At the heart of Kuala Lumpur's shopping and entertainment zone is Jalan Bukit Bintang. By day, the street is filled with young families laden with shopping bags. At night, couples and groups of singles fill the outdoor, garden-style bars that spill onto the main road at the heart of the city's Golden Triangle.
Royal Selangor (G9, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, 50 Jalan Sultan Ismail, tel: 603 2142 5755) is the world's largest pewter company. Top buys include a pair of double-walled cups for M$160 ($330) and an ice bucket for M$660.
For a taste of modern Malaysian fashion, head to the first floor of Sungai Wang Plaza, where you'll find the country's best design talent. Melinda Looi's Mell (F082, Sungai Wang Plaza, Jalan Bukit Bintang, tel: 603 2144 0560) specialises in youth apparel in cotton and denim. A T-shirt costs about M$60. Fellow Malaysian designer Khoon Hooi's Inspire (FO82-C, Sungai Wang Plaza, tel: 603 9283 8357) stocks off-the-wall men's and women's wear. Kwan (F088, Sungai Wang Plaza, tel: 603 2141 2722) sells men's work apparel designed by Daniel Cho and gift items made from local dark wood. Villiam Oooi's store, My Closet, (F082, Sungai Wang Plaza, tel: 603 2144 1775) sells vintage dresses for about M$100 each.
Kensapothecary (F9, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, tel: 603 2142 4361) is an old-fashioned dispensary in contemporary surroundings selling skincare products and fragrances, including Aesop, Peter Thomas Roth and Annick Goutal. Local watch specialist Woohing (G11, Lot 10 Shopping Centre,
tel: 603 2144 1931) stocks all the big-name international brands, including Rolex.
For locally made lacquerware, birthday cards, freshwater pearls and other gift items touting a 'Made in Malaysia' sticker, head to Teratai (P3A, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, tel: 603 2144 8866), where most items are priced at about M$125. Eclipse (F21, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, tel: 603 2143 9237) is a nationwide chain store selling locally made women's fashion, accessories and bargain-priced jewellery. Men might want to head to projectshopBLOODbros (F22, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, tel: 603 2144 5139) from Singapore, which specialises in urban accessories for creative types and students. Backpacks and shoulder bags are a steal at M$200.