Bangsar: A Prime Location

KL Sentral, the integrated transportation hub is just minutes away Bangsar is 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 destination.

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

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

Finnegan's Irish Bar

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.