B.E.D., which stands for Best Entertainment Destination, is one of Kota Kinabalu’s biggest club / pub / live entertainment venues, located in the Waterfront complex.

Best known for the scantly clad, gyrating Filipino bands, which more often than not feature at least 3 girls, B.E.D. is also popular with a large base of regulars because of the live music, music played by the DJ and the ample space.

Easily converted for many types of events, B.E.D. has hosted various promotions and prominent events in Kota Kinabalu. While drinks prices are average, many of B.E.D.’s regulars often buy by the bottle, usually Johnny Walker, which appears to perpetually be on promotion. A variety of snack items also appear on the menu.

Apart from the main floor and mosh pit immediately in front of the raised stage, B.E.D. also has a member’s only area, raised above the mere mortals, as well as more private areas, which can be closed off for larger private gatherings. Additionally, it has an outside area, although this is usually under-utilised.

If moshing with a live-band or almost club-style dancing is your scene, then do visit B.E.D. – KK’s Best Entertainment Destination.

Shamrock Irish Bar is KK’s most prominent Irish-themed pub and the only place in Kota Kinabalu where you can find a Kilkenny on draught.

Shamrock Irish Bar, or Shamrock for short, can be found in the Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu’s sea-front development, which features several bars and restaurants, and is located immediately in front of Warisan Square.

The store front spills onto the Waterfront board walk where you will find outside seating with a view of the South China Sea and the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park, making it an ideal location for sundowners.

As is the standard for most night spots in Kota Kinabalu, Shamrock too features a stage for live performances, as well as a DJ box, ensuring that punters’ chatter comes with a sound track.

Shamrock has Guinness (as you would expect), Kilkenny and Tiger Beer on draught, making your favourite tipple taste as crisp and flavoursome as if it was brewed on the premises. The range of beers is extended by a variety of bottled beers. Wine by the glass or bottle and the usual variety of spirits make up the rest of the drinks menu.

Shamrock also has a pool table.

Cocoon Restaurant and Bar is a vibey bar and eatery located in the vicinity of Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo

At only a couple of years old, Cocoon is one of the must-visit watering holes in Kota Kinabalu. Featuring contemporary décor inside the bar, a more casual atmosphere is to be found in the outside seating area for meals, snacks and drinking, where conversation is more important than live music.

The drinks prices at Cocoon is reasonable for this part of town, and they feature the usual range of beers, spirits and wine. The elongated bar features a stage from where the local DJ does his thing, alongside where live bands perform.

Currently playing at Cocoon Restaurant and Bar is Earth Rising, a Filipino band which is hotter on looks than sound. This 7-piece band, who only arrived last week, features 4 gents, one of which is a lead singer, as well as 2 ladies guaranteed to hold your attention.

The usual repertoire of cover-songs leans heavily towards hits in the grungy, angry-girl spectrum, but provides sufficient variety to cater a little something for everybody. Earth Rising performs live at Cocoon every night except Sundays.

Any pub-crawl or party night in Kota Kinabalu should include a stop at Borneo’s Cocoon Restaurant and Bar.

San Francisco Coffee offers a Big Breakfast at all their branches in KK and is one of the best western breakfasts we’ve stumbled across in Kota Kinabalu.

If you’re staying in one of the many nearby hotels and don’t have breakfast included with your room rate, or if you’re just looking for a good hearty breakfast with which to start your day, then San Francisco Coffee’s Big Breakfast is a scrumptious option.

San Francisco Coffee’s Big Breakfast is a collection of breakfast options, the flagship of which is the American Breakfast. Served as a two-course set from opening until 11.30am daily, it’s a generous-sized breakfast consisting of toast, scrambled eggs, butter-fried mushrooms and sausages. It also includes either bottomless one cup of filter coffee or tea.

After 11.30am it’s served a la carte, the only difference being that the coffee or tea is not included. However, the breakfast itself is served all day, which is great for late risers or those of us who argue that scrambled eggs and toast is not solely the domain of the breakfast crowd.

At RM11.95, having the American Breakfast before 11.30am is much better value than it is after, as a single cup of Americano is about RM5 per cup – and to have a bottomless filter coffee included is a certain bonus to establish the day’s caffeine fix.

If you’re in KK looking for a filling, value-for-money breakfast, do try the Big Breakfast at San Francisco Coffee.

Shenanigan’s at Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu, is literally one of Kota Kinabalu’s stalwart pubs and have been around for close on two decades.

To understand Shenanigan’s success is to understand the power of legend. It’s a well known fact that Shenanigan’s is the most expensive pub in Kota Kinabalu, featuring rediculious items like a jug of beer at RM70.

However, on any given weekend and most week nights too, if there’s one venue in Kota Kinabalu that is going to be packed to the limit, it will be Shenanigan’s. Other establishments, especially those attached to hotels, have long pondered Shenanigan’s success, and have often tried to reproduce it, with little success of their own.

The truth is, as recently as 1999, Shenanigan’s was Kota Kinabalu’ longest established pub and really it’s only constant. Whenever people asked ‘where should I go for a good night out in KK?’ people would answer “Shenanigan’s” by default, at it really was the best option.

Although today this is no longer true, as there is a horde of other options in Kota Kinabalu now, Shenanigan’s legend lives on as word-of-mouth ensures it’s popularity, flying in the face of the extortionate prices it charges for it’s booze.

Shenanigan’s still holds its own though, with live bands that are always popular. It’s also the haunt of Kota Kinabalu’s Socialista and Gliterrati, the best place to find KK’s hip and beautiful.

Whether you’re travelling independently, or are in the good company of local friends, chances are that any given night out in Kota Kinabalu, will include a visit, be it short or most likely prolonged, to Shenanigan’s at Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu.