Bangsar: A Prime Location

KL Sentral, the integrated transportation hub, is just minutes away from Bangsar - the unofficial border between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya - making it a strategic location. With easy accessibility from Jalan Bangsar on one side (which links to the Federal Highway and city centre) and the other end from Jalan Damansara (connecting to Jalan Duta and the North-South Highway), Bangsar has become a central location that connects major roads and destinations.

With the New Pantai Expressway (NPE), one can travel from Subang Jaya to Bangsar in merely 15 minutes or vice versa. Through Putra LRT (Light Rail Transit) along Jalan Bangsar, traveling is much more convenient. There are also a fleet of taxis along Jalan Bangsar and almost everywhere in Bangsar.

KL Central Station

Further down in Brickfields, the central hub of transportation in Malaysia, KL Sentral, provides all your needs for transportation. KL Sentral is an integrated transportation hub with a City Air Terminal, KLIA Express, Monorail, Putra LRT (Light Rail Transit) and KTM (train) and not forgetting a fleet of taxis - all in one place, you will never miss that plane again! KL International Airport is merely 30 minutes away. KL City Centre (KLCC) is just 15 minutes away with Putra LRT.

Eating and Drinking

Bangsar has a wide enough array of cuisine to satisfy any craving - Chinese, Indian, Malay, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, American and European. Some cater to vegetarians.

Just like any other town in Malaysia, Bangsar has a good spread of local food.

Indian Muslim Mamak stalls, South Indian banana leaf restaurants and Malay warungs are easily found. They are usually cheap, although prices in Bangsar are on average higher than elsewhere. Roadside hawkers usually open ini the evenings and close late. In fact, there are a number of 24-hour Mamak and banana leaf restaurants. It is usually acceptable for one to patronize these joints and order nothing but drinks, except during busy hours. Chinese kopitiam and seafood restaurants meanwhile are a little harder to find outside Lucky Garden. Alcohol is usually available.

There is also a hawker centre in Bangsar Baru, sometimes referred to as Bangsar Mamak, sited at the former Jolly Green Giant, although it has appeared to have long passed its golden age. Roadside stalls that serve drinks, local cakes, burgers and hotdogs and cut fruit can be found on many street corners. Ice cream, pastry, satay, rojak and milk is also sold on motorcycles and vans. A large pasar malam, or night market, each Sunday lends the Bangsar Baru a colourful flavour. There is also a daily wetmarket in Lucky Garden every morning. Another lesser known pasar malam is held in Bukit Bangsar on Wednesdays. Recent additions include One Bangsar (a string of new restaurants in Jalan Ara, a hillside street near the Telawi area), Bangsar Village and a remodelled Bangsar Shopping Centre.

Chili's American Bar

La Bodega, the Spanish restaurant Bangsar is every party reveler's haven. Check out the many pubs such as Modesto's, The Talk, Absolute Chemistry, Barflam and the list just goes on and on. It is here that you will see many young and not-so-young, lounging around in the best to-be-seen zones, some clad in designer gear and the many wannabes in the latest fashion trends, hoping to be spotted as part of the in-crowd. A mesmerizing night market is the highlight every Sunday of the week, as shoppers from all walks of life, come together making their rounds.

Finnegan's Irish Bar

From the authentic-tasting Penang Chee Cheong Fun to kebabs and asam laksa, the site practically incites your hunger pangs. For the sports lover, Bangsar Sport Complex will definitely meet your need. With a tennis court, indoor badminton court, swimming pool, gym as part of its facilities, sport enthusiasts will be thrilled if they were to live in this neighborhood. For gym enthusiasts, Lifestyle Gym is located in Jalan Telawi 3, the most happening street in Bangsar. A bigger and more happening gym, California Fitness is in MidValley, just a five-minute-drive away. One can also pamper oneself in the spas available in the Telawi area.

Bangsar Nightlife

Shopping

Bangsar Baru is probably the most well known and recognized bit of Bangsar. Among others, it houses coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, banks, fashion boutiques, art galleries, video stores, bookshops and hairdressers. In general, mall type shopping is found in this area. Lucky Garden probably resembles other commercial centres in Malaysia more than upmarket Bangsar Baru. Bangsar Shopping Centre, which was Bangsar's first shopping mall, is still a favourite shopping destination especially for upmarket stuff.Mid Valley Megamall, one of Malaysia's largest shopping malls, though not technically located withing the boundaries of Bangsar, is only a five minute drive away.

La Bodega - Bangsar

A recent addition is Bangsar Village, a shopping mall which used to be the Hankyu Jaya and then Busana Mun Loong. The success of Bangsar Village has seen it constructing a new building block to house many more outlets and shopping attractions. It should be completed by end of 2006.

Jalan Maarof is lined by car showrooms, many of them luxury labels, making this thoroughfare feel like Park Lane. There are also several interior designers and home-furnishing showrooms here. There are also a few other smaller rows of shops distributed around Bangsar, namely those at Lorong Maarof, Jalan Bangkung and Lorong Kurau. Pos Malaysia Bangsar Baru (post office), at Jalan Telawi remains open until 10 p.m.

Business

Bangsar has a history of hosting various newspaper publishers. News Straits Times Press (NSTP) which publishes the New Straits Times, New Sunday Times, Berita Harian, Berita Minggu, Harian Metro and Metro Ahad is located at Jalan Riong. China Press is also located at Jalan Riong. The online daily, Malaysiakini operates out of an office in Jalan Kemuja.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad, the national power company and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS), the waterworks have their headquarters at the Jalan Bukit Pantai area. Also nearby, although technically not situated in Bangsar, is Telekom Malaysia.

Dataran Maybank, at the corner of Jalan Maarof and Jalan Bangsar, is the headquarters of Malayan Banking's insurance businesses.