Kuala Lumpur Shopping: Mentor For The Best Street Shopping

Kuala Lumpur has dynamic and vibrant street markets which house a variety of products like bags, shoes, belts, watches, home decorations, handicrafts, clothes, and even food items. The street market of Kuala Lumpur attracts locals and tourists all year round and is frolic. The markets usually open in the morning and are closed during evenings due to traffic but then reopen around midnight.  These are not at the city center and are so easily accessible via monorail trains and LRT. The city has arguably the best sites both natural and man-made, malls and street markets. Believe it or not, the local street shopping in Kuala Lumpur is far more interesting than malls as you get to meet the local culture and tradition of the city in these markets.

Top 4 Things To Buy When Shopping In Kuala Lumpur

The city has a wide range of markets offering you what’s best. From Clothing to households and accessories, the local markets have the best at affordable prices.

1. Hand-Woven Crafts

Hand-woven crafts include a wide range of products like earthenware and ceramics, wood crafts, metal crafts, etc. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, boasts a delightful variety, and choices range from priceless authentic antiques to exquisite modern handmade crafts. The best shopping in Kuala Lumpur experience is incomplete without buying these handwoven products. Local plant fibers and parts from bamboo, rattan, pandan, mengkuang leaves are coiled together, plaited, twined, and woven to make gorgeous and irresistible products like bags, baskets, hats, tudung saji, sepak regarding balls (the traditional Malaysian culture can be seen in these crafts).

Where To Buy: Near Central Market and several other local shops in Kuala Lumpur

2. Pewter Wares

A must-buy item in Kuala Lumpur is local pewter ware. You can see it all over the city, in malls (the quality of pewter ware in malls in Kuala Lumpur cuts above the rest), in craft shops, in souvenir shops, at local markets, and even at high-end specialty shops. The Royal Selangor is the world's largest pewter manufacturer and is Kuala Lumpur's institution when comes to shopping. Yes, the pewter ware from Royal Selangor is priced higher than from other markets (it is not very expensive). You can look for wine accessories, keyrings, boxes, picture frames, cufflinks drink coasters, etc. The wide range of these products lets you choose the best one for you. You can find this at cheaper prices in Central Market and a slightly expensive one from KLCC mall or Royal Selangor.

Where To Buy: Bangsar Village, Kuala Lumpur

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3. Traditional Chinese Medicines And Herbs

One of the most interesting things to do in Kuala Lumpur is learning about these remedies and herbs. The city has many shops and market stalls that sell traditional Chinese medicines and herbs because of its large Chinese population. From curing asthma, stomach aches, headaches to traditional remedies, you can find it all in the city. As mentioned earlier they are available all over the city but the best one can be bought from Jalan Petaling in Chinatown, they have some best stalls. Traditional medicine and herbs are all about balancing the energy in the body so the yin, the yang, and qi (Chinese traditions) are kept in check.

Where To Buy: From Petaling Street and from many other local markets

4. Batik Fabric

It is one of Malaysia's most important and unusual handicrafts. Batik is a fabric on which patterns on cloth are created using wax and then dyed with different colored dyes to create beautiful and gorgeous designs. The batik in this country is different from the others (available in Thailand, Singapore, etc.). In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the batik fabric has usually designed with flowers, leaves trees, or abstract patterns. It is against traditional Muslim law to wear clothes with animal or human prints and so they use nature instead.

Where To Buy: From shops in Jalan, Kuala Lumpur

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Kuala Lumpur Shopping: Top 4 Places To Shop In The City

Shopping in Kuala Lumpur is delightful and interesting. The culture and traditions of the locals are definitely going to mesmerize you.

1. Chow Kit Market

This market is recognized as one of Malaysia's (not only Kuala Lumpur but the whole nation!) Infamous landmarks. Chow Kit market can be one of the most exhilarating places to visit in Malaysia and the market is basically divided into two halves - the first half is home to the city's unofficial Red-Light District and the other half has the most popular local market of the country. Although it not very well known among tourists, yet it is very exciting. But let me advise you - " It is not faint-hearted! ".

You can make the best use of your bargaining skills here. This area plays host to the nation's largest wet market. The dry section is a clean area (without a doubt and irrespective of the wet market) and is more appropriate for tourists. The main focus of the market is its lively and culturally - enriching scene. The vendors are very polite and it is one of the areas where you can see Malaysian hospitality at its best.

Location: Jalan Haji Hussein, Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur

Timings: Opens at 6 AM and closes at 5 PM, is open every day

2. Central Market

This Market was built in 1928. Central Market in Kuala Lumpur's most familiar market. This place was once used as a wet market, but was revamped in the early 1980s and turned into a handicrafts outlet and a famous tourist attraction. The market also celebrates annual festivals like Hari Raya, Deepawali, and Chinese New Year. The street shopping in Kuala Lumpur is nothing like shopping malls in KL are.

It is a warren of boutiques, souvenir shops, and handicrafts, with vendors selling local merchandise like Malaysian batik prints and much more. The central market is also known as Pasar Seni. The market is also home to a food court serving Asian delicacies. Central Market is labeled as A Heritage Site by the National Heritage Department. This is the most important market for the economy of the city (no, wait, the whole country). Being one of the famous places to visit in Kuala Lumpur the transportation to and from the market has been made easier and more convenient.

Location: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050, Kuala Lumpur

Timings: Opens at 10 AM and closes at 9: 30 PM

3. Jalan Masjid India Market

This market has stalls of clothes, bags, souvenirs, accessories, jewelry, toys, etc., most of which are traditional products. This market among the best shopping places in Kuala Lumpur. As the name suggests the market serves the Indian Muslim community. It is a street market covered with blue-tinted glass awning which protects the market and its customers from sun and rain (you don't have to worry about heat strokes now!). The market also houses food stalls for local Indian and Malay snacks. Jalan Masjid Indian Market celebrates all the festivals and the market is lit up. during Ramadan as well the market is decorated, but the food stalls open at dusk and dawn (for those people who are fasting as per the Ramadan tradition). You can bargain with the vendors all though the things are available at a reasonable price beforehand.

Location: Jalan Masjid India, City Centre, 50100 Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur

Timings: Opens at 9 AM and closes at 10 PM, is open every day

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4. Petaling Street

A lively and vibrant street shopping in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. Petaling Street is one of the most popular street markets in Kuala Lumpur. The shopping in Malaysia can be overwhelming at times, but when there are hundreds of stalls lined up in the street selling a variety of trinkets, T-shirts, electronics, and other souvenirs at reasonable prices, it is worth the feeling. Petaling street is also filled with a delightful array of local cuisine (Chinese and seafood restaurants) and there are hawker stalls as well, this results in a mixture of aroma that is impossible to resist. The products in this market are mainly Chinese- food, watches, bags, perfumes, imitation jewelry. Bargaining is very common in the market (here is a chance to put your bargaining skills to the test). This street is the ultimate street market in Kuala Lumpur.

Location: Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

Timings: In the morning from 8 AM to 12 PM and in the evening from 6 PM to 1 AM, is open every day

Kuala Lumpur's Street markets offer a dizzying array of fresh products such as jewelries, handicrafts, apparel, and accessories, and all these at affordable prices (and if you don't find it reasonable you can always bargain and get the best deal for yourself). The shopping in Kuala Lumpur extremely fun and a treat to the eyes as well as the tongue (don’t forget the luscious food). The vendors in the local market of the city are surprisingly polite and some of them are pushovers as well, so you can get your price all you have to do is smile and be polite.

The street markets of Kuala Lumpur will take you close to the local future and traditions. All the attractions of the city on one hand and all the street markets on the other, and the latter is going to feel more interesting because of the beautiful norms. The shopping scene in the city is truly impressive. The markets have something for everyone, from apparel to food (the food is heavenly). Being local markets, they also celebrate annual festivals and it is a treat to the eyes to watch these markets glow up as the day passes. If you are a shopaholic then what are you waiting for? Book your plane tickets to Kuala Lumpur now!

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