A former tin mining hub and the scene of the infamous Battle of Kampar, I was in this eponymous college town in April to hike Gunung Bujang Melaka. Here’s where I put up for the night…
With up to 20,000 students in tertiary institutions like Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), most visitors to Kampar are here to drop off, pick up or visit hopeful young student relatives. I was here to hike, but quickly discovered that there’s more reasons to detour to Kampar than summits and studies. The old town is full of intact pre-war architecture, the food is as scrumptous as it is affordable, and besides the countless lakes that dot the landscape, the local waterfall, Air Terjun Batu Berangkai is easily accessible – not hiking necessary.
M Boutique Hotel Kampar on the buzzing Jalan Batu Karang is poised to capture the influx of visitors. The 49-room property is the latest addition to M Boutique Hotel’s short list of hip hotels and residences. It’s also the only one located outside of Ipoh.
The hotel shares a block with Ipoh White Coffee and Mizakaya, two F & B establishments that the chain frequently pairs with and is surrounded by boba shops, cafes, fast food chains, restaurants and bars; Starbucks and Family Mart are within walking distance.
The interior carries M Boutique’s trademark modern industrial aesthetic with the lobby bearing a cycling theme and a Schwinn bicycle mounted on its wall.
A few days ahead of my arrival, I called to change my booking from a Superior Queen to a Superior Twin as my hiking buddy Carol would be joining me. If no Superior Twin room was available I would have paid RM30 to upgrade to a Premier Twin room, but it proved un-neccessary. The staff had it all handled, and checking in was smooth and efficient. Aas was checking out. Although reception is 24 hours, M Boutique Hotel locks its doors between 10pm and 7am, but Carol and I had no problem leaving before 7am the next morning.
Our room, #107 was hidden down a corridor on the 1st floor and has windows that look out onto a small side street. The decor was monochromatic with a zebra theme that was reflected in the art on the wall and towel hooks in bathroom. The beds were comfortable and amenities like bathrobes, room slippers and choice of instant coffees helped elevate the stay. I particularly liked the bedside lamps with dimmer switches but most guests rave about the massive bathroom.
There were some niggling issues. The massive sofa at the end of the room took up space and felt unnecessary; the towels were small, the illuminated minibar has a glass door which is distracting if you sleep in its line of sight; soundproofing was poor and the room was stuffy and warm upon entry as you need a keycard to power up the air-conditioning.
Despite that, I’d stay here on my next sojourn. M Boutique Hotel Kampar is a great concept with friendly staff trained to anticipate your needs.
Stayed April 2023.
Location Kampar, Perak.
Parking Free outdoor street parking. The neighbourhood gets busy on weekends so expect to park further away then.
Positives Stylish, thoughtful amenities, good service.
Negatives Towels are small, soundproofing needs improvement, room and minibar are stuffy and warm upon entry.
Tip Bring earplugs and ask for 2 keycards, one to keep the minibar on when you’re out.
Will appeal to Business travellers and families.
Rates I booked my room through Booking.com but you can book direct through the M Boutique Kampar website. Rates start at RM130 weekdays,150 weekends.
M Boutique Hotel Kampar, 1 Jalan Batu Karang, Taman Bandar Baru, Kampar, 31900, Perak. T: 60 5 467 2777
W: https://kampar.mboutiquehotels.com
F: https://www.facebook.com/mboutiquekampar/
I: https://www.instagram.com/mboutiquekampar/
POKOK KELAPA 