KL Day 2: Batu Caves, Bak Kut Teh & EQ Afternoon Tea

KL Day 2: timed the Batu Caves climb (under 6 minutes), ate the best Bak Kut Teh, EQ Club Lounge afternoon tea, boba taste test, and Sky51 rooftop cocktails.

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Second day in KL and we slept better than expected. The EQ Hotel bedding is genuinely exceptional. After breakfast in the Club Lounge (we tried an Australian craft root beer that was sour and completely unlike the American version), we grabbed a Grab and headed out.

Batu Caves

We arrived around 9:00 AM. Arriving early matters here: the tour buses start rolling in and the sun gets intense by midday. The combination of heat, humidity, and crowds in the middle of the day makes the whole visit harder than it needs to be.

The climb: We ran a timer. With stops for photos and getting stuck behind other people on the stairs, we reached the top in under 6 minutes. It is a sweaty climb but a fast one. The view from the top of the staircase looking back over the entrance is worth the effort.

The monkeys: These are not the polite, indifferent monkeys we have seen in Japan. They are bold and organized about it. We watched one casually holding a baby while sitting on the staircase railing, completely unbothered by the crowd around her. Do not carry visible food and keep your bags closed. They will go for anything accessible.

Lunch: Bak Kut Teh

After coming back down completely drenched, we met up with Vincent's local friend for lunch and tried Bak Kut Teh, a pork rib dish cooked in broth. Vincent had the ongoing question of which city does it best: KL, Singapore, or Penang. According to his friends, who grew up here: KL.

What we ordered:

The soup version: Smells slightly herbal and medicinal, similar to certain Korean soups. The taste is deeply soothing and flavorful. A good introduction to the dish.

The braised/dry version: This was the standout. Rich with collagen from the pork skin, intensely savory, and completely different from the soup. Order both.

Salted egg fried squid: Sweet, salty, very crispy. A strong supporting dish.

Kangkong (water spinach): Stir-fried and addictive. Simple but done well.

The restaurant itself was chaotic in a way that only works when the food is excellent. The owners were audibly arguing with each other for most of the meal. The food was completely worth it. If you are staying in the KLCC area, find a local spot for this dish.

EQ Hotel: Pool and Afternoon Tea

We rushed back to the hotel to cool off in the pool before the afternoon tea window closed. The EQ pool is heated, has a jacuzzi and cabanas, and looks directly at the KL Tower. A genuinely good pool for a city hotel.

After a quick dip we went up to the Club Lounge on the 50th floor for afternoon tea. This was my first proper afternoon tea experience: a stacked tier with scones, sandwiches, and desserts. It was a quiet weekday afternoon and we had the lounge almost entirely to ourselves, which made the whole thing feel much more relaxed and private than a busy restaurant would.

If your room includes lounge access, do not skip this service. See the EQ Hotel KL Dining Guide for the full breakdown of every service period.

Afternoon: Japanese Salon and Lot 10 Shopping

I had a long-overdue pampering session at a local Japanese-owned salon in KL. The nail tech spent over two hours on my nails. Vincent met up with friends while I explored Lot 10, a smaller mall that focuses specifically on Japanese goods and restaurants. The format is different from the big malls around KLCC and worth a walk-through if you are in that area.

We regrouped, grabbed sushi (the unagi was enormous), and walked through the underground walkway toward Pavilion mall.

Boba Taste Test: Local vs. Chagee

We could not leave the mall area without trying boba.

Local spot: A warm bubble milk tea recommended by locals. Soft, fresh, and slightly sweet. Very good.

Chagee: A well-known Chinese tea brand with locations across Asia. We ordered their bestseller, the White Peach Oolong Milk Tea. The quality is high and the packaging is genuinely elegant. We do not have Chagee in the US, so this felt like a worthwhile first try. The local spot was slightly better on pure taste, but Chagee is worth experiencing for the quality alone.

Evening: Sky51

We finished at Sky51, the rooftop bar at the EQ Hotel on the 51st floor. The views of the Petronas Twin Towers at night are the best in the city from a hotel rooftop. We ordered cocktails to close out the day. One of mine was significantly stronger than I expected. Worth knowing that the drinks here are not light.

Next up: checking out of EQ and into the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur.

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