Central Market
The Central Market building is a haven for many market vendors who sell all sorts of goods here. From clothes to home accessories to electronics. But in recent times, Central Market has been transformed from an authentic place to a commercial tourist mall with many souvenirs and local food.
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But we definitely recommend visiting it, it is still a very interesting place to shop for souvenirs of all kinds.
Local food-court
There is also a large foodcourt on the 1st floor, which we think is one of the good places to eat cheap.
The food-court used to be occupied almost exclusively by local Malaysian restaurants, but today it is a mix of cuisines from all over Asia, especially China and Thailand.
Some restaurants accept credit cards, others don't, so it's advisable to have at least some cash with you.
If you want to experience truly authentic Malaysian cuisine, we recommend heading to the Kampung Baru district instead.
Kasturi Walk
Kasturi Walk is a shopping street that stretches in front of the building, and you'll also find a few shops on it. Try the local coconut tubes or order a juice made from freshly blended fruit.
The sweets and snack stalls are more modern, cleaner, but also a lot more expensive than in neighbouring Chinatown.
How to get there
Central Market is right in the old town on the border of Chinatown and close to the Jamek Mosque and Merdeka Square (both about a 10-minute walk).
The nearest metro stations are:
- Pasar Seni - red line 5, green line 9 (about 5 minutes walk)
- Masjid Jamek - red line 5, orange line 3 and brown line 4 (approx. 10 minutes on foot)
Accommodation nearby
The area around Central Market is ideal for nightlife lovers and good access to several metro lines.
The neighbourhood is known for budget hotels, but some of them have very poor reviews.
We would recommend these hotels with decent ratings and good prices:
- Santa Grand Classic Kuala Lumpur **** - modern clean rooms with private bathrooms and prices from 50 usd
- Lavana Hotel Chinatown ** - Ideal hotel for a 1 night stay between Pasar Seni station and the market, prices from 40 usd
- Travelodge KL City Centre **** - a worldwide chain of budget hotels with prices from 45 usd
What to see around
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Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
Central market is terrible and absolutely nothing. They're not very good at juices and they're very expensive. Far more interesting is the market on Petaling street.