One of the benefits of staying in a hotel like Nikko is the buffet breakfast right? Usually I would say yes but this time I’d have to say no. =( Read on to see why.
Groggy DiploWife half-heartedly trying to smile for the camera.
I honestly don’t know how a hotel like Nikko can get breakfast wrong. I am simple to please when it comes to breakfast – scrambled eggs with bacon/sausage/ham and rice would make me happy already. But for some reason nothing tasted quite right here…
TD’s first plate of breakfast. For some reason the eggs didn’t taste good and neither did the rest of it. Like it lacked salt or something. I wonder if it’s just because our Filipino tastebuds are just used to having more salt? We even tried some of the local dishes thinking it would be better – unfortunately it wasn’t.
My plate: cold cuts, beef ham, chicken sausage, grilled asparagus, fried potatoes and bread. The only thing that tasted okay were the cold cuts and the bread! How can you get scrambled eggs wrong? Seriously… All you need is to put salt. =P
The next day we basically stuck to fruits, crackers, cold cuts, cheeses and yogurts! My husband and I always say – you know it’s a bad buffet if the best thing on it are the fruits!
The set up was okay, nothing fancy. However my complaint was that they didn’t clean the tables well between guests. It was quite a busy weekend, but hotels should be used to this kind of numbers.
I like that there was an indoor pond beside our table and a view of the al fresco area.
Despite this I still think Nikko is okay to stay in because of it’s location. There are many shops and restos nearby that you can walk to, especially in KLCC. So I’d definitely sacrifice breakfast for this location. Besides I ate healthier because of it! LOL!
Be warned though that the dining area is quite small and since the hotel was fully booked for the long weekend there was a a long line for breakfast. Good thing hubby and I arrived either early or late so we didn’t have to line up.
I heard that Hotel Nikko is now under a new name and management: Intercontinental Hotel. Perhaps the quality of the food and service has changed since the change in management? I sure hope so!
- Check out pictures of our hotel room here.
- Some neat features of our hotel room here.
- Japanese Restaurant at Hotel Nikko
INTERCONTINENTAL KUALA LUMPUR (formerly HOTEL NIKKO)
- We paid 208 USD for 3 days 2 nights (November 2010) via Agoda.com
- 165, Jalan Ampang, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (View map)
Just me says
March 29, 2011 at 4:51 AMI hope your unfavourable experience is rather an isolated case. I am sure it happens elsewhere too, it is just the matter of luck sometimes that we get the service below our expectation. I too do find some five-star fabulous hotels and resorts which sometimes sound better than what they can really offer. I guess it all boils down to the respective management, individual staff and perhaps even culture. In certain Asian countries, five-star hotel is just like a three-star hotel. Anyway, do not let this spoil our vacation. There are so much new experience and excitement we are surely left to savour 🙂
diplomaticwife says
April 8, 2011 at 3:13 PMHello there! Perhaps it is just a difference in taste? I have palate that is used to saltier breakfast food. Though it is unfortunate that the breakfast did not meet my expectation, I have to be honest about my experience. Despite the breakfast buffet I still thought that staying in Hotel Nikko / intercon was the best idea because of it’s location (beside a train station and walking distance to KLCC).
We definitely had fun during our weekend to KL! I wouldn’t mind being posted there! The standard of living seems much less expensive than Jakarta! And I am reminded of the Philippines in many ways! =)
Just me says
March 29, 2011 at 5:01 AMBtw, have you tried ABC or air batu kacang (halo-halo Malaysian style), roti canai ( flat bread), the tantalising sate kajang, and the famous Kelantanese food like ayam percik ( grill chicken with spicy coconut sauce) and the succulent seafood? KL has all these fantastic food to offer. Go to resto outside hotel, hit any hawker stall or satisfy your tastebud at franchise resto offering authentic Malaysian delicacies like Nasi Beriani Mak Tim ( BB Plaza), Laksa Shack, The Chicken Rice Shop etc!?
diplomaticwife says
April 8, 2011 at 3:17 PMUnfortunately we were only able to hit Jalan Alor and Madam Kwans. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience! A weekend is definitely not enough! =)
Chuzai Living says
April 9, 2011 at 1:30 PMI’m sorry that your experience with the breakfast buffet at the Hotel Nikko wasn’t so good… I do value the locations when we pick a hotel. If a hotel has a nice breakfast, that’s definitely a bonus, but it’s a bummer when a hotel doesn’t. It’s a shame that the hotel didn’t keep up the expectation. Especially it’s a Japanese company, I feel bad that it wasn’t so satisfactory. Customers pay for the hotel and expect a good experience. Thanks for the review!!