Lonely Planet has discovered Ipoh.
Perak’s capital city has been listed by the world’s biggest travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet as one of the best destinations to visit in Asia this year.
The city was ranked sixth in the list of ten destinations in the continent with Hokkaido, Japan listed as number one, followed by Shanghai, China; Jeonju, South Korea; Con Dao Islands, Vietnam; and Hong Kong, China.
Hipster cafes have played a part in bringing the cool back to Ipoh, the website says.
“Malaysia’s lesser-known food capital has new flair thanks to a crop of boutique cafes that have sprung up in its historic quarter. “
“At the heart of Ipoh’s renaissance is otherworldly concept hotel Sekeping Kong Heng, replete with glass attic rooms and wall-free rooftop quarters. Art-cafes like Roquette, Burps & Giggles and Everyday Lifeshop have appeared nearby, among creaky kedai kopi (coffee shops) and elegant colonial buildings.”
There was also a mention of old favourites: “ Lou Wong’s chicken with crisp beansprouts, and tau fu fah (tofu pudding) at Funny Mountain. Wild escapes are close, like birdwatching by bicycle through Kinta Nature Park or whitewater rafting near Gopeng; and with clifftop temples and fragrant Gaharu Tea Valley nearby, Ipoh’s revival seems sure to tempt new crowds.”
In its more detailed description of Ipoh, writer Anita Isalska picked up on the city’s old and new charm.
“For too long, the capital of Malaysia’s Perak state was considered a faded has-been of a city – and that’s if travellers thought of it at all. But restorations are in full swing, especially in the streets of Old Town, and Ipoh’s coffeehouses and heritage houses are staging a long overdue comeback.”
“The last few years have stopped the rot: art-cafes have popped up in period houses, and century-old buildings have found new life as restaurants and hotels. Visitors can see contemporary street art, traditional coffee shops and colonial masterpieces, often within the space of a single street.”
Also on the list were Pemuteran, Indonesia and Trang Islands, Thailand.
See the full list and description here.
