The Courtyard

Special thanks to Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur for extending this food review invitation.

Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a luxury hotel in the heart of Bukit Bintang. The 5-star property is under the same management as Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, another prestigious hotel nearby. Pavilion Hotel has its flagship eatery, The Courtyard, located at Level 8.

As the name implies, the restaurant features a Centre Court where al fresco dining is possible. A curtain of falling water forms the backdrop of the open space. This idyllic paradise is a popular venue for outdoor events like weddings and cocktail parties.

Today, the hotel is giving a sneak peek of the upcoming Muhibbah Malaysia Buffet. The festive menu is curated by the hotel's Chef de Cuisine, Chef Awie. True to the Malaysian spirit of "muhibbah", the buffet spread covers a variety of Malaysian favorites in a hawker-style setting.

The main highlight this evening is Kambing Bakar. The whole lamb is seasoned with flavorful spices, and then roasted to golden perfection. The lamb is also served with Nasi Briyani (biryani rice), hard-boiled eggs and a variety of sauces.

Nasi Hujan Panas looks visually appealing. The dish is a mixture of rice grains dyed with different colors. Nasi Hujan Panas can be enjoyed with Ayam Golek (roasted chicken) and hard-boiled eggs.

At the courtyard, one of the hawker stalls has a charcoal grill where tandoori chicken, turmeric fish and marinated prawns are prepared. I am particularly impressed by the beef and chicken satay. Marinated with turmeric, the skewered meats go very well with spicy peanut gravy.

Other hawker stalls serve crowd favorites such as Roti Canai, Asam Laksa, Rendang, Chicken Rice, Mee Goreng Mamak, Char Kuey Teow and more. Of course, a warm serving of Bubur Lambuk (spiced congee) is essential when breaking fast.

Moving to the sweet confections, The Courtyard spares no expense in satisfying one's sweet tooth. Emphasizing quality over quantity, the desserts counter features a fascinating selection of Malay kuih and French pastries.

I am delighted to see exquisite Middle Eastern desserts such as baklava. These sweet pastries are garnished with gold leaves to give a sense of opulence. As per tradition, palm dates are traditionally eaten first when breaking fast.

If you are an avid durian fan, be sure not to overlook the durian station at the far end of the Centre Court! As per hotel policy, durians may not be brought into indoor areas and must be consumed outdoors.

Throughout the evening, the ambience is filled with soothing melody of seruling (bamboo flute). The musical instrument is played by the hotel's resident artiste, Ayawan. Ayawan used to perform at the hotel's reception area every evening, a tradition practiced at all Banyan Tree properties.

The Muhibbah Malaysia Buffet will be held every evening from 16 April 2021 to 12 May 2021. The meal is priced at RM148.00 per adult and RM74.00 per child or senior citizen. Early birds who book by 13 April 2021 enjoy discounted prices of RM108.00 and RM54.00 respectively. Furthermore, The Courtyard offers 20% discount with a minimum of 10 adults per party.

As for customers who prefer to dine in the comfort of their own homes, Pavilion Hotel delivers festive 4-person set meals for RM180.00. Reservation can be made by phone (+60) 3-2117 2821, WhatsApp (+60) 17-206 8805 or email thecourtyard-pavilionhotel@banyantree.com.

Name: The Courtyard
Address: Pavilion Hotel, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-2117-2821
Business hours: 6:30am-10:00pm
Website: https://www.banyantree.com/en/malaysia/pavilion-hotel/dining/the-courtyard
Coordinates: 3.14884 N, 101.71479 E
Directions: Pavilion Hotel is located at the east side of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur shopping center in Bukit Bintang. The Courtyard is situated at Level 8 of the hotel. The hotel shares the same basement parking as the shopping mall, but guests of Pavilion Hotel may park at a private section behind a second barrier.