It’s been a hectic few months, so for the birthday month, I thought of splurging on a staycation. We initially wanted to book a place in the city centre, but after considering our budget and the fact that N and I aren’t that energetic these days (hello, mid 30s!), we settled on INNSiDE by Melia, Kuala Lumpur Cheras, a four-star hotel about a 10 to 15 minute drive from downtown KL.

Part of the Melia chain of hotels, INNSiDe by Melia Kuala Lumpur Cheras is fairly new, having opened in 2023. The brand, which includes a series of beachside and urban hotels, exudes a fun and curious vibe that caters to young travellers.

The hotel is connected to EKO Cheras Mall and shares the same parking space. Unfortunately, parking for the hotel is located on the seventh floor, so you’ll spend a good 5 – 10 minutes just circling your way to that level. You can validate your Touch N Go for RM5 when you leave the hotel. It’s also easy to reach by MRT – just alight at Taman Permata station, cut through the mall and follow the signs to INNSiDE.

The lobby is small but engaging, with plenty of quirky items on display including some of the hotel’s merchandise (towels, candles, yoga mats, t-shirts) that are available for purchase. The overall design is youthful, fun, and welcoming – a place that encourages travelers to satisfy their curiosity, discover new experiences, and socialise.

Workstations, perfect for digital nomads to get a few meetings in before venturing out to the city to explore.

A cosy nook to chill out, have a game of chess with a friend, or read books.

The concierge was warm and accommodating. We were able to check in at 2PM instead of the usual 3PM – and when she saw that it was my birthday while keying in the details, she upgraded us to a larger room. Kudos to them for the excellent service!

Our upgraded LOFT room was fantastic: it had a separate bedroom and living room, and because it was located at the corner of the building, we were able to enjoy 180-degree views of the city. The decor was modern and tasteful: I especially liked the colourful abstract wall art, which I think makes the place look cosy and homely. Would love to have a space like this when I have my own place.

I’m obsessed with all things neon, so I love the purple backlight at the pantry area. Items in the mini bar are complimentary, which I think is a great touch since most hotels charge even for bottled water from the fridge. There’s the usual tea and coffee making facilities, plus a Nespresso machine.

The mugs had quirky designs on them as well.

This was my first time using a Nespresso machine. While I like coffee, I’m no connoisseur – I’m just as happy having a 3-in-1 Nescafe as I am getting latte from a cafe – but even I can tell that these tasted premium. The coffee was strong and robust, with a smooth finish.

View of the infinity pool from the living room window.

Our bedroom was cosy. It was furnished with a TV and a massive bed (I think it could have fit three people comfortably). The mattress quality was top notch, with just the right amount of firmness. Only qualms I had with the room was that it heated up very quickly during the day: if we went out for a bit and turned off all the electricity, it felt like a sauna when we returned, and the air-conditioning took a long time to cool the room.

After a late lunch at the mall, we nipped down to the infinity pool on the 5th floor, which overlooks the tranquil gardens of the Infant Jesus Convent. Lucky for us the weather was perfect – we enjoyed a good 1.5 hours in the pool. There are lounge chairs for guests who’d like to catch some rays. For gym enthusiasts, there is a small gym on this floor that’s open 24/7, or if you’d like to work out in the comforts of your own room, the hotel provides yoga mats as well.

Breakfast the next morning was at Duke’s Kitchen, the hotel’s casual all-day dining restaurant. The interiors are modern with a touch of local elements, including wooden lattices that separate the buffet area from the dining space, and geometric floor tiles. Service was, again, excellent.

The selection, however, was poor. I was disappointed as hotel buffets are my favourite part of staycations, but it is what it is. Some of the fare included nasi lemak with chicken rendang, Mamak-style mee goreng, fried spring rolls, stir-fried veggies, porridge, a few fresh fruit selections, pancakes and bread. They can make omelettes to order as well, but that’s about it.

The fried items have been on the buffet line since 6am, so by the time we went down at 8am, the food was already soggy and cold. The mee goreng was the saving grace as it was replenished constantly and had pretty good wok hei, as was the chicken rendang. Everything else was mediocre.

While breakfast was a small blip on the experience, I would say the overall stay was enjoyable! Service is warm, and staff members go the extra mile to make guests feel comfortable. Them upgrading me to a larger room for my birthday (I did not ask) was a lovely gesture, and it is these experiences that make me want to return for another stay. Most importantly, the room was clean and cosy, and the facilities were good. I’d skip on breakfast next time though, since there are lots of better food options around the area.

Other plus points:

• Close to the city centre but far enough for those who enjoy a quiet, more relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of KL
• Easily accessible via MRT
• Flat rate for parking – RM5 per entry
• Connected to the EKO Cheras mall which has a cinema, gaming arcade, shopping, restaurants, etc. If you want to explore an older neighbourhood mall, Cheras Leisure Mall is just across the road

**I paid RM330+ for a one’s night stay for two at INNSiDE by Melia via Booking.com.

INNSiDE by Melia Kuala Lumpur Cheras

N-G01, Eko Cheras No.693, Batu 5, Jalan Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur.

Website

Phone: 03-9133 0700

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PS2: All travel and food expenses are out of my own pocket unless otherwise stated. Views here are my own and are based on my personal experience. They are not meant to endorse or disparage businesses in any way