The hotel was honoured for its forest-inspired interior design and for Tuai + Till, a dining concept that mixes Malaysian heritage with modern European cuisine.
Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur was recognised at the Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2026 - Malaysia, winning Hotel Interior Design of the Year - Malaysia and Hotel Restaurant of the Year - Malaysia categories for its distinctive design and dining experience.
Bringing the Malaysian rainforest in
Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur’s ‘Botanics Beyond Aesthetics’ interior design concept, Parkland: Echoes of the Forest, interprets the Malaysian rainforest through materials, artworks, lighting, and architectural details rather than relying on literal representations of nature.
The design journey begins upon arrival, with textures inspired by roots, bark, and organic fibres revealed in handmade cement reliefs, woven stainless steel, and oxidised metal. Golden threads radiating suggest growth and regeneration, and the carefully layered materials, deep greens, soft woods, clay finishes, and terrazzo create a connection with the natural environment.
Light plays an equally important role. Design concepts like Dappled Light and Shimmer + Reflect bring to mind the changing qualities of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy. Reflective surfaces and textural artwork throughout the hotel play with different perspectives.
The 466 rooms and suites are then a little more intimate. Inspired by Malaysian rubber tapping, the headboards celebrate the country’s heritage, whilst Rafflesia-inspired artwork, leaf-shaped mirrors, and suspended forms referencing tropical fruits add elements of local flora.
Each of the hotel’s dining areas asserts its own personality in this larger design narrative. Tuai + Till’s artwork inspired by tropical rainfall links the interior to the restaurant’s focus on harvest and cultivation. Sabato's takes a different route, conjuring a 1970s Italian-American red-sauce joint with deep reds, warm timber, retro touches, and softly lit, intimate seating.
Two culinary identities reimagining hotel dining
The concept of Tuai + Till is based on the interaction between cultivation, harvest, and produce. Its name is a combination of two complementary ideas: Tuai, the Malay word for harvest, and Till, the act of preparing the earth for cultivation.
The philosophy is expressed by two culinary personalities in the 140-seat restaurant. Tuai celebrates Malaysian ingredients, familiar flavours, and food memories through fermentation, preservation, and contemporary cooking techniques. Its Peranakan-inspired setting features heritage tiles, vintage tiffin carriers, batik motifs, and window flaps that recall traditional Malay kampung homes.
Till applies the same respect for ingredients to contemporary European cuisine, with a focus on grills, roasts, and responsible sourcing from local farmers and producers. Between the two is a creative space where Malaysian soul meets European craft.
Highlights include Otak-Otak Toast with mackerel and prawn mousse; house acar and spiced turmeric coconut cream; Tempoyak Prawn with fermented durian, fresh turmeric, chilli, and calamansi; and Braised Beef Cheek Rendang Tok cooked slowly over eight hours.
The crossover concept can also be seen in dishes like Curry Laksa Pasta, a blend of house-made laksa rempah with casarecce, tiger prawn and tofu puff, and Duck Leg Rendang Parmentier, which has duck confit and rendang flavours nestled under pomme purée.
Tuai + Till also changes its format throughout the day, from one all-day dining venue to two distinct experiences. Monthly Heritage Lunches, interactive produce stations, and communal dining formats further link guests with Malaysian ingredients and regional food traditions.
The Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards - Malaysia is the pinnacle of recognition in Malaysia’s dynamic travel industry, celebrating the best of the best. This prestigious programme showcases top performers across hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, travel agencies, booking platforms, and travel technology.
The Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards - Malaysia is presented by Travel Daily Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. For more information on the awards programme, you may contact Czarina Villanueva at +(65) 3158 1386 or [email protected].
