10 Best Things to Do at Night in Kota Kinabalu
Where to Go in Kota Kinabalu at Night?
There are so many things to do at night in Kota Kinabalu, it’s hard to know where to begin. While this modern Malaysian city is surrounded by tranquil rainforests, its streets crowd with hawker food stalls, locals leaving shiny shopping malls and fisherman traversing the harbour after a day out on the sea.
Stroll through its multicultural markets, sip inventive cocktails in tucked-away bars or let your hair down on the dance floor in a sultry, neon-lit club. Our guide will help you navigate this city, long after the stars are out. The adventure of a lifetime is just around the corner.
1. Api Api Night Food Market
Gastronomic playground that’s beloved by foodies
Ideal para: Alimentação, Compras, Vida noturna
Open every Friday and Saturday evening, the Api Api Night Food Market is a feast for the senses, with local vendors cooking aromatic cuisine under strands of golden lanterns. You’ll peruse over 150 stalls selling all kinds of delicacies, along the length and breadth of Jalan Gaya.
Play it safe and sample Southeast Asian classics like nasi lemak and satay chicken or channel your inner Anthony Bourdain and expand your palate with oyster omelettes and Ayam Pedas: a spicy Indonesian dish that will set your mouth on fire. If you indulge in too much chili, cool off with a freshly squeezed fruit juice, a glass of kopi cham or a colourful boba tea packed with balls of tapioca.
Localização: Jalan Gaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Friday and Saturday from 6 pm to midnight
Telefone: +60 (0)10-259 2349
Api Api Night Food Market
2. D’Atas Explorers Tavern
Secret hideout above a supermarket
Ideal para: Casais, Alimentação, Vida noturna
D’Atas Explorers Tavern is an intimate bar, restaurant and live performance space that’s located in Kota Kinabalu’s bustling city centre. On Friday and Saturday nights, the joint comes to life with its exciting roster of singers and bands who take to the venue’s compact stage.
Grab a round of ice-cold Tiger beers, or a handcrafted cocktail, before ordering a meal from the eclectic global menu. Popular mains include the succulent lamb chops, the spaghetti carbonara, the Mongolian fried chicken and the enticing range of pizzas.
Localização: 1st Floor, Tong Hing Supermarket, 55, Jalan Gaya, Pusat Bandar, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Monday–Saturday from 4 pm to midnight (closed on Sundays)
Telefone: +60 (0)12-822 8320
D'Atas Explorers Tavern
3. Sunset Cruise
An after-dark adventure
Ideal para: Casais, Alimentação, Luxo
Skim the waters of the South China Sea on a luxurious and spacious catamaran. Embarking from the Sutera Marina Jetty, North Borneo Cruises will whisk you past Kota Kinabalu’s illuminated skyline, as well as a number of neighbouring islands.
On board, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous international buffet in an air-conditioned restaurant, accompanied by up-tempo music from an outstanding live band. After dessert, ascend to the breezy upper deck to take in the vista or dance the conga around the buffet table.
Localização: The Marina Clubhouse Sutera Harbour, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telefone: +60 (0)12-885 2009
Sunset Cruise
4. Nyx
Where to boogie all night long
Ideal para: Casais, Alimentação, Vida noturna
Nyx nightclub pumps transcendent music of varying genres from its Void Acoustic Tri Motion speakers, curated by Aaron, its in-house DJ. Local scenesters come here to dance the night away under brightly coloured laser lights, and to sip handmade cocktails and Tiger beer.
For a bite to eat beforehand, head to the inexpensive Fook Yuen Cafe for steaming bamboo baskets filled with tasty dim sum, or surprising European classics like golden French toast. If you love freshly caught seafood, grab a table at the Todak Waterfront Hawker Centre where you can feast on lobster, crab and calamari.
Localização: Lot 14, 15 & 16, 6, Jalan Gaya, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Wednesday and Thursday from 9 pm to 2 am, Friday and Saturday from 9 pm to 3 am (closed on Sunday–Tuesday)
Telefone: +60 (0)12-821 6821
Nyx
5. The Other Side KK
Hipster hideaway
Ideal para: Casais, Alimentação, Vida noturna
For smooth live music, creative beverages and a chill-out session with vapes, nothing beats a visit to The Other Side. Cleverly hidden behind a vintage payphone, this ambient hangout is decorated with hand-painted murals, emerald-green foliage and a beautifully tiled bar.
Sample the unusual butter beer (which tastes like liquid popcorn) before digging into a plate of Korean fried chicken. Toast the evening with a round of cocktails that are made by the bar’s master mixologists. We love the Borneo Blush and the Turkish Bathhouse.
Localização: Ground Floor, Lot-5, TNK Commercial Centre, Lrg TNK, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Tuesday–Thursday from 3 pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 4 pm to 1 am, Sunday from 3 pm to midnight (closed on Mondays)
Telefone: +60 (0)14-399 9732
The Other Side KK
6. Jolly Golfin
Fun for the whole family
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Vida noturna
For a quirky game of indoor mini-golf, head to the Jolly Golf’In. This neon-lit, 18-hole course boasts plenty of idiosyncratic features like pink furry palm trees, floating jellyfish and one particular set that was inspired by Forrest Gump.
Serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, players can enjoy milk tea, wine, cocktails and beers while they make, or fail, that perfect putt. If you’re feeling peckish afterwards, head next door to the Crab House Seafood Restaurant for freshly caught lobster and creamy tiger prawns.
Localização: Lots 5&6.5, Jalan Gaya, off Lorong Satu, Jln Haji Saman, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Daily from 11 am to 11 pm
Telefone: +60 (0)10-883 9138
Jolly Golfin
7. Filipino Market
A sensory smorgasbord
Ideal para: Alimentação, Vida noturna, Compras
Taking place every night on the Kota Kinabalu waterfront, Filipino Market showcases hundreds of local vendors who are flush with clothes, accessories, handicrafts, edible treats and fabulous souvenirs. Whatever you’re looking for, chances are this buzzing bazaar will have it in stock. All you need to do is look for it.
Wander the narrow lanes marvelling at mountains of fruits and vegetables, colourful batik print t-shirts, leather handbags, kaleidoscopic beads and Borneo monkey fridge magnets. Don’t forget to visit the food stalls for delicacies like barbecued stingray and terang bulan (a peanut-flavoured pancake).
Localização: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Daily from 8 am to 10 pm
Filipino Market
8. Tanjung Aru Perdana Park
Sprawling green space with epic attractions
Ideal para: Vida noturna, Foto, Econômico
Tanjung Aru Perdana Park is a vast urban oasis that’s beloved by KK’s locals. Between 4 pm and 6 pm, Mondays to Thursdays, its huge fountain comes to life in illuminated colours. Stop by and watch as jets of water synchronise to classical masterpieces by Mozart, before paying your respects at the War Memorial. The park is also a hotspot for joggers thanks to its tangerine-coloured athletic track and multitude of scenic paths.
The hidden gem here is the Sunset Bar, which can be found on a tiny peninsula in the northwest tip of the park. Overlooking a palm-fringed beach, this al fresco watering hole is famed for its delicious satay, ice-cold beers, sparkling wines and Malaysian cocktails.
Localização: Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Daily from 6 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +60 (0)10-958 7258
Tanjung Aru Perdana Park
9. Sunset Bar
Panoramic views of the South China Sea at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru resort
Ideal para: Vida noturna, Alimentação, Foto
Sunset Bar is perched on its own peninsula with unobstructed views of the sea and Kota Kinabalu’s stunning skyline. You’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery and 5-star service while relaxing in the sophisticated atmosphere of this upscale bar, located at the luxury beachfront resort of Shangri-La Tanjung Aru.
Photographing the spectacular sunset is guaranteed to make you hungry, why not check out the bar’s versatile menu? The fried brawns and homemade satay go well together with an ice-cold beer or a tropical mango mocktail. Or to celebrate a special occasion, raise a glass of champagne and toast the night.
Localização: and Spa, Shangri-la’s Tanjung Aru Resort, 20, Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Daily from 5 pm to 9 pm
Telefone: +60 (0)88-327 888
Sunset Bar
10. Shank Junkies
An unforgettable game of golf
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Vida noturna
Located 15 minutes south of the city centre, in the Donggongon district, Shank Junkies is Kota Kinabalu’s first indoor golf simulation centre. This state-of-the art space uses the most advanced computer technology, and giant screens, to make you feel like you’re playing at Augusta.
The venue also hosts exciting tournaments with lucrative prizes and offers generous discounts with its Blue Tee Package. After you’ve landed a digital hole-in-1, head to the nearby Kun BBQ & Steamboat restaurant for a night of karaoke and aromatic hotpot.
Localização: C3-3A, Block C, Level 3 T1@Bundusan, Jalan Bundusan, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abre: Tuesday–Sunday from noon to 2 am (closed on Mondays)
Telefone: +60 (0)11-3188 8817
Shank Junkies
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