answers to frequently asked questions about Bayan Indah...

A. no way. anyone can come for a cooking class without having to stay. we offer accommodation as a relaxing option for groups of people who want to stay and also experience the serenity of Bayan Indah, and because so many groups have asked in the past

Q. how far away is Bayan Indah from Kuala Lumpur?

A. not far at all. it is normally less than 30 mins by car from the Petronas twin towers in KL City Centre. from KLIA airport, it is around an hour or so. however, rush hour traffic can make the trip longer, but that happens in every city. distance-wise, it is around 12 kms (8 miles) from the city centre, according to maps.google.com (look for the little green arrow)

Q. how do we get to Bayan Indah?

A. for confirmed visitors, we provide a private webpage with all the information you need. or we can help organise a friendly, reliable taxi for you (please do pay the driver directly). from Kuala Lumpur (as of Nov 2010), the fare normally ranges between RM 35-60 (depending on distance and the quality of the taxi) and from KLIA airport, it is around RM 110

Q. is it possible to just visit Bayan Indah?

A. we obviously love people to come to Bayan Indah but only when they have booked a class or stay or if they are genuinely planning an event with us. otherwise i hope people would understand that Bayan Indah is a working site with staying guests and staff and therefore we cannot and do not promote casual visitors. so please kindly make sure you have an appointment first before coming to Bayan Indah

Q. what is the cost of a cooking class at Bayan Indah?

A. the classes vary slightly in price, depending on the theme and the ingredients. for our baking classes, we charge a little bit more as students get a complimentary lunch or dinner (as nobody leaves Bayan Indah hungry) and also they take everything they baked home, so we have to provide containers. prices can all be seen on the individual themes

Q. when are the cooking classes at Bayan Indah?

A. all our classes are always on our diary. please do bookmark the page for future reference

Q. what time do the cooking classes start?

A. normally 09:30am. some start a little earlier - for example, Fishy Business, as we actually go together to the market to buy the fish ourselves. the start times are shown on the individual themes. for weekends, we sometimes start at 03:00pm so that people can do what they like in the mornings and still get to come for a relaxing class with us. we always provide a meal after every class - nobody leaves Bayan Indah hungry

Q. how do I pay for the classes?

Q. what about private classes?

Q. what about other events at Bayan Indah?

A. we host various social, family and company events at Bayan Indah. groups of friends have organised private parties here, families have had reunion, birthday or marriage parties - recently a world-famous brand also launched 2 ranges of cosmetics here. oh, and we often do company staff parties too. just let us know what you would like to do via our contact page. please note that we are not a restaurant/hotel which handles multiple groups in a single day, so every such event means that the whole of Bayan Indah will be dedicated exclusively to your group and unavailable for other people

Q. what other business facilities are there?

A. we also have our own seminar house, distinct from our main building so people can talk strategy, conduct training, have a brainstorming session, whatever they like, in total privacy. the seminar house has air-cond, a brilliant OHP, flexible seating for 20+ delegates and its own little catering section as well. if you are thinking of an interesting location, let us know how we can help you organise a refreshing, worthwhile day out via our contact page

Q. what is the cost of a stay at Bayan Indah?

A. the price are indicated in the description of our unique rooms. we also now offer simple stay+cook packages which offer slightly better value for visitors

Q. if we stay at Bayan Indah, what is there to do around the area?

A. Bayan Indah is situated in an idyllic Malay kampung (village) and it is about as different from a bustling city centre hotel as you can get. however, there are still a lot of things one can get up to, and guests are provided with a little guide of things to do around Bayan Indah

Q. what is the capacity of Bayan Indah for large events?

A. we pride ourselves on being exclusive and different from other catering or hosting services so we do not take on huge events where we feel it may get impersonal. for full details of everything else you need to know about Bayan Indah, please have a look at our summary guide

Q. how does the diary work and why are there so many blank days?

A. only our cooking classes are shown on our diary. however, we also do other things in addition to cooking classes and accommodation. Bayan Indah is often booked for fashion & location shoots, food styling days, recipe development, private events, seminars, TV shows and so on. also, we do want to offer a very varied cooking experience so we do not run the same themes over and over again. in fact, we would like to plan our classes based on requests from our students and guests so if you have a preference, please have a look at our class options

Q. do i get a discount if i book a room and a class together?

A. all guests staying at Bayan Indah get a 10% discount on their cooking classes. you can also always choose one of our stay+cook packages

Q. what comes with a roomstay at Bayan Indah?

A. well, for a start all guests get a welcome dinner and a choice of a Malaysian breakfast or if they prefer, a Western-style breakfast with our own homemade jams and breads. cookies and fruit are complimentary all day long, and so are the beverages. if guests choose, we can also provide other meals at an additional cost

Q. what other facilities are there at Bayan Indah for staying guests?

A. we aim to provide all the amenities of home, so we also have a washer and tumble dryer, a fridge pantry, complimentary wi-fi, satellite TV, free use of our library, etc. oh, and did we mention fresh homebaked cookies all day long?

Q. can children come along for a stay or for classes?

A. older children (aged 8 and above) would be welcome for a stay as Bayan Indah is not very baby or toddler-friendly. for classes, the minimum age is 12 years old as we are using adult equipment. note that we also do special children days where children can cook in supervised groups or with their parents

Q. how does one cancel a booking?

A. we actually would prefer that nobody cancels any booking as it takes a lot of effort to organise classes and roomstays as we do not have a huge staff. but in the event that it is necessary then we would require a minimum of 72 hours notice

Q. can i bring pets for a stay?

A. in a word, and without intending to sound harsh or inconsiderate, No. our cats are very territorial and would not approve

Q. can i pay with credit cards?

A. we are too small (and too unique) for credit card companies to approve us so please understand we can currently only accept bank payments in advance or, in exceptional circumstances (eg. if we know you already), cash at the door. recently, we have added a new paypal facility but please do remember to add 5% extra to cover paypal charges

Q. can i bring a partner along who wants to join a class?

A. yes. in fact, bring all your friends and family along! we now do a Shared Group Class scheme which allows you to choose what theme you and your group would like to cook on the day that suit you all

Q. can i bring a partner along who does not want to join a class?

A. normally we really do not encourage this as it can be distracting for everyone but we will always consider exceptions, eg. the husband of a pregnant woman

Q. is Bayan Indah a restaurant?

A. no, although we often do special dining events for families, friends or companies. there is a minimum size of 12 persons (with a maximum of 28) and a minimum charge of RM180 per person depending on the menu (which is always customised to what you want as we do not have set menus). Bayan Indah is an exclusive, relaxed and very private location for special memorable events and we cater to only one group per day to ensure the best service and attention. you can always ask us if you wish to organise such a distinctive private dining event