Kuala Lumpur Central Market guide Malaysia
Central Market was founded in 1888
This art deco covered market is a tourist attraction in its own right in Kuala Lumpur, as well as being a superb place to acquire traditional handicrafts and souvenirs such as kebaya, songket, and batik. Exclusive stores including Actop Craft, Borneo Pearls and Swartz Creation can also be found here plus many native craftsmen hawking their wares.
Shopping in Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market is popular due to the extensive range of antiques and crafts on offer coupled with the shopping experience itself. Within the colonial décor of the building there radiates an added elegance to the shopping experience, and prices can sometimes reflect these choice surroundings.
Kuala Lumpur Central Market layout
The Central Market of Kuala Lumpur has been organised to represent the different component races of this diverse nation. In a new corner the Lorong Melayu (Malay), Straits Chinese and Lorong India display products and manufacturing techniques of the three most important constituent cultures.
Malacca Jonker street has Baba-Nyonya buildings spread over two floors, a Batik Emporium offering world-famous designer labels plus the highest quality batik items available including shoes, clothes, bags and interior design. More on batik.
As well as Central Market being a focal point of Malaysian art and handicrafts, there are also a growing choice of select restaurants, cafes and eateries to choice from including an inexpensive food court. Favourite establishments include Famous Amos, Old Town Kopitiam, Secret Recipe, Kings Confectionary and authentic Baba Nyonya cuisine in Precious and Ginger.
There are also talented portrait artists who can knock up a decent resemblance of you or a loved one for a very reasonable fee. A gaggle of talented buskers and musicians occupy the walking mall along the side of Central Market in KL, and can be a great place to relax with some fresh juice or snacks purchased from the nearby stalls.
Central Market has mix of souvenirs and handicrafts
Kuala Lumpur Central Market is a breeze to get to. Located just a couple of minutes walk from Chinatown and the Petaling Street Market, Central Market is also served by a metro station called after its Bahasa name, Pasar Seni.
History of KL Central Market
Central Market’s art deco building was constructed in 1888 by the British and used originally as a wet market for the local population and the tin mining community. Various expansions took place over the years until the building reached its present size in 1933 after significant alterations to the warehouse space. It is estimated to have cost around US$167,000 to build in total.
The precise location for the wet market was chosen as it was close to the train station and Klang bus stand and so extremely convenient for Kuala Lumpur residents. During KL’s rapid growth of the 1970s there were proposals to demolish the market and convert the premium real estate for other uses. However, the Malaysian Heritage Society organised a successful campaign against these plans with the result that the building was finally declared a heritage site and so its future secured. Kuala Lumpur Central Market underwent a renaissance after renovation work was carried out in 1985 and it was officially re-titled ‘Pasar Budaya‘.
However, the Malaysian Heritage Society organised a successful campaign against these plans with the result that the building was finally declared a heritage site and so its future secured. Kuala Lumpur Central Market underwent a renaissance after renovation work was carried out in 1985 and it was officially re-titled ‘Pasar Budaya‘ a year later.
In 2006 the Annexe Central Market was opened in place of the old cinema that was situated at the rear of the main building. The Annexe houses music and theatre performance areas, art galleries plus a huge variety of handicraft stores. As among the most important art spaces anywhere in KL, it houses all kinds of shows, displays and festivals all through the year featuring artists from the four corners of the globe.
