Sky51 — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

I rarely write reviews, but my recent experience at EQ 51 Skybar KL left me deeply disappointed and compelled to share.

My partner and I visited with high expectations. We knew drinks would be pricey, but we were there for the views, atmosphere, and overall experience. Unfortunately, what should have been a memorable night quickly turned uncomfortable and disappointed.

From the moment we arrived, the treatment we received felt different, and not in a good way. At the entrance, we were told we needed to spend a minimum of RM200. While I understand certain establishments set spending requirements, the way it was emphasized to us immediately raised questions. Was it because of how we looked, or perhaps because my partner is Black? I do not want to pull the race card lightly, but as a Malaysian myself, I could not help but sense the intense bias.

We politely requested an outdoor table for the view. The staff told us to wait, so we agreed and were seated indoors first. While waiting, we noticed multiple outdoor tables becoming available, yet despite asking three times, we were never moved. The staff seemed dismissive, uninterested in helping us, and repeatedly exchanged eye contact and whispers that made us feel judged, possibly because of my partner’s race or even something as trivial as my ripped jeans. Either way, it was unprofessional and degrading.

We spent more than RM500 on drinks, snacks, and dessert, yet were still treated as if we did not belong there. When we finally stepped outside ourselves (WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE) to take pictures, we saw several unreserved outdoor tables available, which made the situation even more frustrating. Until we're finally leaving after visiting around 1 hour and a half and still didn't get what we requested. Twin towers lights are offs. Crowd slowly leaving and closing is ready to proceed.

EQ 51 Management, please take this seriously. No customer should ever feel discriminated against or judged by their appearance, race, or attire. Out of all the sky bars I have visited in KL, this was by far the most disappointing experience. For an establishment that prides itself on luxury and exclusivity, I expected far better.

Sadly, this was my first and most likely my last visit to...

A bit of a tough one. The view and the Atmosphere created by it, especially once the city lights come on, are fantastic. The staff are very friendly and helpful. When a shower hits they swiftly move tables around to keep you dry. However, and this is where I am in a pickle, for one, their website specifically asks a couple of times for a dress code to be upheld, which will be reiterated in their reminder email for your booking.” No shorts, sleeveless shirts, hats, caps, sandals, open-toed shoes, and slippers” are their actual words used. Well, we saw all of it, including work out gear, plastic bags and swim wear. Why ask for a casual smart dress code when one can come straight from the gym with a towel in a plastic bag? Secondly, you will also be asked to spend 100MYR per person on their website as well as again upon arrival. This sets a bad precedent that feels uninviting and unnecessary. And thirdly, there was the food… We ordered their Nachos with Guacamole. It took 50min and arrived with a ramiken in the middle of a plasticky plate with store bought cold nacho chips sprinkled around. A dish that can be put together in a couple of minutes if you make the Guacamole from scratch. Yes it has to travel all the way up from the ground floor, which seems like a badly designed operation for bar food and 50min?! The kitchen being busy is just a bad excuse and if that’s what the chef says, as mentioned by staff, then they need a new one, especially when you charge 38MYR. Unfortunately, at no point were we made aware of this, which is disappointing, cause we would have not ordered any food and stuck to our drinks to go somewhere else nice for dinner afterwards, since we did uphold the dress code. We were able to provide feedback up on leaving and Dedi the bar manager was very apologetic, refunded the Nachos and was very grateful for our open conversation in order to improve their performance, which did help us not feel ripped off. Overall, this place feels fancy and will be a good start to your date night for a couple of cocktails and a fantastic view, just don’t look around at other people or you might feel out of place,...

While staying in Bukit Bintang, just a short 10-minute walk from Pavilion Mall via the elevated pedestrian skybridge, we visited Skybar 51, located on one of the upper floors of the EQ Kuala Lumpur hotel.

Arrival & Dress Code

We didn’t have a reservation, and at the basement entrance we were welcomed quite nicely. However, be aware of the strict dress code: • No shorts (even if dressed stylishly). • No flip-flops or open-toe shoes.

Fortunately, they offered me a pair of long pants to borrow for free, which was very thoughtful and appreciated.

Check-in Confusion

Once upstairs, the experience took a hit. The hostess was unfriendly and visibly annoyed, and gave us unclear instructions. Initially, she told us the outdoor area wasn’t available, and that we could only sit inside the restaurant, which has limited view. Only after I insisted, she clarified that we could go to the terrace. It felt like she was doing us a favor—not a good start.

Skybar Experience

Luckily, the atmosphere on the outdoor terrace made up for everything: • The city view is spectacular, with the Petronas Towers clearly visible, slightly off-center but still impressive. • The ambience is elegant and relaxed, perfect for couples or a quiet evening. • Cocktails were excellent: I had a mocktail called Roses Love, and my girlfriend had a Roku Gin. Both were beautifully presented and tasted great. • Service on the terrace was attentive and kind—very different from the cold reception downstairs.

We stayed until around midnight, right as the Petronas lights were turned off, and took some beautiful photos from the upper level.

Price & Value

We were surprised to find that there was no minimum spend—very rare for this type of venue. Our total was around €20 for two, which is more than fair considering the view and overall setting. The bar was quite full even though it was a Monday night.

Final Thoughts

Skybar 51 at EQ Kuala Lumpur is a must-visit for the view, cocktails, and romantic atmosphere. Just make sure you’re dressed appropriately, and don’t let the check-in experience ruin your mood—once you’re inside,...