Jeff’s Cellar, one of the world’s most evocative and enchanting culinary destinations, is inviting discerning diners to embark on a transformative, multi-sensory dining experience with its two new degustation menus – Prélude and Whimsical – which have been crafted by Chef Lee  Choon Boon and his talented team.

With over 25 years of culinary experience at various prestigious international chain hotels, Chef Boon has cultivated a deep appreciation of diverse ingredients and a talent for uncovering their potential. At The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, which is celebrating its recent victory in the International Sustainable Awards 2024, Chef Boon embodies this spirit by showcasing the finest local, seasonal and sustainable produce. The newly revamped 10-course menus celebrate authentic ingredients from across Malaysia, while also integrating the most luxurious international flavours.

The Prélude menu signifies a fresh beginning, inspired by Sunway Group’s Founder & Chairman, Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO’s favourite menu: Chairman’s favourite. After years of delighting our guests, Chef Boon and his team are infusing new life into this culinary journey by incorporating an exciting array of international ingredients that elevate the dining experience to new heights.

The menu commences with Apéro, featuring sweet fermented of the day, Champagne sabayon and guineafowl tart, followed by Diver Scallop which showcases a perfectly cooked scallop topped with local Amur caviar and drizzled with fragrant herb oil, offering a sublime combination of oceanic and herbal notes.

Some of Chef Boon’s highlighted dishes from the menu includes the grilled Canadian Lobster which is accompanied by fresh cress, edible flowers and a rich lobster reduction

and the melt-in-the-mouth Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Beef enhanced with maitake mushrooms, pomme purée and jus de viande.

Whimsical offers a contrasting experience to Prélude. Ideal for adventurous gourmands who continuously seek new inspirations, this gastronomic odyssey features diverse Asian ingredients, organic local delicacies and a creative approach to Western cooking techniques that reimagines familiar flavours.

Beans encapsulates the essence of this menu, with a mix of locally-sourced ingredients such as smooth texture tofu gelato accompanied by bean curd shards, Ipoh peanut crumbs, beansprout, soybean mousse, lemongrass bavarois and a dust of ginger powder, offering a taste reminiscent of taufufa, Ipoh’s famous tofu pudding dessert.

Other courses to look out for include Termite Mushroom, Lamb and Consommé. The garden-harvested termite mushroom is presented with generous shavings of seasonal truffle, grilled with soy glaze until its wonderfully tender, while the lamb is grilled using premium Japanese Binchotan charcoal, which is odourless and maintains a consistent temperature. This method ensures the meat cooks evenly, locking in moisture and delivering a nice texture. The consommé slowly simmered with guineafowl and is garnished with edible flowers to transport guests’ senses back to childhood memories of home-cooked soup that warms the heart

Both of these mouth-watering menus also highlight Jeff’s Cellar’s home-baked sourdough bread –Leaven – which features a crispy crust and a spongy interior, which is perfect for dipping in Castello Banfi extra virgin olive oil and 12-year-aged balsamic vinegar – exclusively available at Jeff’s Cellar!

The Prélude and Whimsical menus are both priced at MYR 725 nett per person for visiting diners. Jeff’s Cellar is open daily from 18:00 to 23:00 hrs and 48-hour advanced reservations are required. For more information and to embark on a culinary journey like no other, please call +60 5 210 7745 or email tbhr.pomelo@sunwayhotels.com.

We still can’t forget our amazing staycation there. To book your unforgettable stay at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, visit www.thebanjaran.com.

New Multi-Sensory Degustation Menus Revealed At Jeff’s Cellar

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Sunway’s five-star sanctuary in Malaysia, has unveiled its new Royal Banjaran Villa – a breathtaking private residence that will immerse guests in a world of tropical luxury and tranquillity amid the lush rainforest and healing waters of Ipoh.

For centuries, local people have understood the therapeutic benefits of these mineral-rich waters, which flow through the mountains and are purified by the prehistoric limestone rocks. Bathing in these geothermal pools can help to revitalize the skin, improve circulation, reduce stress and even ease pain in the body. The Banjaran harnesses this ancient wisdom to help every guest achieve complete well-being.

Now, guests can blend these natural health benefits with the highest levels of luxury in the Royal Villa, a magnificent 355sqm villa which represents the pinnacle of premium hospitality in Ipoh and sets the stage for life’s most important occasions, including family vacations, heavenly honeymoons and extraordinary events.

Having been escorted through the villa’s grand gateway and personally checked in at the entrance foyer, amid exotic gardens, guests will be greeted with Champagne and canapés to create an indulgent first impression. Throughout their stay, visitors can relax in a naturally-lit living space, with two spacious bedrooms fitted with plush beds, premium linens, pillow menus and ensuite bathrooms with “his and hers” vanity areas, intelligent Japanese toilets, outdoor showers and warm geothermal hot spring whirlpool – the ultimate eco wellness experience.

The bright and inviting interiors are fully equipped with comfy sofas, a large dining area and state-of-the-art technology including Nespresso Barista coffee machines, Bose sound systems, high-speed Wi-Fi and more. Stepping out into the sun-kissed outdoor courtyard, guests can slide into their private pool or unwind on the sundeck with designer Italian outdoor furniture. The pantry kitchen allows a personal chef to create exclusive culinary evenings, from outdoor family barbecues to romantic candlelit dinners. Every traveller who books the Royal Villa will also be treated to afternoon tea and evening cocktails, all served in the peace and privacy of the villa.

For the grandest gatherings, the Royal Villa can connect to two of the resort’s four new Grand Garden Villas to create an awe-inspiring estate with over 1,000sqm of contemporary living space, four bedrooms, multiple hot spring geothermal whirlpools and three swimming pools. This sets The Banjaran apart as one of Malaysia’s most spectacular places to stay, dine, meet and unwind, and one of the most exceptional wellness resorts in the world.

“We are delighted to reveal the new Royal Villa, our most spacious and luxurious accommodation to-date. Our resort specialises in physical and spiritual wellbeing, and this new residence provides a sanctuary for the senses where you can escape the outside world and be immersed the natural wonder of these healing hills, with their mineral-rich, health-giving waters. We invite international explorers to enter a new era of sustainable five-star hospitality at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat,” said Marc Groh, the resort’s General Manager.

Nestled in a 22.7-acre valley in the Malaysian state of Perak, surrounded by 260 million year-old rainforest, soaring limestone peaks and hidden caves, The Banjaran is an extraordinary place to relax, refresh and reconnect with the world. The new Royal Villa joins a curated collection of Grand Garden Villas, Garden Villas, Water Villas and Lake Villas, each of which features its own geothermal hot tub, allowing every guest to be immersed in the natural, healing qualities of these ancient hills.

Ipoh’s pure hot springs underpin the resort’s concept of physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation. The Spa & Wellness Centre presents authentic Asian therapies, Ayurvedic treatments and other unique elements, such as the Thermal Steam Cave, Ice Bath, Crystal Cave, Meditation Cave, Garra Rufa Pool and Geothermal Hot Spring Dipping Pools. A fitness centre allows visitors to stay in shape and the outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to cool off. Beyond the spa, expert-guided jungle walks will introduce the region’s rich local flora and fauna.

For foodies, Jeff’s Cellar, the multi-award-winning signature restaurant, is set in the softly-illuminated chamber of a limestone cave, while Pomelo is an elegant all-day dining destination with indoor and alfresco seating, perched over rippling ponds. Led by Ipoh-born Chef Lee Choon Boon, the resort specialises in farm-to-table produce, using ingredients sourced from 100 sqm of organic gardens. As the sun sets, the Star Deck features its own telescope for stargazing and cocktails.

To embark on this new era of natural luxury, please call +60 5 210 7777 or email tbhr.reservations@sunwayhotels.com.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Sunway Hotels & Resorts’ naturally luxurious wellness resort in Ipoh, Malaysia, is inviting you to unwind in a spectacular and serene setting with a series of truly unique experiences. Nestled in a 22.7-acre valley blessed with lush tropical rainforest, geothermal hot springs, cascading waterfalls and limestone caves, this award-winning sanctuary is the perfect place for an enchanting and eco-sensitive escape. Showcasing its organic surroundings, The Banjaran is now allowing you to embark on a journey of culinary discovery in a vast cavern.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat – Welcome To Cave Dining 

Enclosed in the cave’s illuminated chamber lies Jeff’s Cellar, a remarkable restaurant and wine bar. Within this otherworldly atmosphere, you can sip the world’s finest wines and savour exquisite local and international cuisine at a private table, next to natural water features and with stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

Under the resort’s signature “Dine and Dream” concept, couples can enjoy an unforgettable epicurean adventure as they share a stunning seven-course meal. It is little wonder that this was named as one of the five “Most Magnificent Bars in the World” by CNN, and one of Tatler’s “Top 20 Restaurants in Malaysia 2020”. Alternatively, you can dine on the Star Deck which overlooks the amazing hot springs lake, under a galaxy of twinkling stars that can be viewed through a telescope. Prices start from MYR675 nett per person.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat – Indulge In Healing Treatments

The secluded caves at The Banjaran also provide an opportunity for you to enhance their spiritual and physical wellbeing. Harnessing the Earth’s geological power, the Crystal Cave is an ethereal arena for energy healing treatments such as Reiki, while the Meditation Cave allows travellers to focus their mind and achieve a deep sense of inner peace.

Alternatively, visitors can choose from an extensive selection of body treatments at the Spa & Wellness Centre, soothe their senses in the Geothermal Hot Spring Dipping Pools, warm up in the Thermal Steam Cave, cool off in the Ice Bath and even cleanse their feet in the Garra Rufa Doctor Fish Pool. There is also a Jungle Walk that puts travellers in touch with the environment and a well-equipped fitness centre for energising workouts.

Feeling fully restored and reinvigorated, you and your special half can conclude their evening in style at the resort’s Sky Bar, which promises breath-taking views over the hot springs from its upper deck – the perfect end to the perfect day while sipping a drink.

“At The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, we specialise in exquisite experiences that go beyond guests’ expectations and transport travellers into a world of wonders. Our pristine wilderness is the ideal place to come and press your ‘reset’ button. With original activities such as cave dining and meditation, guests can discover the joy of nature when they stay with us,” said Michael Schaer, General Manager, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat.

All 45 villas at The Banjaran are self-enclosed and surrounded by nature. The 81-square metre Lake Villas feature plunge pools and hot tubs, while the 155-square metre Water Villas are set on the banks of a canal and offer outdoor rain showers and hot tubs with geothermal spring waters. If you are seeking additional space, you can opt for the 260-square metre Garden Villas, which promise private outdoor rain showers and hot spring Jacuzzis. Rates start from MYR1,450 nett per night, inclusive of breakfast for 2 people.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat – Sunway Safe Stay Programme

To ensure the highest standards of health and hygiene, Sunway Hotels & Resorts has implemented the “Sunway Safe Stay” programme which incorporates five core pillars comprising almost 30 protocols of enhanced cleaning and wellbeing standards. This initiative, which adheres to the standard operating procedures outlined by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, has been in place since early January 2020 and is continuously practised throughout all Sunway properties, allowing you to relax and enjoy safe, stress-free stays.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat – Getting There

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is easily accessible, with direct flights to Ipoh’s Sultan Azlan Shah Airport from Johor Bahru or Singapore, and rail services from Kuala Lumpur. For the ultimate personalised escape, chartered helicopter services can be arranged.

For more information about The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, please visit www.sunwayhotels.com/the-banjaran. For reservations, please call +60 5 210 7777 or email: tbhr.reservations@sunwayhotels.com