Food and Nightlife

Kota Kinabalu (KK), the capital of Sabah, Malaysia, has great choices for food & nightlife, with a great selection of local and international cuisine and entertainment from the pulsating to the chilled.

The local Sabahans are really friendly, fun people and like to enjoy their downtime as much as you will, all in a easy-paced environment. You will see lots of smiles and happy faces when out on the town in KK. And, prices for dining out will be easy on your wallet too! Never a bad thing…

Alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed but definitely cheaper than many asian destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Bali…so you can enjoy a pint or two no problem. A good tip is to share a bottle of spirits (whiskey etc) if that is your preferred libation and buy the bottle. You can aways keep it at the bar – you don’t need to finish in one session!

Here is a selection of evening entertainment venues. All are tried and tested and good places to hang out with friends, close to great food and easy to find in downtown KK:

Waterfront Boardwalk in KK: great sunsets over the outlying islands, top food choices and pubs/bars to whet your appetite…read on!

Cock ‘n’ Bull Bistro & Bar
A fun, busy Pub, the Cock ‘n’ Bull is a KK favourite drinking stop. A great location on the Waterfront Boardwalk downtown, it has a lively atmossphere, great service and is next door to some great food – try the Indian, Kohinoor or local cuisine. Or deliver to the pub! It features indoor and outdoor seating and bosts a talented local band which strokes all kinds of music to suit all tastes and well worth a listen. Live sports on 2 large screens make this a sports-lovers venue too, as does the pool table. Good place to have some fun…

The Shamrock
Irish themed pub and the only place in Kota Kinabalu where you can buy a draft Kilkenney for ale lovers! Great location, friendly staff make this a good place to relax over a drink. Music is on offer yet Shamrock remains a more mellow pub and good for a drink and chat. TV for sports and a pool table complete the package. Chill place to hang out…

JUGS
Located at ground level at the Pacific Sutera at the Sutera Harbour Resort. Once one of the hottest location in Kota Kinabalu, it’s popularity has waned a bit over recent years. However, at the end of 2005 it was renovated and is a popular night club and late night stop. They support local live bands, mixed in with sessions that the DJ provide. Biggest nights are Friday and Saturday night, as they have a ladies night where the girls drink fo free.

Shenanigans
It used to be that when you ask any local about the place to visit in Kota Kinabalu, they would say Shenanigans; that was back in the day when there wasn’t much of an alternative. Yet, the legend lives on and it’s still one of the most popular venues in town. Located at street level below the Hyatt Hotel, Shani’s, as it’s affectionately known by locals, is almost always full. It has happy hours and a pool table and also features live bands, usually hot bands from the Philippines. It also has outside seats in the ‘beer garden’ and a new area which looks like a delicatessen slash winebar nearby.

Please emil us if you wish a PDF brochure that contains food, drinking options, and nightlife in KK.