One of the highlights whilst staying at the Carcosa has to be the High Tea which is served between 3pm and 5pm at the Drawing Room. It is a traditional almost ceremonial English High Tea which is enjoyed slowly amidst good company. I managed to spend some time talking to Datuk Sani Hoh Abdullah, Carcosa’s PR and General Affairs Manager whilst sampling a series of petite pastries, hot scones and expensive English tea served in the finest bone china and silverware. I was also treated to the hotel’s signature hot scones with freshly clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam.

It was interesting to hear stories of all the past dignitaries and celebrities that have stayed on the estate. These include previous and current prime ministers of Singapore and Japan . Interestingly the hotel premise is actually owned by the Malaysian government and is the location of choice for visiting foreign dignitaries. The day to day management of the hotel is and handled by the renowned GHM group of hotels which also manages similar luxury hotels such as the Legian in Bali . Celebrities also frequent the hotel and are especially attracted by its exclusivity, privacy and detachment from the main city centre.

The Drawing Room is a lounge area located at the Seri Negara Mansion . It can accommodate approximately 50 guests and provides for very relaxed lounging with its easy chairs and mahogany tables. The lounge was calmingly lit by the setting sun and refreshed by the large centerpiece bouquet of freshly cut lilies. It was quaint to see a group of French expatriate mothers busy sipping tea and catching up on the latest happenings whilst their younglings roamed the room keeping the watchful butlers busy as they inquisitively poked at the various fine ornaments and furniture.

• Restaurants
  Apart from the Drawing room, the hotel also offers two other fine dining restaurants, The Dining Room and the Gulai House. These are collectively managed by the Hotel’s Chef Laurent Colin. The Dining Room serves French cuisine amidst sweeping views of the gardens, while the Gulai House is, as I understood, the only restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that serves Malay cuisine in fine dining style. This allows foreign guests to sample varieties of local delights in style.
  
  
• Breakfast
  Breakfast is served at an outdoor dining area (located next to the Drawing Room) in ala carte style allowing guests to take in the sights of the rising sun and crisp morning air. Guests can choose from continental sets or local Malaysian cuisine such as the roti chanai which is served with a lovely lentil curry, freshly squeezed juices and tea. Though satisfying, the breakfast was somewhat light but it is a refreshing change from the heavily stocked buffet lines offered by most five star hotels.
  
  
• General Facilities
  Other facilities include swimming pool and whirlpool, floodlit tennis courts (Racquets are available to guests free of charge), Sauna and massage rooms, Exercise room with treadmills, cycles and free weights. Finally, Golf can also be easily arranged by the butlers as the hotel is associated with the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, and the Saujana Golf and Country Club.
  Undoubtedly however a must do at this estate is to take a guided tour of both mansions with your personal butler as well as to explore the 7km running track which takes you through the lush gardens and manicured lawns.
  
  
• Butler Service
  Apart from inspiring architecture its deep sense of culture and history, the hotel distinguishes itself with its personalized butler service. Each guest is assigned his or her own personal butler who is charged with seeing to your every need 24 hours a day. Breaking from the norm, the butlers wear sharp mandarin collared suits instead of the traditional 3 piece long tailed suites as seen in other luxury hotels such as the Dharmawangsa in Jakarta and St Regis in New York.
  
  

  The butlers go through extensive training to ensure that they are knowledgeable about the hotel’s services and their main concern is to make guests the feel welcomed, relaxed and at home. Should you be visiting Malaysia for the first time, butlers will even arrange escorted shopping trips in the city and show you where the best bargains can be found. I found all the butlers at the Carcosa very friendly and approachable, they were a pleasure to talk to and each had their own personal anecdote about the hotel and its important guests which they have served before. When asked which interesting guest they encountered recently, they mentioned David Blaine who levitated 2 feet off the floor as a quick demonstration of his illusionary skills.

After a hearty tea, I decided to explore the grounds together with my butler Muqsithdhir (Muqs for short). It was an excellent idea as the sudden downpour in the afternoon had stopped and the air was cool and refreshing. Strolling towards the main Carcosa mansion, I was struck by the large variety of flora and fauna as well as the many heritage trees that lined the road. Being government property, each tree is marked and it is a crime to cull any of them without proper reason.

As we entered the main Carcosa mansion, Muqs gestured towards the seasoned marbled floor and said with excitement, “This floor is the original tiling and is over a 100 years old!” Looking down, I found it difficult to disagree. Upon entering, I was greeted by a majestic stairway with brilliant red carpeting. There was also a predominant picture of Queen Elizabeth II walking down that same stairway some years ago. We passed several of the hotel’s ballrooms and meeting rooms which were formally decorated with sagely pictures of Malaysia ’s past and present royalties. Muqs informed me that the hotel’s meeting rooms were used frequently for official events and signing of documents. Paintings depicting these historic ceremonies create an aura of significance to each room and each has its own story to tell.

Apart from the guided tour, Mugs also escorted me to the nearest shopping mall which was about 10mins drive away and recommended a foreign exchange counter. I further tested the butler service at about 12am by asking for 3 wine glasses. Not only did I receive beautiful crystal goblets, the butler also offered to open my bottle and skillfully popped the cork and offered it for sampling.