In Search of Souvenirs

NABILA AZMAN & WAN NOR ALIA | 4 February 2026

KUALA Lumpur is often introduced through its skyline – Merdeka 118, Petronas Twin Towers, the KL Tower and The Exchange 106 rising confidently above the city – but its character is just as deeply shaped by heritage landmarks such as the recently reopened Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad and Seri Negara. This is a city where modern ambition sits alongside layers of history, colour and lived culture, and where eating and shopping are as much part of daily life as they are of discovery.

With Visit Malaysia 2026 underway, there is no better place to begin than the capital. Walking its streets, you soon realise that Kuala Lumpur offers more than sights to tick off – it offers things to take with you. From traditional handicrafts to contemporary objects shaped by Malaysian identity, these are souvenirs that carry stories, not just surfaces.

Here are some of our picks of meaningful keepsakes you can find around Warisan KL.

The creative pulse of Central Market

A natural place to start is Central Market, a building imbued with artistic spirit that has long served as a cultural heartbeat of Kuala Lumpur. From the outside, its classic art deco façade carries echoes of the city’s colonial past. Step inside, however, and the energy feels unmistakably current – sustained by younger generations who continue to reimagine the space.

Located just steps from the Pasar Seni LRT station, it is easy to reach, whether you are a first-time visitor or a city dweller looking to slow down for a moment. The atmosphere is constantly in motion, colourful like a canvas still in progress. At every turn, something invites you to pause.

Couples wander through, choosing fresh bouquets. Groups of friends gather over local ice cream, laughing as they pose in front of murals. Others linger over handcrafted works – carvings, batik, paintings and accessories – each reflecting a different expression of Malaysian identity.

Inside Central Market, the Market Hall offers a sensory shift. Rows of wet and dry goods sit neatly arranged, evoking the rhythms of everyday life – rich with tradition, flavour and familiar aromas of local snacks and dishes. Many of the food products here can be sampled, and just as easily packed for the journey home.

You'll find lots of local food products you can taste and take home at the Market Hall.

A few steps away, a shop draws a steady stream of visitors with its playful displays. Paper Adventures by Loka Made is hard to miss – and even harder to leave without buying something. From illustrated stickers to intricately designed 3D postcards, each item feels carefully put together. A small corner allows visitors to write and post postcards on the spot, a simple ritual that feels increasingly rare.

Founded in 2015, Loka Made centres Malaysian culture through a philosophy of discovery. Each piece draws from tradition, while allowing room for humour, colour and contemporary interpretation.

Postcards are a big tourist draw!

Nearby, Bathing Tapir offers a different kind of keepsake. The naturism-inspired label produces personal care items made with natural, eco-friendly ingredients, guided by principles of balance between people and the environment. Alongside its skincare range are products featuring batik-inspired patterns – elegant, restrained, and far removed from mass-produced souvenirs – offering another way to carry Malaysian heritage into everyday life.

Bathing Tapir offers personal care products made with natural ingredients.

An evolution of heritage—take home a piece of Malaysia through batik-inspired motifs adapted into souvenirs and soaps made from local ingredients.

While you are in the area, step out towards Kasturi Walk and look up at the surrounding shophouses to find Sustain;ed by The Sea Monkey Project & Earth Heir. Here, the focus shifts to impact. Products are made by local artisans, indigenous women, Orang Asal communities, refugees and other marginalised groups. Each purchase supports livelihoods and helps sustain craft traditions that might otherwise fade quietly into the background.

More than just shopping, every purchase at Sustain;ed also helps support communities across Malaysia.

GMBB: Creativity, Art and Heritage Under One Roof

About 2.5km from Central Market – or roughly a 20-minute walk (or Grab in the scorching heat) – GMBB offers a different, but complementary, experience. This creative community mall gathers local artists, designers and makers under one roof.

Manoplus offers a delightful range of local products that are perfect for gifting.

Upon entering, Manoplus immediately catches the eye. Clean, white interiors provide a backdrop for colourful locally made products – from Malaysia-themed guidebooks and postcards to enamel pins, fragrances and handbags. Knowledgeable shop assistants are happy to share the stories behind the items, and it is easy to lose track of time browsing shelves filled with thoughtfully designed pieces that work just as well as gifts as they do as personal keepsakes.

Wide and varied: Stickers by Four Summers depicting traditional attire in Malaysia, solid fragrance by Alwis & Xavier, and Muni bags dyed using natural materials.

Local products here stand confidently alongside international goods. They are well-crafted, carefully packaged, and quietly assured. For visitors, it is a reminder that what they take home represents not just an object, but a snapshot of contemporary Malaysia.

GMBB also houses Arteri on Level 1, a curated space featuring works by over 70 artisans, both established and emerging. Sarawakian textiles by Tanoti sit alongside batik-patterned batu seremban – a charming reimagining of a traditional children’s game – and modern jewellery that nods to floral and natural motifs.

Some of the beautfil handiworks you'll see at Arteri.

For those seeking more batik, Level 3 is home to Batekita by GMBB, which brings together batik pieces from over 40 local brands and makers. Designed for everyday wear, these are pieces that move easily between tradition and modern life.

Batekita offers all things batik for your everyday use.

If time allows, it is worth exploring GMBB beyond the shops. Workshops, classes and creative activities run regularly, reinforcing the space’s role as more than a retail destination.

Pasar Seni and GMBB may not be the only places to search for souvenirs in Kuala Lumpur, but both go beyond the idea of shopping alone. They are spaces shaped by people, practice and memory. Each item carries the effort, care and imagination of its maker.

So when you leave with your hands full, know that you are also carrying fragments of stories – small, meaningful reminders of a city that reveals itself best through what it creates. And keep your eyes peeled for more souvenir hunting ideas at the newly-reopened Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad!

Central Market
Location: 12, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Operating Hours: 10am onwards

GMBB
Location: 2, Jalan Robertson, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: 11am onwards

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