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| Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur |
Miss manners once said, “There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection IS the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.”
The Yum List can’t guarantee the affection part of the equation, but we can set the scene by giving you ideas for fun entertainment and fabulous food. Here's the fourth in a series of suggested itineraries for taking your loved one, or someone you're hoping will soon become your special person, on a Date in Kuala Lumpur:
Date Night - Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Champagne, fine French cuisine and live music - Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur has all you need for a fancy night out with your loved one.
Bubbly in The Red Room, Champagne Bar
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| Red Room, Champagne Bar |
Beginning with a glass of bubbly in the Red Room, Champagne Bar, our appetites are whet and our thoughts enthusiastic. The lounge is gently lit and, both low sofas and bar stools (the bar - big enough for four, ideal for two) provide seating. Soft Buddha Bar melodies strum the air and the intimate setting is sensuous and seductive.
The waitress, dressed in a red slinky dress, plays the part perfectly as she tops our flutes and delivers some hors d’oeuvres, complimentary from the chef. We could easily pass a couple of hours here but remember we want to try Lafite’s set menu, a line up of six courses, so switch our low lounges for the elegant fine dining set up of Lafite.
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| Begin with Champagne in the Red Room, Champagne Bar |
Fine French Cuisine in Lafite
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| Lafite, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur |
The room is round, centred by a giant glass water feature, with tables fanning out in a circular manner from the decorative core. Sounds of running water form a pleasant background hum and tall windows overlook lush tropical gardens. There’s glistening glass everywhere.
Service is superb, ambience romantic and the food exquisite. Usually there’s at least one dish that either hubby or I are not so fond of in a set menu, but the chef wows us with a sensational line-up of impeccably executed recipes and we’re impressed with every single one. There are scallops, oysters, foie gras, wild turbot and wagyu. Long legged wine glasses are kept topped throughout the meal and pairing suggestions are at our ready.
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| Exquisite Fine Dining at Lafite |
Well chosen wine and a magnificent meal have left us dreamily satisfied so we move to the lobby lounge to linger a little longer in the lushness of Shangri-La’s quality food and beverage outlets.
Live Music and Cocktails in the Lobby Lounge
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| Listen to Live Music in the Lobby Lounge |
Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s Lobby Lounge is an opulent space with soaring ceilings, reflective glass and mellow illumination. It gently swings with the dulcet croons of a live band. Giant cone shaped chandeliers hang from above, drum lamps adorn side tables and, candles in crystal holders flicker in the late evening light. Single stem orchids with multiple blooms decorate the gold-rimmed glass tables.
Sound quality is noteworthy, ambience relaxed yet spirited and, the drink list extensive. Hubby decides on the Secret Early Grey Cocktail (RM36). It’s a creation from The Pegu Club, NYC and blends Earl Grey Tea infused gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white and grape fruit bitters. I choose a Williams Eau de Vie (RM32), a clear pear brandy, which is clean and subtly sweet, aiding digestion of the rich dinner we’ve just consumed.
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| Enjoy a Cocktail or Digestif in the Lobby Lounge |
We sink into the soft couches happily sipping and slowly rocking to songs of the musicians. We came for one drink, but relish in the lowly lit seductiveness of the space, and stay for two.
The only way to make this date better might be by collapsing into a room at the hotel. Which we, (cleverly we think to ourselves), have prearranged.
Lafite
Lobby Level
Shangri-La Hotel
11 Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur 50250
Malaysia
+6 03 2074 3900
Lunch: 12noon – 2:30pm (Monday to Friday)
Dinner: 7pm – 10:30pm (Monday to Saturday)
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