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Cristallo d Luna. Photo Credit: Luna Bar, Facebook

Discreetly located next to the more boisterous – and perhaps not coincidentally more well-known – Luna Bar, the Cristallo di Luna restaurant serves up a warm ambiance, just underneath the sparkling KL Tower.

A Restaurant Found Playing Among the Stars

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Hidden away on the 34thfloor of the Pacific Regency Hotel in Jalan Punchak, the restaurant comprises an intimate setting dimly lit with beautiful modern chandeliers – perfect for a romantic meal with that special someone.

The layout creates a comfortable, private atmosphere, complemented with ever-smiling staff. The décor is equal parts fancy dinner party, including golden sashes around each chair (so they all look like recent winners of Miss Chair 2015), plus modern touches such as royal blue wine glasses.

Make sure you get a table near the window, so you and your fellow diners can enjoy the wonderful night view of the city while you eat.

Starter’s Orders

Carpaccio of Tuna

The main must-haves on the menu include the carpaccio of tuna (RM35) to begin with. The fillet, noticeably fresh from the sea, is sliced intricately and is carefully presented.

Served on a bed of green salad, tomatoes and olives, and dressed with a drizzle of balsamic and basil oil, the dish provides a good balance of refreshing individual taste and a sense of anticipations required for a starter.

Un-Missed-Steak-Able

Sirloin of Black Angus Beef steak

The sirloin of Black Angus Beef (RM82) is another crowd favourite that shouldn’t be missed. This showpiece steak is carefully marinated and cooked to your liking; the texture of the meat was juicy and tender, with a crisp pan-seared finish.

The surprise attraction of the dish is the sauce that comes with the steak. A generous portion of an aromatic signature Sarawak black pepper sauce, packed with fine beans and nuts, gives a grand burst of punctuated flavour that adds to the richness of the beef.

The steak is accompanied by baby carrots and truffle potatoes, ensuring that the body’s nutrient demand is as fully satisfied as the stomach.

Unorthodox Cod

Another recommended dish is the oven-baked cod fillet (RM59). The fish – fresh, sweet and salty – was cooked until charmingly tender and simply melted in my mouth.

An interesting accompaniment to the fish had me intrigued when I saw the menu: mascarpone cheese and steamed asparagus, all served over a bed of orzo risotto.

I’m glad I ordered it to satisfy my curiosity, as somehow, the typically dessert cheese and the fresh greens work well with the fish to create a genuinely appetising dish that accentuates the creamy, smooth rice.

Crème de la Crème Brulée

End your meal with a dynamic and indulgent espresso crème brulée with vanilla foam and macadamia ice cream (RM24).

Served in a cocktail glass, the well-presented ingredients all complement each other well – the bitterness of the coffee cutting through the luxurious whipped vanilla, and nutty vanilla ice cream leaving a sweet, palatable finish to be enjoyed with the lasting and immensely smooth texture of the dish.

Poolside Party or Quiet Cocktails

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Signature Luna drink against the KL Skyline. Photo Credit: Luna Bar, Facebook

Once you’ve fuelled up for the evening – and maybe wakened up with one of the restaurant’s coffees if the espresso crème brulée didn’t do enough – pop across the landing of the hotel to the Luna Bar itself, replete with DJ booth and an impressive menu of cocktails.

The usual list of beers and wines is, of course, available but the bar specialises in cocktails; usually of the fruity and potent variety. As is always my favoured approach, try the bar’s signature drink – in this case, named the Luna. It’s a sweet yet energising mixture of rum, lychee liqueur, Cointreau and blue Curacao, served with mixed fruit.

KL’s Best Skylight

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Photo Credit: Luna Bar, Facebook

Luna is nicely laid out and so welcoming upon entry; to the left is a neon-lit bar which leads down almost the entire length of the open rooftop space.

At the far side, past the swimming pool, are booths for drinking and – more importantly – gawping up at the KL Tower, as its dazzling upper pod seems to hover and twinkle above the bar.

The ambiance is nowhere near as happening as Marini’s on 57 or Sky Bar at the Traders Hotel, so if you want a big night out, this isn’t the venue for it. However, to dine in private for crafty catch-ups or to relive secret shenanigans with old mates with chilled cocktails and chilled poolside music , Luna is the place.

34 floors up is more than enough to get a staggering view of Bukit Bintang sprawled below you – but the bar’s centrepiece is the giant, real-life disco ball above your head.

Crystal Moon?

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Photo Credit: Luna Bar, Facebook

It is simply a must to be at Luna while the clock strikes the hour, as you’ll get the best seats in the house for KLTower’s brief yet mesmerising light show.

You can’t help but wonder if the restaurant’s name, ‘Cristallo di Luna’, doesn’t actually mean ‘crystal moon,’ but instead refers to the KL Tower’s viewing deck – the other glistening sphere in the night sky.

Location and Contact Details

Cristallo di Luna and Luna Bar

Roof Top, 34th Floor, Pacific Regency Hotel, Jalan Punchak, Off Jalan P.Ramlee

Tel: +603 2332 7777

Find: Contact details and map for Cristallo di Luna and Luna Bar

See Also: Catching the Breeze at Luna Bar KL