The Kota Kinabalu Where to Party Guide is part of The Year of the Monkey Trip Report which covers the following places:
- New York, New York
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Guangzhou, China
- Hong Kong
- Shenzhen, China
- Sanya, China
There’s more to life than pubs, bars, and clubs. Not every place I visit has to have Shanghai nightlife. After some shenanigans in Jakarta, I was looking forward to doing nothing in KK and expected it to be a secluded, underdeveloped beach town. I was completely wrong. KK is a decent sized city with plenty of places to go shopping, eat, and drink. The waterfront is lined with bar after bar and is a fun place to go for a drink. Last call is 1AM on the weekdays and 3AM on the weekend which is perfect for those looking to leave the room but still have enough energy to explore Borneo the next day.
Pubs With Great Names
Speaking of shenanigans, a place to visit, if only for the great name is Shenanigans Fun Pub. It’s located right next to the Hyatt Regency. Another one with an interesting name is Cock & Bull which is located on the waterfront.
The Waterfront
The waterfront is KK’s version of Old Town Scottsdale. There are plenty of bars with live music and DJs. I went to Myst which is owned by an American and an Irish pub which is hard to miss. The most famous place is BED which stands for Best Entertainment Destination. It is by far the largest venue on the waterfront and is usually busy.
The Club
I was surprised to find a Vegas style nightclub in the heart of KK. Recently opened, 999 is the place to be for those that are looking to spend too much on Tiger beer and listen to thumping noise.
Massage
Nothing ends a happy day like a nice massage. For only a few dollars, you can have a foot massage and neck massage while smoking hookah. Life is good.
Overall
No one goes to KK for the epic party. It’s no Thailand. Having said that, if you are looking for something to do after a day exploring the islands, scuba diving, or going on eco tours, KK has ample options.
Are you just travelling on your own this trip? If so I guess you just go out and meet other people yes?
Part of it i was. In KK i was alone.
After the prior review, I was wondering about this. Any chance on a follow up post on daytime stuff to do in KK?
That’s next!
How expensive is booze in KK?
Typical bar prices, not cheap but not outrageous.