Revamped and revived as a huge gifts emporium, the Art Deco wet market, centralmarket.com.my, nonetheless provides a focal point for piecing together K.L.'s past, taking in its current artsy-craftsy pulse and exploring nearby Chinatown. Better still is the Annexe, an alternative free space for the arts, hidden on the top of the market's small auxiliary building. On the ground floor, portraitists and street artists can be found — giving a dose of old-time character along the long-obscured riverfront.

• 1. Central Market
  Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; (60-3) 2031 0399 3.14659101.69586 centralmarket.com.my