Review: Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection

Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur is located in the Chow Kit district in the bustling capital city of Malaysia. As an independent hotel that is part of the Autograph Collection of Marriott International's portfolio, it feels very much like a stylish design hotel with a distinctive local character. Getting to the hotel by public transport is easy as it is a short walk from the Dang Wangi light rail station and the Medan Tuanku monorail station, although the ride hailing service Grab is another good option as with other hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

Entrance to Hotel Stripes KL, Autograph Collection

Even though I arrived way ahead of the 3pm check-in time, having taken an early morning flight, the staff were happy to check me in early. I stayed in an Executive Studio on the 20th floor which was unoccupied the previous night. There are in total 184 rooms across the hotel's 21 floors.

Lighting at the reception area

The elevator lobby

Upon entering the room, I was greeted with a well-furnished interior and a monochrome installation of what appears to be colonial style Malaysia from the older days. The bathroom was separated by frosted glass, and I liked that the washing basin was actually outside the bathroom, which could be convenient for those travelling in pairs. A large bathtub was inside, which came with a container of bath salts, although standard Deluxe rooms do not feature bathtubs. An evening turn down service was also offered.

The executive studio

The bathroom

An enjoyable feature of this hotel was the swimming pool, which had unobstructed views of the KL Tower. This was also a great place to view the sunset and to observe the gradually changing sky colours together with the lighting up of the KL Tower. A poolside bar is also available with seating area. Another recreational facility is the fitness centre, which are just by the stairs leading to the rooftop pool.

Swimming pool on the hotel's rooftop

The fitness centre

There is also an executive lounge located at Studio S on level 3, which is a cosy place to unwind, particularly during the cocktail hour from 5.30pm to 7.30pm where alcoholic beverages are offered. However, the selection of food is much more limited, as was the size of the lounge, compared to other nearby hotels such as the nearby Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel and the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, which I cover in separate reviews. Lounge access is available to those staying in Club rooms as well as guests with Marriott Bonvoy elite privileges.

Seating area in the executive lounge

  

Snacks and drinks offered at the executive lounge

The hotel has two restaurants, namely The Snug on level 2 and Brasserie 25 on the ground level. Breakfast was offered at the latter, where there was a reasonable selection of dishes, although not as extravagant in scale as what other larger 5-star hotels would offer. Service was attentive, the ambiance pleasant, and the decor exudes a rustic charm towards the dining experience.

Dining area of Brasserie 25 on level 1

Breakfast at Brasserie 25

Overall, the strength of the hotel lies in its distinctive character, with brick walls and brass fixtures incorporated into its design, which makes other upscale hotels feel comparatively "bland". It also offers a competitive price point, although this is, as always, dependent on factors such as seasonality.

Against the multitude of hotel choices in Kuala Lumpur, I suspect that many guests may favour the more popular brands and larger 5-star hotels for their more extravagant lounges and breakfast offerings. Still, Hotel Stripes offers a boutique experience that is enjoyable, comfortable, and which represents an independent interpretation of luxury that is distinct from the mainstream options.

A welcome card and sweet treats are a nice gesture

Hotel Stripes is located at 25 Jalan Kamunting, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.