This boutique hotel next to TRX earned our mark of approval as a Zen workcation destination

This is a workcation series where we personally visit and review hotels, resorts, and more, to find out how well they cater to digital nomads and hybrid professionals. 

Hotel highlights:

✓ Instagram-worthy architecture and interior design at every corner, featuring an industrial and nature theme

✓ Each room has a cosy and residential vibe, with unique outdoor showers and bathtubs  

✓ The in-house restaurant Opeum Bistro offers a variety of local delights 

✓ There are coworking spaces such as The Social Pod and The Tea Room

✓ The Exchange TRX is just a five-minute walk away, and Jalan Kamuning is home to many trendy cafes and restaurants

Just five minutes away from The Exchange TRX is Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur, a boutique hotel that opened April 2024. 

With an exposed concrete facade draped in greenery, the hotel has a sort of post-apocalyptic charm that pairs well with the urban escape vibe it’s going for. 

Although Lloyd’s Inn may be relatively new to KL, it actually got its start from Singapore back in 2014. It has since expanded to Bali as well. 

Minimalistic and modern, Lloyd’s Inn has grown to become the quintessential boutique hospitality brand in Singapore, having won multiple Singapore Tourism Board awards, amongst other accolades. 

And its Kuala Lumpur location might just deserve the same recognition. 

Relaxation haven, right in the city 

We recently got to experience the hotel firsthand during a 3D2N workcation. 

Strolling into the elevator that brings us up to the lobby on the fifth floor, we were immediately given a sense of what Lloyd’s Inn is all about. The QR code on the back wall of the lift brings us to the hotel’s Spotify page, where playlists of relaxing soundscapes are featured. 

These relaxing tracks might be the very ones being played in the lobby itself. Although the hotel visually appears chic with its cool and monochromatic aesthetics, there’s a very Zen ambiance that’s achieved through attentive details such as the auditory experience. 

Aside from the lobby, the fifth floor is also home to the dipping pool—which is admittedly small and a little exposed, but still cute—as well Opeum Bistro, the hotel’s gastronomic offering. 

The hotel features open corridors that contribute to not just the sustainable lean of the hotel, but also to a relaxed, resort-like feel. 

There’s something that feels quite residential about the hotel, a quality that is perhaps owed to the fact that the property was originally intended to be an apartment. 

This also aligns with its Singaporean counterpart, which is described by the MICHELIN Guide Hotels as “more luxe-residential than classic luxury hotel.” 

Our Sky Room felt particularly apartment-esque, what with it being a loft-styled accommodation where the bed is situated up on the loft. 

One of the starred features of this room is Lloyd’s signature outdoor showers and bathtubs. This gives a charming Balinese flair that transforms the more industrial vibe of the room into a somewhat rustic and natural one instead. 

If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, though, rest assured that there’s blinds that you can pull down for some semblance of privacy. I kind of wish there was thicker foliage though, to really give that secluded, jungle-y vibe. Maybe in due time?

Many different work environments 

Inside our room, there’s a couch setup downstairs with a coffee table as well as a handy laptop stand to work on. 

Upstairs on the loft, there’s also a table where you can get some work done. With the drawers getting in the way, though, it’s kind of hard to sit comfortably for long here. 

Thankfully, there are other areas in the hotel that’s conducive to work. For one, there’s the Social Pod on the tallest floor (AKA the 15th). 

The Social Pod is essentially a co-working space that can be transformed into an event space. There are also meeting rooms here that guests can book at no cost. This would be perfect for team meetings and discussions. 

This outdoor space is airy and bright. With a water dispenser and plug points available, we found ourselves getting quite productive here. 

For an indoor option, there’s the Tea Room, located in a loft area of Opeum Bistro. This cosy Japandi-esque room is a part of the restaurant, and can also be booked out for events. This room gets quite cold, though, so bring a jacket if you’re sensitive to that. 

Location, location, location 

Beyond the aesthetics of the hotel, my second favourite thing about it is probably its address. Lloyd’s Inn KL gives you the city location without the city stress. 

Of course, you’re still going to catch some of the urban sounds such as construction and honks, but well, if you’re used to the city life, this is no big deal. In fact, some might even find it charming. 

The Exchange TRX aside, the area is also home to a whole host of trendy cafes and eateries such as Grumpy Bagels, OGA Tea & Dining, Dona Bakehouse, DurianBB Park, and more. 

And if you want to travel out of the area, the Tun Razak Exchange MRT station is just a stone’s throw away, connecting you to popular tourist spots such as Bukit Bintang, Pasar Seni, and more. 

Devil’s in the details 

One thing about boutique hotels that I nitpick about is the attention to detail.

While it’s true that they get the vibes right, there’s a level of finesse that well-established hotel chains just manage to achieve. 

Here were some little details about Lloyd’s Inn that might’ve slipped their attention—the slippers in our room were still bound by plastic tag fasteners, and we had nothing to cut them with. We started with teeth, but thankfully remembered we had our own house keys to cut them. 

Secondly, the TV downstairs in our room was not set up, and we couldn’t watch anything on it. 

Another detail is that there’s only a phone upstairs. I think it would’ve been nice if there was a phone downstairs, especially with the outdoor bathroom where slips might unfortunately happen. 

In short, it lacks a bit of the finesse that more luxe hotels offer, but well, perhaps that’s a justifiable compromise to make. 

Conducive or not?

Blending boutique hotel sensibilities, an incredible location, and hospitable service, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur has decidedly earned a mark of approval from me as a workcation destination. 

For one, the outdoor tub is certainly not something you’ll easily find elsewhere. It’s a relaxing treat for weary workers who can look forward to a comforting bath at the end of the work day. 

And on the topic of work, we loved working here, especially in the Social Pod area. 

Although it has its cons (such as a creaky floorboard upstairs), I liked that the loft style helped separate the work zone and the rest zone for me. 

All in all, we found our 3D2N stay at Lloyd’s Inn to be a productive little getaway from our usual routines. And while it’s not necessarily away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, it offered a new way to enjoy the city while providing a peaceful escape from it.