It’s easy to like El Centro, a new cafe and bar in Kota Kinabalu, where you can go have a bite to eat, indulge in delectable cocktails and have actual conversations with the people you’re with.

So Fresh it still smell of Wood

El Centro, opposite Wisma Merdeka on the block between Kinabalu Daya Hotel on the 1 side and Millemewa on the other, is a welcoming cafe and bar where the furniture are made of re-purposed drift wood, the decor is minimalist, and the emphasis is on people.

Possibly the first non smoking bar in Kota Kinabalu, there’s no smoking inside the restaurant, so if you have to puff, then off to the sidewalk for you.

But with the wide open storefront this is actually quite a social place to be, as you’re not cut-off from the restaurant or the vibe inside.

And now for something a little different

The food is unique amongst Kota Kinabalu’s restaurants. Katie, the owner, has been to interesting corners of the globe and have collected her favourite recipes from her travels, which she is now sharing at El Centro.

There’s tacos, salads and hummus, sandwiches, soups, various sides and desserts.

In her bag of tricks, Katie also has the skills of a bar tender. Bar tenders know cocktails, but Katie knows awesome cocktails.

In May, a delicious flood of tasty cocktails are coming to El Centro and Katie’s friends know what’s in store. Her Bloody Mary has a well established reputation, and already legend of her margarita is rising.

Sunday Brunch

The menu is still evolving to the tastes and feedback of customers, but a few mainstays are well worth having.

Anything with chips is a winner, because El Centro has the secret for the perfect french fry. From amongst the tacos, the Steak Taco is king, and the large Greek Grilled Chicken Foldover or Salad are the most value for money items on the menu.

On Sundays, you can wrap up the weekend with a tasty Sunday Brunch. Fresh, hot breakfast tacos to fill your stomach, and a spicy Bloody Mary to ease you off whatever hangover you might be having.

An easy end to the weekend, and a beautiful start to Sunday morning.

See you at El Centro!

Mosaic at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is importing juicy, 300g prime Australian ribs to tantalise the taste buds of discerning diners in Kota Kinabalu and torture everyone else in KK with the exquisite, smoky aroma of their char-grilled delight.

The tender ribs are marinated an seared a full day before it’s served to you to lock in its natural juiciness. The final preparation is made moments after your order and just before it hits your plate, hot, aromatic and sumptuous.

Accompanied with a generous helping of French fries, corn-on-the-cob, string beans and tomatoes, your char-grill rib meal is a hearty one.

Mosaic presents this gastronomic feast, including a glass of wine at just RM60, or RM48 sans the wine.

Enjoy this special treat during August on at Mosaic, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.

The Extreme Club, for the uninitiated, is a programme that entitles members to a a slew of discounts at excited businesses around Kota Kinabalu, including various restaurants, Coffee Bean and many more. Enquire about it next time you’re at Atmosphere for lunch, dinner or a drink.

Atmosphere is involved with some of the organisation of the Sabah leg of Malaysia’s quest to send a Malaysian beauty to the Miss Universe competition, hopefully to succeed the current title holder, Riyo Mori from Japan.

The 57th Annual Miss Universe Competition will air live from Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam and Malaysia might well be represented by one of the lovely ladies that graced Atmosphere.

In a teazer for what’s to come at the Sabah Grand Final this Saturday at The Magellan Sutera, a Miss Atmosphere Competition put the girls through the paces of a mini contest.

Hidden from view while the Extreme Club members enjoyed cocktails and tidbits, the contestants were presented as the night kicked into motion.

The contestants showed why they were the Sabah finalists for the competition as they strutted their stuff, before they briefly introduced themselves to the sizeable audience, giving their names and where they were from.

The finalists originate from various parts of Sabah, adding flavour from Sabah’s cultural melting pot. Most contestants are from Kota Kinabalu, while Labuan, Tawau and Sandakan are also represented.

Each finalist were given about 30 minutes to mingle and introduce themselves in person to audience members. It was a pleasant twist to the usual beauty pageant format, allowing the audience to engage the contestants to discover the personality behind the beauty.

It also allowed for favourites to be picked and noted for the voting later on.

Before the votes were tallied, the Miss Sabah Malaysia Universe contestants retreated to Atmosphere’s VIP room to await the results. Everyone had an opinion on who they had met and a buzz filled the air as these were exchanged.

Contestant Number 8, Chloe Majinbon from Kota Kinabalu, was the crowd’s favourite on this night and was crowned as Miss Atmosphere.

Now remains the real deal when this Saturday, 15 March, Sutera Harbour Resort will play host to Sabah’s Miss Malaysia Universe Competition’s final and grand selection.

Good luck to all the contestants.

Atmosphere Restaurant and Bar is situated on the roof of Kota Kinabalu & Sabah and is Borneo’s highest and only revolving restaurant.

A mere 15 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu city centre, Atmosphere is housed on the18th floor of Menara Tun Mustapha (formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building).

Atmosphere is billed as a modern dining restaurant. Ironically, the décor is funky retro, and from the moment you step into the express elevators that will whisk you away to Borneo’s only revolving restaurant, you know you’re in for something special.

As the elevator doors open, your senses are bombarded with yellow, orange, green and purple. Depending on the time of day that you arrive at Atmosphere, you will either look out on the ever changing panorama of Kota Kinabalu and Sabah, rotating before your very eyes during the day, or the faint city lights twinkling in the distance during late evening.

Of course, being up on the 18th floor and revolving through 360 degrees once every hour, Atmosphere is the ideal place to enjoy lunch, sundowners or an early dinner. Although Atmosphere might be a modern dining restaurant with retro décor, the menu is very much contemporary, with an eclectic selection to suit even the most discerning palate.

With the most expensive item from the current menu being the Oven-roasted Australian Beef Tenderloin at a surprisingly reasonable RM90 and desserts for around RM10 for a selection of sorbets and ice-creams, a fine-dining dinner at Atmosphere will not break the bank.

And there’s no reason to leave after dinner, because Atmosphere’s Happy Hour is Kota Kinabalu’s most convenient and best priced.

From 9pm to midnight every day, a generous Happy Hour menu offers a selection of the best cocktails at the best prices in Kota Kinabalu and Sabah. From around RM10 before taxes, a wicked Bloody Merry, a kau Long Island Ice Tea, or a sock-rocking Mai Tai is yours for the taking.

The Happy Hour menu also includes a generous selection of house-pouring spirits and wine, complemented by an accompanying choice of tidbits.

In addition to the culinary delights that you’ll find at Atmosphere Restaurant and Bar in Kota Kinabalu, little treats like valet parking and free Wi-Fi also await. Whether for lunch, tea, dinner, drinks or events, there’s always space for an occasion on the 18th floor at Atmosphere Restaurant and Bar.