Best Luxury Hotels in Malaysia

This delight of Mediterranean architecture is located at Telega Harbour Park, giving you gorgeous access to the rainforest and the ocean in one place. The Danna has been awarded the Best Hotel in Langkawi for four years running and you can see the dedication to an opulent tropical getaway in the attention to detail. That includes well-outfitted suites, villas, and rooms that are comfortable and luxurious, as well as a 3-tiered infinity pool and spa. Four full-service restaurants offer the utmost in fine dining, but there’s also 24-hour room service available.

The E&O as it’s fondly known was first established in 1885 and remains the only hotel in the city to occupy prime sea frontage. A new wing, the Victory Annexe was opened in 2013, adding a sixth-floor infinity pool, an art gallery and a Thai spa. While the Heritage Wing is an ode to a bygone era, with antique furnishings. The decor at the Eastern & Oriental is, in the main, classic and polished, with muted earthy tones, marble and dark wood. Planters Lounge serves drinks and snacks with a view, while the 1885 restaurant offers European style fine menus and a buffet or a la carte can be enjoyed at Sarkies.

This century-old mansion was the first member of Design Hotels in Malaysia. Each of its eight unique suites has specially commissioned artwork, different architectural features and mod cons like minibars and Nespresso machines. Blanc, serving French – Asian fusion cuisine is considered to be one of the finest contemporary dining establishments in the city, while The Cellar, is a sophisticated haunt, specialising in whisky and cheese. Guests can stay active in the small gym, or with laps in the shimmering green pool.

Thoroughly modern glitz and quirky features await at the light, bright,162 bedroom Prestige. Look out for showers encased in golden cages, floating beds and tropical accents in among the almost exclusively ivory colour scheme. Ministry of Design – also responsible for Macalister Mansion’s decor – have created the interiors here. A sleek, glass-walled saltwater infinity pool looks out onto the harbourfront from its elevated fourth-floor position – a great spot to recline on a lounger, drink in hand and watch the port comings and goings. A pastel-hued Glasshouse restaurant is a place to eat and drink at The Prestige, or you can order food to your room.

An island off the coast of an island, this idyllic 40 acres resort, is part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and is an excellent choice if you’re keen to spot some of the native wildlife, not least as the hotel provides its own guided nature walks. Guests are hosted in 120 contemporary villas, crafted using locally sourced materials — book a Canopy Villa to be close to the beach, a Bayu Villa if you’d like an outlook of the tropical mangrove or a Kinabalu Villa for lofty sea views. Several restaurants include the adults-only Fisherman’s Cove, serving freshly caught seafood.

Also part of the Shangri-La, the sleek Tanjung Aru, like its sister property, has extensive facilities for recreation and dining. This hotel is a short walk from the beach but has clear views of the South China Sea from many of its public areas and Tanjung wing bedrooms. Popular with families, the themed parties at the Cool Zone Kids’ Club and the water play area (with three slides, a giant bucket splash and a water balloon war station) are a hit with little ones. Meanwhile, parents can bliss out at Chi The Spa, with Bornean treatments, yoga, t’ai chi and pilates classes.

Set on two miles of clean beach, this resort has two areas – the Ocean and Garden wings – designed for adults and families respectively. There are enough amenities to ensure you never need to leave, other than for an excursion further into the rainforest. Lagoon-style swimming pools, croquet and putting lawns, tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, a spa, a watersports centre, a children’s club and creche are all found onsite. Guests can dine in Malaysian, Indian and Japanese restaurants, with snacks on the coffee terrace and drinks in the lobby lounge.

Spend your stay in a colonial Straits Settlement mansion that dates back to the roaring 20s. The riverside period property has been sensitively restored to retain its original porcelain flooring, detailed artwork and teakwood fittings; these are complemented by antique furnishings and opulent silk textiles. Dine on Nyonyan and Kristang dishes in the restaurant and book in for some pampering at its Spa Village — it’s the only one in the world to take inspiration from Peranakan culture. Majestic by name and majestic by design, bedrooms at the hotel feature dark hardwood floors, ceiling fans, clawfoot bathtubs, Persian-style rugs and four-poster beds.

This colonial heritage hotel sits high above sea level, close to Tanah Rata and offers an intimate country house ambience. Muslin-swathed four-poster beds, tall French doors, shuttered windows, dark wood and elegant antique pieces evoke a plantation mansion look in the 56 bedrooms. It sits beside a gold course and accommodates an award-winning Spa Village, where you can book treatments inspired by tea. Also on site are a library, a dining room, an alfresco restaurant serving Malaysian hotpot, a tea room and a bar with a snooker table.

Situated right on the beach, the Hyatt Regency is just a 15-minute drive from the town centre. The hotel offers watersports, has two stunning outdoor pools with lounge areas and a spa. Rooms have wooden flooring and furnishings, minibars, tea/coffee makers and some have private terraces with sea views. Guests can play tennis, go to the gym and take excursions organised by the front desk. The Hyatt Regency has three dining options; Kampung Restaurant for authentic local food; an award-winning Italian Bistro with an open kitchen and split-level dining room; and Coals on the Beach for Malaysian tapas.

Built around a large lake and wetlands, the Mangala Resort accommodates guests in villas designed to integrate with their natural surroundings. Public spaces are found within small-scale pavilions, with greenery and wooden decking joining the structures together. The Lakeside Restaurant serves signature local and international dishes, both inside and al fresco. Once barren mining land, the grounds now bloom with palm plantations, exotic flowers, herb gardens and fruit trees, forming an environmental conservation area. Take an eco-tour, a nature walk to spot the indigenous wildlife, or book a treatment at the onsite full-service spa.

Evoking the architecture of 17th-century Malay palaces, this tranquil resort emphasises local traditions. Its philosophy follows the Malay principle of Sucimurni, focusing on purity of spirit, health and well-being and has devoted a mini village of structures, gardens and pools as its spa area. The two main restaurants’ names give a hint as to what may be expected from them; Di Atas Sungei means ‘Above the River’ and Nelayan means ‘Fisherman’. Plus there’s the Teratai Terrace beside the pool, for healthy fare and steamboat dinners — movies are shown here nightly at 9 pm. Bedrooms overlook the sea or the resort’s tropical gardens, while beach villas have private verandahs.