Hotels With bar in Sabah, Malaysia

Had a perfect holiday at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru! A special shout-out to Shahzrul at the front desk. From the warm welcome at check-in to patiently answering all our questions, he made us feel right at home throughout our stay. His service was professional yet warm, and combined with the world-class, breathtaking sunset, it truly made for an unforgettable experience! Five-star recommendation, will definitely come again!

The water in the hotel's area is heavily polluted; it's so dirty that snorkeling is completely out of the question! The front desk staff were very perfunctory with guest requests and didn't follow through on promises. In the morning, we requested a private boat tour for island hopping and snorkeling. We discussed the time and itinerary with the dive center staff and finalized the price with the front desk. We even altered our subsequent travel plans for this. However, by 4 PM, we still hadn't received confirmation. When we called the front desk, they told us they couldn't arrange it. We asked several people, and got different explanations: first they said there were no boats, then that other guests had already been arranged for island hopping, and then that there would be a storm the next day (which turned out to be perfectly calm). I suggest the hotel improve its island hopping service. For those looking to dive, definitely don't consider this hotel! Also, the beach is incredibly tiny, barely palm-sized!

I chose this hotel for a one-night stay before heading to the overwater bungalow the next day. Although the room facilities were a bit old, they were very clean. There's a convenience store right downstairs, and it's very close to the pier. The sea breeze was a bit loud at night, but the breakfast was excellent and plentiful.

The place is beautiful. The ocean and the beach are amazing. The hotel is seafront, a few steps and you’re swimming in the ocean. The rooms needs a lot of maintenance and deep cleaning, our room had many things need to be repair so, they gave us upgrade to a huge wood villa with 2 floors. The restaurant is ok… but no delicious. Breakfast is not so good but they prepare eggs as you like. The hotel needs dee cleaning and a lot of maintenance. They have places looks like abandoned.

This is my second stay at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, with the last one being 13 years ago. Although the hotel is older, the facilities are generally well-maintained. There are some minor damages in certain nooks and crannies, and while the bedding felt clean, I personally thought it was a bit old-fashioned. As a five-star hotel, I believe the linens should be updated more regularly. The service was excellent – warm and attentive. Some staff members could communicate in Chinese. Furthermore, knowing we had a child, they even converted the sofa into an extra bed in advance. The location is quite remote, so dining options are limited to the hotel itself. You can also use Grab, but the choices there are somewhat limited. The hotel's various restaurants offer different cuisines, catering to individual preferences, though the prices are a bit on the high side. The hotel has many activities available, which are great and fun for kids. If you have the budget for a family trip, I'd highly recommend it.

Room filtered water has an unpleasant odor. Sutera Avenue lack of management maintenance, parking basement is dirty and dark, corridor amd lift also dirty.

I stayed at two hotels in Kota Kinabalu this time, and surprisingly, the one that left the deepest impression was this older Hyatt. To be honest, I was a bit worried it might be dated at first, but it turned out to be a fantastic stay. The room was spacious. With two adults and one child, we could easily spread out our luggage without feeling cramped. The bedding was just right – soft enough to sink into, but with good support. I slept in naturally for all three nights. The absolute highlight was the sea view – a vast expanse of blue outside the window. Sitting there watching the sunset transform from golden hues to pinkish-purple, without having to brave the crowds at Tanjung Aru, was an absolute win. The location couldn't be better. Merdeka Shopping Mall is just a two-minute walk downstairs, super convenient for currency exchange and buying snacks. Another five-minute stroll takes you to Gaya Street, with eateries like Yee Fung Laksa and Fook Yuen Toast all within walking distance. We barely took any taxis during our stay, saving enough money for at least two extra seafood meals. I felt like a local just strolling around. The pool is right next to the elevator, with separate sections for adults and children. My kid grabbed a life vest and had a blast, while I relaxed on a nearby sun lounger and even caught another sunset. As for breakfast, the variety wasn't extensive, but the ingredients were fresh, and the Malaysian-style dishes were all delicious, especially the Roti Canai with curry sauce – I devoured three pieces! There were also noodle stations with both chicken and beef broth, which my kid said were very flavorful. If it's your first time in Kota Kinabalu and you don't want to waste time on transportation, this older Hyatt is truly top-notch. While the facilities show their age a bit, it's clean, comfortable, convenient, and offers incredible value for money. I'd definitely choose it again if I come back to Kota Kinabalu – truly a no-regrets choice! 😉

I contacted customer service in advance, and they were always responsive. For our celebration, they even provided some simple decorations, which was a pleasant surprise when we checked in! Our flight was delayed, and although the official check-in time was before 24:00, we were still able to check in smoothly more than half an hour late that day (we hadn't anticipated the delay would be that long). The room view was really good (it's a pity we didn't stay in the room until evening, otherwise, watching the sunset would have been great!). There's also an outdoor viewing area on the 6th floor, but we didn't stay long enough for its operating hours. The room size was decent, with just one chair, but it had a full kitchen with almost all utensils provided! The bathroom also had toiletries. The breakfast included in the room rate was a nice bonus. The best part was definitely the infinity pool! It was still cool and out of the sun at 8:00 AM. I stayed at both Citadines Waterfront and The Shore in Kota Kinabalu, and it turns out they're in the same building but with separate entrances (they are interconnected). The pool on the 6th floor is directly separated, which is pretty cool.

Excellent hotel, surrounded by lush greenery, and there's even a monitor lizard on the premises. We had a ground-floor room with a stunning sea view. The room was large and felt fresh, likely one of those that had been renovated. Breakfast was excellent, with a huge selection of both European and Asian cuisine. You could order eggs cooked to your liking, make soup, try Indian-style roti, and there was plenty of fruit and vegetables, yogurt, and even Gouda and Parmesan cheeses, delicious croissants, and a coffee machine. Overall, highly recommended!

This hotel has been my go-to choice for business trips to Kota Kinabalu ever since it opened. The best part is how convenient and close it is to the airport. Plus, there's a really good vegetarian restaurant right next door.