Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KOTA KINABALU'S HAWKER CENTRES & FOOD
COURTS
As in any Southeast Asian city, the best food in KK is the street food and hawker stalls. If you're worried about san-
itation, you really shouldn't be, but assuage your fears by looking for popular stalls, especially those frequented by
families.
Night Market
(
Click here
)
The night market is the best, cheapest and most interesting place in KK for dinner.
Vegetarian options available.
Centre Point Basement Food Court
Offline map
Google map
(Basement fl, Centre Point Shopping Centre,
Jln Pasar Baru; mains RM3-10; 11am-10pm)
Your ringgit will go a long way at this popular and varied base-
ment food court in the Centre Point Mall. There are Malay, Chinese and Indian options, as well as drink and dessert
specialists.
Grace Point
(Grace Point; mains RM2-8; 11am-3pm)
Take bus 15 out near Tanjung Aru for some local grub
at this KK mainstay. The development is actually quite chic compared to the smoke-swathed food courts in the city
centre. Go for the Sabahan food stall (located in the far right corner when facing the row of counters) and try
hinava
(raw fish pickled with fresh lime juice, chilli padi, sliced shallots and grated ginger).
Drinking & Entertainment
Get ready for loads of karaoke bars and big, booming nightclubs, clustered around the
Waterfront Esplanade, KK Times Square -where the newest hot spots are congregating,
and Beach St, in the centre of town, a semipedestrian street cluttered with bars and eater-
ies.
BAR
El Centro
(32 Jln Haji Saman; 5pm-midnight, closed Mon)
This fantastic spot, which doubles as
a restaurant (
Click here
)
, was sorely needed in KK. El Centro is the traveller's hangout
you've been looking for: cool, Asian-mod decor, soft lighting, good music that isn't the
same recycled pop every other Malaysian bar plays, and a general sense of chilled-out-ed-
ness that makes it easy to meet other wanderers and form new friendships. Also: the
drinks are strong. Stupid strong. And El Centro hosts impromptu quiz nights, costume
parties and live music shows.
