What To Buy In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Alex
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
what to buy in kuala lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia is also the cultural and financial centre of the place. It is also the largest city in the country with over a million people living there many of which have very diverse backgrounds both ethnically and culturally. Kuala Lumpur’s demographic is what makes it a very unique place. With Malays, Chinese and Indian making up most of the local population and as such, there is a rich diversity in the local food, history, architecture and general way of life. Kuala Lumpur is one of the world’s most visited cities so there’s lots to see and do and when it comes to shopping, Kuala Lumpur is one of the leading cities in Asia in retail. So if you’re going to visit Kuala Lumpur make sure you don’t blow all your money on useless things, here’s the best of what to buy in Kuala Lumpur.

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From transportation tips to medical essentials and everything in between, the Kuala Lumpur local guides share all the must-know information to help you plan your trip.

1. Pewter products

Royal Selangor factory
Source: Photo by Flickr user eGuide Travel used under CC BY 2.0

Pewter is a metal alloy made up of tin, copper and antimony and Malaysia is one of the leading producers of the product. Everything from glassware to jewellery can be made up of pewter and real artists in the craft of making Pewter products are essentially like metal work craftspeople. The Royal Selangor centre has tons of Pewter products as well as a free tour of the history of pewter products in Malaysia.

The Royal Selangor

Address: 4, Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak Jaya 53300 Kuala Lumpur

Website: The Royal Selangor

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2. Traditional fabrics

Posted by Popularfabric.com on Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Southeast Asia is home to a myriad of different kinds of fabrics and textiles and Mayalsia is no different. In the case of Malaysia, the different intersection of cultures make lots of the traditional fabrics unique in their texture and appearance. Batik and sungkitt are two popular fabrics from Malaysia that are used to decoration, embroidery and clothing.

Address: 1st floor,, 12, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpu

Website: PopularFabric

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3. Malaysian Dodol

RAHSIA DODOL MAKTOK ADALAH PADA PEMILIHAN GULA MELAKA! Gula Melaka merupakan produk yang sangat popular dikalangan...

Posted by DODOL MakTok - Homemade on Thursday, 16 November 2017

Malaysian Dodol is a sweet toffee-like candy made from palm and coconut milk and rice flour. It’s popular all around south-east Asia and makes a great traditional treat to bring back home and give to your friends. It’s sticky and sweet and is definitely a different kind of candy that you’ll want to try while visiting.

Dodol

Address: No 10, jln mendak 8/5 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Website: Dodol Maktok

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4. Pua Kumbu fabric


Pua Kumbu fabric is a traditional multicoloured fabric usually worn during ceremonies. The multicoloured cloth is absolutely beautiful and traditionally found in the Sarawak region on Malaysia and the process for making it is very elaborate. Traditionally, in order to get the fabric as colourful as it gets, raw materials had to be harvested from the rainforest in order to be turned into the dye that would then colour the fabric.

National Textile Museum

Address: 26, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Website: National Textile Museum

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Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide

Reka Luxshmi

Reka Luxshmi

Hello, I'm Reka, a HR professional with a master's in Business Administration who's passionate about exploring new places and savoring local cuisines. Recently licensed as a tour guide in Malaysia, I'm eager to showcase the beauty of my country, its vibrant culture, and diverse culinary delights. While I remain active in the corporate world, guiding offers me a fulfilling escape. I specialize i... Read more

Tours by Reka

Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide

Shazriza Rais

Shazriza Rais

Hey there! I'm Shaz, your go-to tour guide for exploring the best of Malaysia. Born and raised in this vibrant country, I've got a deep passion for sharing its wonders with travelers from all walks of life. I've been in the game for 7 awesome years, leading tours across Malaysia's hottest spots like Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Penang, and Langkawi. Whether you're a solo adventurer or a big family cr... Read more

Tours by Shazriza

Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide

Kovin Sivanasvaran

Kovin Sivanasvaran

I am a geologist graduate with a passion in eco-adventure tourism. I have 10 years experience in guiding as I started from a young age. I am currently running my own tour company called Mowgli Venture where I bring guest out of their comfort zones to enjoy nature. My passion project would be waterfall exploring and cliff jumping. My long term goal is to write a book of 1000 waterfalls in Malays... Read more

Tours by Kovin

Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide

Haz Samat

Haz Samat

Explore and Experience Kuala Lumpur city with me-Zach. Get the local insight of the diversity of races, culture and religions, and the lifestyle. I have the passion to show travelers of the under-rated Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia as travel destination that often overlooked by travelers. There's a long trail of history and stories that made us claim-"Malaysia Truly Asia".

5. Kerongsang brooch


Worn as a fastener on a blouse for women, this traditional brooch can sometimes come in a set of three and depending on the style and materials, it can either range from very expensive to delightfully affordable. The origin of the brooch is uncertain but it has been worn on traditional outfits and for ceremonies for hundreds of years. It most likely comes from a mix of Chinese and Malay and it makes a great gift to pick for yourself or a girlfriend.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Address: NO 208, Bunus, Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Website: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

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6. Perfumes

Posted by Rirana Parfume HQ on Saturday, April 9, 2022

Perfumes make a great gift for yourself or someone else and there is a large market for it in Kuala Lumpur. Everything from brand name designer perfumes or even homemade handicraft style can be found around. Foreign tourists can find scents they probably won’t be able to get back home as the perfume will be made from local ingredients and scents.

Rirana Parfume

Address: (2nd Floor), Jalan Medan Pusat Bandar 8, Bangi Sentral Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Website: Rirana Parfume

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7. Beaded Slippers

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Slippers</div>
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user [Unknown] used under CC BY 4.0

Beaded slippers can be found throughout Malaysia and are pretty much a staple in any Malaysian home. Beaded slippers are also pretty commonly found throughout Asia and are again, a common sight in any home. Comfortable and stylish, they won’t make your feet sweat in the hot summer months. They’re also almost always super affordable and easy to find making it a great gift to bring back home.

Beaded Slippers

Address: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Website: Central Market

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8. Traditional Malaysian kite

Wau bulan Pasir Gudang
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user D.W. Fisher-Freberg used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Traditional Malaysian kites are known as Wau Bulan and are beautiful and intricately designed kites usually with floral patterns and themes. The Wau Bulan is an icon of Malaysia and is even the symbol of Malaysian Airlines. There are different types of Malaysian kites including the wau kucing (cat) and the wau merak (peacock). A traditional Malaysian kite makes an amazing and unique item to bring back.

Winddancer

Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Bandar Utama, Malaysia

Website: Winddancer

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9. Durian cake

Durians in mesh bags
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user ChildofMidnight used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Durian is a popular fruit found throughout south-east Asia and is especially popular in Malaysia. Durian is a kind of weird fruit for people not used to it. Even with the spiky outer husk intact, the fruit is known for it’s pungent and strong odour. Some people like the smell finding it sweet while others, find it to be repulsive. However, its flavour is sweet and it is very commonly found in desserts and sweets so why not try out what is known as the “king of the fruits” in cake form!

Durian Cake

Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Website: The Madarin Cake Shop

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10. Bamboo handicrafts

Bula Bamboo Crafts 02
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dnacario used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Bamboo handicrafts are a great item to buy when you’re looking for something unique and authentic to either give to someone or use for yourself. Bamboo is a versatile resource that is essentially found everywhere in Asia and dedicated craftspeople can pretty much make bamboo crafts for anything. From little decorative items to more practical ones like baskets and even furniture. Bamboo is incredibly strong and durable and can really be a statement piece in your home.

Bamboo Handicrafts

Address: No.427, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Website: Rattan Art Handicraft House

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Garden city of lights

Kuala Lumpur is one of the most visited cities in the world for a reason, it’s got everything from amazing food, to eclectic street scenes to amazing architecture all interwoven between a mix of distinct cultures. There’s tons to see and do and with that comes some great shopping opportunities.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Alex is a Canadian university graduate with degrees in English literature and History. He was born in Montreal and when he's not traveling he enjoys movies, video games, playing the drums and...Read more

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