic. But when we accidentally take a wrong turn, that’s when we think the public transport is not been such a bad idea after all. But it doesn’t take us long to get back on track.
The location is also near the Bukit Bintang shopping district. From The RuMa, the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is just a short walk via the air-conditioned walkway, from which an underground walkway takes us across the road to more malls along Jalan Bukit Bintang.
We’ve never visited so many malls in a day and it’s a personal record for both my sister and me. From Pavilion, we drop by Fahrenheit 88, where I grab a few books from a bookstore before we head over to Low Yat Plaza on Jalan Bukit Bintang to check out the latest electronic gadgets.
THE GRAND ROOM
My Grand Twin Room on the ninth floor overlooks the corner between Jalan Kia Peng and Jalan Conlay, giving us a view of neighbouring skyscrappers and a bit of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Just like the lobby, the design in my spacious room incorporates traditional Malaysian and contemporary elements. The walls are covered with intricate screwpine weaving pattern, a nod to the traditional art form found mostly in Malay homes in Malaysia. Overhead, the small fan swirls lazily, turning the cold air in the room.
The living room is separated from the bathroom by a wooden sliding door. I like the sleek design that, when closed, provides privacy for those using the bath and toilet area. I love the standalone copper sinks on each side of the bathroom. In the morning, I don’t have to fight with my sister as to who gets to brush our teeth first.
Beyond the bathroom, two single beds are placed near the walls. The blackout curtains in the room are fully automated and you can turn it on or off with just a flick of the switch near the beds’ headboard.
The mini bar is well-stocked with snacks and drinks. The best part is that it is complimentary.
THE CULINARY STORY
Afternoon tea is lifted to a new level at the Seven Lobby Bar and Lounge. We pick a corner near the window at the Librari, a unique space filled with a wide selection of books and magazines that is next to the lobby bar.
Going through the extensive tea menu, my sister and I pick Rooibos and Cherry Blossom tea, respectively. We wait with bated breath as the staff prepare our tea and three-tier treats. It takes a while as the Librari swells with the weekend crowd.
Our tea arrives first — fragrant and delicate, just perfect for the three-tier Afternoon Tea, balanced on a silver tray. Also spread out on the silver tray are three tiny lidded cups holding clotted cream and house-made strawberry and lime preserves.
Our table is too small in comparison to the huge tray but we make just enough room for all the treats to be laid out in front of us. In a soft voice, the staff explains each of the sweet and savoury treat and where to begin.
We start by toasting this fabulous and pretty spread with a complimentary tall glass of Prosecco, the bubbles playfully stinging our palette. We start from the bottom tier — the savoury which includes citrus cured salmon, creme fraiche, dill, bagel and caramelised onion and chicken salami quiche. Next, we each take a bite on the plain and fruit scones. The fluffy and crumbly texture of the scones melts in our mouth as soon as it hits our palette. Paired with the house-made preserves and the airy clotted cream, we keep returning to the delicious and warm scones.
The highlight of the Afternoon Tea is, of course, the pretty looking Petit Fours. Taking up two tiers, the Petit Fours are Tahitian vanilla canele, ceylon tea and black sesame macaron, pistachio cheesecake, and my favourite, pandan and lemon mascarpone chiffon cake. Just as lovely as the pistachio cheesecake, the pandan and lemon mascarpone chiffon cake is soft and smells wonderful. With every mouthful, the rich and thick mascarpone seems to linger on for a second more, before a hint of slight tangy finishes the overall experience.
Like the rest of The RuMa with its celebrated cultural history, its Afternoon Tea is also inspired by the Malaysian culinary journey and taste. For example, the meringue tartelette is finished with a subtle hint of calamansi flavour. A small slice of dried freeze calamansi is carefully placed on top of the meringue, making it too pretty to be eaten.
Another one of my favourites is the chocolate eclair made from Pahang single origin 70 per cent dark chocolate and hibiscus.
It is also here at the lobby bar and lounge that we get to taste a Malaysian-inspired cocktail created in the 1970s by a Malaysian barman in Kuala Lumpur, the Jungle Bird. The rum-based cocktail has a refreshing taste, a perfect thirst quencher.
By the end of our short stay, we agree that we need to be back soon. As they say, seeing is believing. And for us, we get more than just a beautiful feast for the eyes.