HYATT: ‘Eye of Sauron’ Park Hyatt opens in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I was in Kuala Lumpur last year — my first time (2024), and could see the building that houses the new Park Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur, in its unfinished state. It was best viewed from the famous Petronis Towers with their stainless steel shells. We named it the ‘Eye of Sauron‘ after the evil feature in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ series. You know, he forged the Ring to rule Middle-earth.

Traveller’s Cheat Sheet

Room Sizes	Entry-level Park Hyatt rooms range from 53–59 m²
Room Rates	Typical starting rates hover around US$536 per night, which equates to roughly AU$800–$820 (based on current exchange rates).
Airport to Hotel transfer time	Expect a 45–60 minute trip by car (taking into account Kuala Lumpur traffic). Public transport (such as KLIA Ekspres to KL Sentral, then onward transit) also takes approximately 1 hour, depending on connections.

Park Hyatt Lands in Malaysia — High Above KL in the ‘Eye of Sauron’

Officially, the new tapering spire entrant to Kuala Lumpur’s skyline is known as Merdeka 118. But to me its the ‘Eye of Sauron’. The new Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is situated on floors 75 to 114 of the tallest skyscraper in the Asia-Pacific region. This Malaysian debut of the Park Hyatt brand marks its 50th property worldwide.

Rooms with a view

The hotel’s 252 guestrooms and suites capitalise on their altitude, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the city’s towers and green spaces. Rooms include walk-in dressing areas, workspaces, and bathrooms with separate rain showers. Some suites feature dining spaces with views overlooking the skyline.

The design, by London-based G.A. Group, acknowledges the Malay kampung house. Perforated brass screens with batik-inspired etching, timber detailing and woven textures recall basketry and Peranakan influences. Artworks, curated by Artlink, showcase Malaysian landscapes, colours and craft.

A Location with History

The hotel, situated within its dark glass tower, is located away from the centre of town, marked by the impressive twin Petronas towers. Guests can arrange guided tours of the historic Merdeka 118 precinct, which includes the Stadium Merdeka, where Malaysia declared independence in 1957. As well as stadiums, there are nearby cultural institutions such as the Merdeka Textile Museum.

The Merdeka 118 tower is part of Warisan KL, a city initiative aimed at revitalising heritage areas and boosting tourism.

Eating and Drinking Above the Clouds

The Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur includes three food and beverage outlets. The Merdeka Grill specialises in premium meats, sustainable seafood, and locally sourced produce. Tableside service is a feature that includes cedar-wood roasted salmon, Chateaubriand, and even an ice cream course.

The Park Lounge is an all-day dining space featuring lesser-known Malaysian dishes. It also provides an afternoon tea service. The cafe, Cacao Mixology & Chocolate, is Kuala Lumpur’s first chocolate-themed bar. It also has panoramic views of the Petronas Twin Towers. A live Bossa nova band completes the picture.

Spa

The 99th floor features the hotel’s spa and fitness facilities. This includes a yoga studio, gym with Life Fitness Integrity+ Series equipment, treatment suites, and a relaxation lounge. In addition, there is an aromatherapy steam bath, a Himalayan salt alcove, a vitality pool, and a 30-metre infinity pool overlooking the city.

Events view

The hotel also houses corporate and social gathering spaces with skyline backdrops and flexible layouts. The spaces are capable of hosting everything from small meetings to weddings.

2PAXfly Takeout

The new Park Hyatt rightly places itself at the top of the tree. You will pay several AU$100 above competitors like the Mandarin Oriental for the privilege of staying in the Eye of Sauron in the months following its opening. It’s location, although not at the centre, does provide easy access to Chinatown’s street food and the city’s historic core.

I’ll be in Kuala Lumpur later this year. Currently, I’m not planning to stay at the Park Hyatt, as it’s out of my price range, and not close to where our friends live in KL. However, I do hope to pop in to sample one or more of their food and beverage offerings, and at least get a look at the public spaces of the hotel.