Located within the new Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Merdeka Grill and Cacao Mixology & Chocolate sit high above the city in spaces designed around culture and place. Designed by GA, both venues draw from the hotel's concept of a 'home in the sky,' translating the rhythm, warmth and feel of traditional Malay houses into a contemporary luxury setting.
Merdeka Grill carries a more structured, architectural character, balancing darker finishes with an open-kitchen focus. Cacao takes a softer approach, creating an intimate setting for cocktails, desserts and chocolate service. Crafted materials, filtered light and cultural detail run through both, while each venue holds its own identity.
At the tables, NEOZ Cooee Cordless lamps enhance this atmosphere, adding warmth and flexibility without disrupting the spatial composition. We spoke with Corinna Galdies, Director at GA, about designing for altitude, framing panoramic views, and creating interiors that feel grounded high above Kuala Lumpur.
Filtered light through vertical timber screening at the entrance to Merdeka Grill. GA drew directly from the spatial rhythm of traditional Malay houses, where screens and thresholds shape the movement between spaces. All photos courtesy of Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.
What were the key qualities of Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur that influenced your approach to designing Merdeka Grill and Cacao Mixology & Chocolate?
The wider design narrative for Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur was rooted in creating a “home in the sky,” drawing inspiration from the spatial rhythm and materiality of traditional Malay houses. These homes are organised around verandas and communal spaces, with natural materials and filtered daylight shaping the experience.
For Merdeka Grill and Cacao Mixology & Chocolate, we interpreted this idea in two distinct ways. Merdeka Grill embraces a sense of drama and occasion, reflecting the celebratory nature of dining and the strong material presence found in traditional kampung houses. Rich timber, brass detailing and layered textures create depth and atmosphere.
Cacao, by contrast, was conceived as a more intimate and residential environment. The design feels softer and more relaxed, echoing the comfort of a living space where guests can gather for chocolate and cocktails. Both venues share the same cultural references and material language, but express them in different moods.
Both venues are surrounded by panoramic views of the city. How did that setting influence the atmosphere you wanted to create inside the spaces?
Being located high within Merdeka 118 means the venues are surrounded by expansive panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur. While those views are spectacular, the design challenge was ensuring the interior spaces still felt warm, intimate and human in scale.
Our approach was to bring the experience down to earth by introducing layered materials, filtered light and architectural elements that frame rather than compete with the views. Screens, brass detailing and textured surfaces create moments of enclosure and comfort, allowing guests to feel grounded within the space while still celebrating the city beyond.
In this way, the views become an integral part of the design narrative. They are framed like a living backdrop, connecting the elevated setting with the rhythm of Kuala Lumpur below.
A banquette table at Merdeka Grill, with Kuala Lumpur framed beyond the glass. GA's approach was to layer materials and enclosure so the views become a backdrop rather than a distraction.
These spaces serve different roles within the hotel. How did you shape the character of each venue while ensuring they still feel connected?
Lighting played a critical role in shaping the atmosphere, particularly given the scale of the tower and the dramatic city views. The aim was to soften the overall environment and create a more intimate, human-scaled experience within the food and beverage venues.
Layered lighting allows the spaces to shift throughout the day, complementing the natural daylight that filters through the large glass façade. In the evening especially, lighting helps emphasise materials, textures and craft details, reinforcing the warm, residential character that sits at the heart of the design concept.
How did the NEOZ Cooee Cordless lamp range factor into the operational needs of the venues?
The NEOZ Cooee Cordless lamp range was an important operational and aesthetic choice. With such a prominent glass façade, the quality of light changes significantly throughout the day and evening, so having flexible lighting allows the team to adapt the atmosphere easily.
Cordless fixtures also maintain a cleaner visual language on the tables. They feel much sleeker and more elegant, avoiding the visual clutter of cables while allowing staff to reposition lighting depending on layout changes or service needs.
The NEOZ Cooee Cordless lamp at Merdeka Grill. Specified in part for its clean table presence, the cordless form allowed the team to maintain a consistent visual language across the space as light conditions shift through the day.
Looking at the finished project today, are there particular moments or details within the venues that you feel capture the spirit of the design?
It is difficult to point to a single element, because the strength of the project lies in how the different layers work together. The craft, material palette, lighting and cultural references all combine to create a cohesive design narrative. Moments such as the brass detailing, the interplay of light through screens, and the richness of the timber surfaces all contribute to the atmosphere. Together, these elements capture the essence of the project: a contemporary luxury environment that feels deeply connected to Malaysia’s cultural heritage while offering a warm and memorable experience high above the city.
When in KL.
Merdeka Grill and Cacao Mixology & Chocolate are located on Level 75 of the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, inside Merdeka 118. Reserve your stay or book your table at Hyatt.com.
