Bringing Exciting lyf to Kuala Lumpur

June 24, 2024

Bringing Exciting lyf to Kuala Lumpur

lyf (pronounced “life”) is an experience-led social living concept – introduced and designed by the The Ascott Limited – for digital nomads, technopreneurs, creatives, and self-starters seeking to embrace freedom within a vibrant and exciting environment. Interestingly, the word lyf is an acronym, derived from each of the first letters of the phrase ‘live your freedom’.

The first lyf property to open in Malaysia is lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur, which has been operational since mid-2023. A social lifestyle hotel catering to modern travellers, the property offers a unique experience of community in the city, particularly around the vicinity of Jalan Raja Chulan. When staying at the property, Gaya Travel team feels that the ‘lyf’ brand encourages its guests to simply be themselves, be casual, relaxed and create opportunities to forge new connections with other guests.

The Lobby Lounge. Photo by The Ascott Limited.

Additionally, the brand comes across as vibrant, affordable, straightforward, nothing over-the-top or complicated, expressed through social spaces and furnishings that are functional, practical, easy to maintain, lightweight yet durable and lasting. Though lyf’s main target age group is 20 to 40 years old, including those who are young at heart and have zest for life, the property welcomes everybody from all walks of life based on Gaya Travel team’s interaction with the staff, who are welcoming and accommodating to any of the guests’ needs.

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The rooms are designated from level 2 up to level 11 of the property. Each room is embellished with a colourful feature wall that enlivens the space and is furnished with lightweight and space-saving fittings.

The room’s flooring is laminated for easy and fast cleaning. The bed is firm, offering good ergonomic support when sleeping. Underneath the bed is extra space for guests to place their belongings to avoid clutter. The exposed clothing rack allows for easy hanging and access to clothes. For added security, guests can store their valuables in the safe deposit box provided in-room. Hair dryer is available too.

lyf Style room. Photo by The Ascott Limited.

The television set in the rooms at lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur has a screen mirroring feature that can connect to guests’ smartphone so that they can continue catching up on their favourite shows via streaming services like Netflix or Disney Plus while travelling. Speaking of connectivity, all guests are provided with wireless internet access as well.

Eco friendly liquid shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel are stored within the wall-mounted dispensers to reduce waste, while the bathroom floor and walls are cladded with large, pastel tiles for efficient maintenance. lyf focuses on sustainability and each guest can help themselves to purified drinking water at the shared pantry on every floor that comes together with a sink, microwave oven, and disposable hand towels.

Guests should take note that some rooms at lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur – lyf Style, for example – are windowless, which is explicitly stated on the hotel’s website. If you are a person who might feel claustrophobic when unable to see outside, be sure to book a room with a window.

Good for One room. Photo by The Ascott Limited.

The room where Gaya Travel team members stayed is an All Together (two-bedroom) unit, likened to a quaint and homely apartment, able to accommodate up to four persons. Encompassing 41 metres squared, this room is one of the largest accommodation units in the property. On the same note, the largest room category is the All Together (four-bedroom) duplex that is 52 metres squared and able to fit up to eight persons. Our All Together (two-bedroom) has segregated shower and toilet areas, thus cutting down guests’ waiting time to use those facilities in case they are occupied by their travelling companions (do take note that the separation of showering and toilet areas is not available for other room categories).

The living area inside the All Together four bedroom duplex. Photo by The Ascott Limited.

We admire how the All Together (two-bedroom) is laid out and furnished, especially the en-suite kitchenette that offers a great idea of how to save space when designing our own pied-a-terre.

One point worth noting is that the hotel has no parking space of its own. Guests are therefore encouraged to use public transport, especially ride-hailing services, instead of using their own vehicles.

DINING OPTIONS

Many travellers appreciate the value-for-money aspect of lyf Chinatown, as their stay includes a daily breakfast set at SLOAFT CAFE on the ground floor, operated by JWC Global, a reputable food and beverage company known for its cafés, bars, and roastery establishments across Malaysia. The café operates daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ensuring high-quality food and drinks for guests’ enjoyment.

Guests are welcomed to use the common shared kitchen called BOND to prepare their own food.
Photo by The Ascott Limited.

Other options besides CHEF SHAN 1975 on level 12 are the hip Kafe Kleptokrat and Timothy Café, which are only five minutes’ walk away and serve novel dishes, further enriching guests’ dining experience in Kuala Lumpur. By the way, guests of lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur can enjoy discounts when dining at those establishments and many more though its #lyfperks benefits.

SOCIALISE, THE lyf WAY…

lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur’s level 12 is where most of the action in the property takes place, consisting of co-working cum lounge space called CONNECT; CHEF SHAN 1975 restaurant where guests can order comfort food while working or socialising; the social kitchen called BOND that is fully equipped with the necessary crockery, utensils, refrigerator, and microwave oven for guests to utilise when cooking their own food; laundrette named WASH & HANG for guests to wash, dry, and iron their clothes (they need to purchase tokens from the reception desk at the lobby beforehand to work those machines); the compact social gym called BURN to sweat it out after a long day of working or eating (this is Kuala Lumpur, after all); and a smart, well-connected, meeting room known as COLLAB for guests to hold meetings or discussions, which needs to be booked at the SAY HI, the moniker for front reception.

Level 12 even has an outside balcony space dubbed HANGOUT, where guests can overlook Jalan Raja Chulan and the surroundings while gazing at the KL Tower in the distance. Just a reminder: this balcony, as well as the rest of the property, is declared as non-smoking, therefore smokers could only puff away at the designated smoking area: the outside seating area next to lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur’s entrance at Level 1.

If you were curious about what’s on level 13, this is where you find COOKOUT, essentially the property’s rooftop and open-air barbecue space, including a Muslim prayer room.

Co-working cum lounge space called CONNECT on level 12. Photo by The Ascott Limited.

CONCLUSION

The youthful and modern travellers seeking contemporary and stylish value-for-money accommodation will never go wrong when choosing to stay at lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur. Living up to its promise, the property affords guests access to smart experience-led social living spaces, social areas, and exposure to Malaysian culture and arts when they participate in the range of events held at the property, including experiencing Kuala Lumpur’s food scene and key attractions so that guests can easily live their freedom…

Visit https://www.discoverasr.com/en/lyf/malaysia/lyfchinatown-kuala-lumpur for more info and call +603 2706 8899 or email reservation.kl@the-ascott.com for enquiry and reservations.