Top 5 Mall Hotels

Grandis Hotel

Located and attached to one of the much talked-about shopping mall, Suria Sabah, Grandis Hotels and Resorts sits in the heart of the city. Its name derives from an endemic orchid found on Mount Kinabalu – Ascidieria Grandis (Eria Grandis).

With a mere 15minutes’ drive to Kota Kinabalu International Airport and located right next to one of the most popular malls in the city, The Grandis offers its guests many services including concierges,all-day dining at its Rosea Café as well as a conference room, to name a few. Its ideal location makes it the perfect retreat for those who wishes to explore the area’s wide-range of shops, eateries and tourist attractions.

Speaking of places of interests nearby the hotel, it’s just a 2-3minutes’ walk to Jesselton Point – one of the gateways to the beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman islands, Gaya Street Sunday Market, Atkinson Clock Tower, Sabah Tourism Board and a myriad of eateries and cafes. What more can you ask for?

The hotel’s Sky Blu Bar is the first rooftop bar in Kota Kinabalu and it doesn’t disappoint. It is one of the popular choices amongst the locals and tourists alike to watch the sunset while downing a refreshing drink or two or munching on the tempting snacks. Guests can also relax over afternoon tea or enjoy a late evening drink in the comfort of the plush lounge chairs at the Piano Lounge.

Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, or sometimes known as Suria KK, is easily identified by the giant glass bowl-like design above the main entrance. The mall is alive with plenty of foot traffic on weekends, if not so much during the week.

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is one of the leading 5-Star business hotels located in the heart of the city. Offering premium services to business and casual travellers, the hotel houses 288 rooms. Guests staying in Club Floors will have access and many privileged experiences at the Regency Club Lounge.

Overlooking the beautiful coral islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the South China Sea, the hotel has several spots to view the magnificent Kota Kinabalu sunset; the sea view rooms, Regency Club Lounge, poolside or Segama Waterfront. It’s not a view anyone would want to miss!

The Hyatt offers six alluring restaurants and bars namely Mosaic, Tanjung Ria Kitchen, Nagisa Japanese Restaurant, Poolside Bar, The Lounge and Shenanigan’s Fun Pub. In-house guests and walk-ins are welcomed to indulge in the Asian and international cuisines that the hotel have to offer.

Shenanigan’s Fun Pub is one of Kota Kinabalu’s oldest and longest lasting nightspots and watering holes. Sabah Tourism awarded the pub as the Best Night Spot Experience in 2009, 2013 and 2015.

The hotel is located next to Wisma Merdeka Shopping Mall and is within walking distance to Suria Sabah Shopping Mall. Not forgetting to mention that the weekly held Gaya Street Sunday Market is just a couple of blocks away. Guests staying here will also get to access the myriad of eateries and cafes serving both local and international cuisines, major financial institutions and Segama Waterfront / Shop Houses. Wisma Merdeka is one of the earliest shopping malls in the city and has been a household name to many for more than 30 years.

Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel

For those seeking balance, the new Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel in Sabah offers an idyllic location to explore the best of the "Land Below the Wind". Located on the famous Waterfront – a popular hotspot for dining and entertainment – the hotel is a 15-minute boat ride to the natural reserve of Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands, home to five beautiful coral islands. And with everything facing westward, you can only imagine how breath-taking the view is during sunset.

The Marriott is an integrated part of Oceanus Waterfront Mall. With limitless opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment, hotel guests can explore neighbouring lifestyle destinations such as The Waterfront, Oceanus Waterfront and Imago Shopping Mall. The 332-room hotel is infused with elements of the local Sabahan culture, paying homage to the rich heritage of Borneo’s Kadazandusun tribe.

Design to meet Malaysia’s growing needs of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) market, The Marriott offers up to 14,000sqft of versatile event space,with state-of-the-art technology, distinct dining options and ample natural light with its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Marriott offers five appealing restaurants namely its all-day dining restaurant, Kitchen@8; Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, Teppan Table where guests can enjoy an interactive, live cooking experience; surf and turf restaurant, Big Fish with live cooking element and an à la minute style of menu; Asian-Fusion restaurant, Stylo and an English themed dining area, The Lounge, where guests can enjoy with a picturesque view of the surrounding islands.

Oceanus Waterfront Mall, or better known simply as Oceanus, perches on a strip of reclaimed land next to the existing Waterfront Kota Kinabalu. Even though the mall is sparsely tenanted, here’s to hoping that with the recently opened Marriott Hotel, tenants will start pouring into the mall. To date, the famous Hard Rock Café, Starbucks and Nando’s Restaurant are amongst few eateries still attracting hungry tourists and passers-by. 

The Klagan Riverson Hotel and Residence

Whether it is a holiday or medical related visit to Kota Kinabalu, The Klagan @Riverson is your ideal address while in the city. Located in one of Kota Kinabalu’s latest developments, Riverson – the Lifestyle Hub – just next to the Gleneagles Medical Centre, the development houses 29 hotel rooms plus 5 units of 2-bedroom, fully furnished apartments. Each room comes with a kitchenette, household medium sized fridge, microwave oven,toaster and a full set of cutleries and dinner ware. How amazing is that?! And guess what, plates, cups and other utensils are also available if you decide to dine in your hotel room.

This hotel features an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a children's pool. WiFi in public areas is free. In addition to that, concierge services, dry cleaning and laundry facilities are also available on-site.

The Klagan@ Riverson’s sister properties are the Klagan Hotel in Warisan Square and The Klagan Regency in 1Borneo Hypermall.

Riverson is strategically located along the coastal highway of Kota Kinabalu, beside its notable neighbours, KK Times Square, Imago Shopping Mall and the renowned Sutera Harbour Resort. Spanning across 5.5 acres of prime commercial land, Riverson makes its mark on the city as a vibrant, mix integrated commercial development comprising of 4 main pillars namely, Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Medical Centre; Riverson Walk, a 3-storey retail shops; Riverson Suites, 6-storey tower of office suits and Riverson SoHo, a 7-storey tower of SoHo units with mezzanine floors.

Grand Borneo Hotel

This 310-room Grand Borneo Hotel is an integral part of 1Borneo Hypermall, East Malaysia’s largest shopping mall. Located 7km away from the bustling Kota Kinabalu City Centre, the hotel caters to business travellers, holiday makers as well as locals who wish to stay away from the busy city life.

Guests can enjoy dining at the hotel’s all-day dining, Soul Out Coffee House,which offers an international cuisine or the Bubble Bar, which serves light snacks and refreshing drinks.

Plantation giant, Felda, acquired the hotel in June 2012 as part of the company’s vision to diversify into the hospitality industry. Apart from our local visitors, the hotel is also popular amongst the tourists from Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan.

1Borneo Hypermall, or better known as 1Borneo, has everything to offer from a myriad of eateries, fancy-label clothing, department stores, supermarket and its entertainment outlets which offers an 8-hall cinema, a 30-lane bowling area, 3D art museum and more.