OAKWOOD: AN OASIS IN THE CITY

Sometimes a brief breather is all one needs to recharge and rejuvenate from the daily drudgery of work and life. We found a low-key yet peaceful oasis right in the heart of KL recently – Oakwood Hotel & Residence – for a quiet weekend staycation.

Opened in October last year, Oakwood has 251 units onsite: 71 Deluxe Rooms, 155 One-bedroom Deluxe Apartments, 25 One-bedroom Premier Apartments and 1 Two-Bedroom Apartment.

Tucked slightly back from the main thoroughfare of Jalan Ampang, we like the calm, unhurried feel of its spacious and airy lobby. Its sparse furnishing didn’t bother us as the existing seats were there for practical purpose.

 

We took an instant liking to the bright and cheery ambience of our Deluxe Apartment. Accentuated with dark wood trimming and pops of colour from a pair of contemporary dining chairs and wall-mounted artworks, the clean lines and dominant neutral shades give the space organised structure. Soft furnishings of underfoot carpet in the living area and bedroom coupled with the fabric-upholstered settee lent the place an inviting homely finish.

 

The kitchenette is surprisingly well-equipped too with a microwave oven, a rice cooker, a toaster and electric kettle forming the coterie of facilities available. In addition, there’s a mini fridge as well as crockery and cutlery. Our gang jokingly remarked a mini feast could easily be whipped up with the stuff provided.

Another plus point is the proper executive desk and chair which makes work a breeze. Besides complimentary WiFi, we like the luxury of having a flatscreen telly in the living room and another in the bedroom. The bed itself was comfy enough to ensure we slept soundly.

Personally, I give Oakwood extra points for devoting ample space to the toilet, long bath and shower area. Instead of run-of-the-mill toiletries, Oakwood commissioned Australian designer and entrepreneur Peter Morrissey to curate the whole set of bath care products using organic plant extracts and essential oils.

For those who seek to hideaway from the outside world, Oakwood has all the basics covered. The freeform swimming pool is big enough for laps and next to it is a children’s wading pool. Huge beanbags at the spacious deck let guests lounge around in the shade whilst fitness buffs may make full use of the modest Fitness Centre.

TrEat Restaurant & Bar is the only F&B outlet at Oakwood but it’s adequate enough to cater to famished guests. Breakfast proved to be a bustling affair during high occupancy especially when hordes of guests descend on the morning spread simultaneously. 

 

We found the usual range of brekkie fare proffered decent enough as the selection covered everything from local noodles and cereals to eggs, sausages and toast. Throughout the day, an a la carte variety of comfort food is served. 

You won’t go hungry for sure as surrounding Oakwood is several F&B hot spots, offering everything from Irish pub grub to Middle Eastern fare. A short drive away is Ampang, famed for its yong tau foo or head to one of the major malls like Suria KLCC and The Intermark for more abundant choices.

Other facilities and services for guest convenience include a Laundry Room, 24-hour concierge and front desk services, business services and four meeting spaces to accommodate 24 – 100 persons.

Oakwood Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur is the 30^th Oakwood-branded property across 20 cities in Asia-Pacific. Address: 222, Jalan Ampang, KL. For more information, check: facebook.com/OakwoodKualaLumpur

FULL POINTS FOR FOUR POINTS PUCHONG

Bursts of colour coupled with arty-trendy design elements abound at Puchong's international Four Points by Sheraton hotel. The 249-room (including 12 Executive Suites) property is the pulse of this bustling township, surrounded by commercial, retail and residential hubs.

You can't really miss the distinctive building which is visible from the busy highway running parallel to the hotel. Opened in 2014, we had the privilege of enjoying a weekend staycation there recently. Parking was a breeze within the hotel basement as was the smooth and glitch-free check-in.

The lobby itself was warmly lit and clutter-free, with potted planters placed at different nooks and corners interspersed with an eye-catching art piece or two. We took a peep into the I-Spot corner where guests can surf the Net on Apple computers in comfort and soft ambient lighting. The secluded space is ideal for quick meetings or a serene corner to catch up on some reading or to grab a contemplative break.

A quick overview of our Deluxe King Room left no room for complaints. I particularly like the pristine neutral colour scheme of the soft furnishings. Cheery hues in discreet linear patterns broke the monotony amidst the central placement of a Four Points signature bed. Sheathed in 250 thread count linen, the expansive bed ensured we slept soundly during the two nights we stayed there.

 

Such creature comforts are repeated in the Executive Suites. Here, the private bedroom includes a living area (great for meetings or family/friend gatherings) and a writing desk with wired and wireless High Speed Internet Access (the latter also available in our room so we hardly felt the deprivation). Instead of one 40” LED Flat Screen Television, the Exec Suites have two TVs - one for the living area and the other in the bedroom. All rooms come with a minibar as well as coffee and tea making facilities. 

We love the airiness of the Exec Suite but again, the Deluxe Room was satisfactory enough for us; its amenities and fitouts definitely several notches up for a four-star hotel.

By the time we finished our whirlwind hotel tour, it was makan time! We headed down to The Eatery, the all-day dining restaurant (6am-11pm) where us famished souls sought succour.

Suffice to say, the splendid buffet dinner spread should have something to please everyone. Our group had a kid and young adults in tow so it was a relief to find the line-up of dishes featured had ample variety to keep everyone happy and satiated. By the way, The Eatery is running these promos throughout the week too.

We also enjoyed plenty of nice pickings from the all-new Weekend Hi-tea Buffet (RM85 per adult; RM42.50 per child aged 4-11 years old). Families will like this meal period as The Eatery has gone to set-up a children's activities corner to keep the little ones entertained.

Tempting fare from the ever-changing menu range from kid-friendly options like sandwiches, roast chicken drummets and pizzas to more adult choices: yong tau foo, curry mee, appetisers in shot glasses, grilled salmon, dim sum and mini dessert creations.

A good way of working off all that good food is to head for the gym or enjoy a dip in the pool. The equipment should meet the expectations of most fitness buffs who prefer not to slack from their normal keep fit routine. Families with children are guaranteed to take to the pool like ducks to water. Just remember to don proper swim attire instead of wearing normal clothes like t-shirts and shorts for hygiene purpose. A swimming pool is NOT for 'washing' your dirty laundry and nobody wants to swim in yucky pool water!

As an aside, those of you working in companies may be interested to know Four Points also has meeting facilities onsite. Be it for small meetings, mid-sized workshops or large-scale banquets, we were told the team is willing to help plan and organise all types of events or functions.

Local, food-crazy staycationers like us also took the opportunity to explore nearby eateries. Puchong is chock-a-block with irresistibly good options for cheap and mid-range eats -- make sure you go with those in the know and like those Pokemon Go hunters, you'd catch your fair share of delicious foodie discoveries at different parts of the 'hood.

Oodles of noodles beckon from independent eateries from across Four Points

The heatwave during our weekend stay saw us lounging around the Lobby Lounge, to enjoy the cool air-conditioned ambiance and to sip on cocktails before dinner. Currently, beers from around the world are dispensed as part of the Four Points' Best Brew initiative at this contemporary bar cum lounge.

Overall, we thoroughly revelled in our brief escapade in the city. The hotel's friendly culinary team and frontline service crew were always pleasant and ever-ready to help in making sure our stay was smooth and trouble-free.

For reservations, please call Four Points by Sheraton Puchong, tel: +6 03-5891 8888.
Address: 1201, Tower 3, Puchong Financial Corporate Centre (PFCC), Jalan Puteri 1/2, Bandar Puteri, Puchong, Selangor.