Petaling Street
A heaven for shoppers and foodies at the oldest part of the capital, Petaling Street will surely train your bargaining skills!
Petaling Street is part of Kuala Lumpur’s China Town, a well-known shopping district where the whole area transforms into a lively and vibrant night market after dark. It is then closed off to traffic, with hundreds of stalls selling all types of food and goods, making it a paradise for both foodies and shoppers alike. Most of the stalls sell fake branded products, pirated CDs and DVDs. Haggling is a must here.
Location
Petaling Street located at the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is about 60 kilometres away and KL Central transportation hub is about 3 kilometres away.
Opening Days and Hours
Shops at Petaling Street are open from 10:00. The area is turned into a night market from 17:00, and stays open until 23:00.
Entry Fee and Bookings
Admission to Petaling Street is free.
How to Get There
Major bus routes in Kuala Lumpur operate through this area and you can take buses heading to “Kotaraya” or “Pasar Seni,” such as Metrobus No. 30 or 99, CityLiner No. 710 or 730, and RapidKL B115 or U22 or U26. Other options include taking the LRT rail to Pasar Seni or Plaza Rakyat station, KTM Komuter to Kuala Lumpur station or Monorail to Maharajalela station. China Town is within walking distance from these stations.
Suggested For
The street is suitable for travelers of all ages looking for places to shop or to taste local cuisines.
Time to Spend
Visitors are suggested to spend 1 to 2 hours at Petaling Street for shopping and eating.
Popularity and Best Time to Go
Visit the street in the morning or noon for better bargains and fewer crowds. During the weekend, especially on Sundays and public holidays, the nearby area will be crowded with foreign workers doing their own shopping.
Activities
Sample local cuisines and shop to your heart’s content!
Food
You will find plenty of good street food here. Some must-try local food at China Town are Kim Lian Kee Hokkien Mee, Yong Tau Fu at the China Town wet market, Sze Ngan Chye’s Roasted Duck, Koon Kee Wan Tan Mee, Portuguese Grilled Fish, Kim Soya Bean, Madam Tang Mua Chi stall, and Air Mata Kucing stall. If you prefer restaurants with a better environment, the award-winning Café Café, CHOCHA Foodstore, and Old China Café are good choices.
Safety and Fraud
The market is full of imitation goods thus shop wisely. Beware of pick pockets as they are known to operate here.
Nearby Attractions
Central Market – 4 minute’s walk
Merdeka Square – 8 minute’s walk
Sultan Abdul Samad Building – 8 minute’s walk
Stay
Visitors can easily find accommodation in the city of Kuala Lumpur, ranging from budget hostels, mid-range accommodation to luxury hotels. Some accommodations within walking distance to China Town are Swiss Inn Kuala Lumpur, Alamanda Hotel, and Ancasa Hotel; budget hostels such as The Explorers Guesthouse, Mingle Hostel, and Backhome KL are also nearby.
Good to Know
You must bargain for the items you are interested in and start with offering about one-quarter of the selling price then raising your offer bit by bit. Dress as humbly as you can and do not wear any expensive looking items.