Nightlife
Kota Kinabalu’s nightlife is rapidly increasing in both number of options and level of quality. Thus, a night out in Sabah is getting better with every new establishment that brings something fresh to the scene.
Nightlife in Kota Kinabalu include the quiet and sedate for those craving a chat and a drink, or live bands and rocking Djs if you’re a shut-up-and-dance kind of partier. How about a classy establishment if you like to be seen or minimal décor if you’re looking for a cheaper drink?
To help you navigate KK’s maze of nightlife, watering holes, pubs and clubs, Sabahbah.com presents you this Nightlife Guide below featuring what’s important on your night out: where, when and how much.
Pubs, Dance Clubs & Bars in Kota Kinabalu
Type: Club
Open: 20:00 - 03:00
Happy Hour: 20:00 - 21:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: Yes
Draught Beer: Yes
B.E.D. – Best Entertainment Destination
Expect big spaces, expats and thumping music.
BED is a long established club in Kota Kinabalu’s Waterfront and is about as close to the western concept of a club as you can find in Kota Kinabalu.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 18:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: 18:00 - 20:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: Yes
Draught Beer: Yes
Ice Bar at 1Borneo
Expect quiet nights, but nice ambient lighting.
Ice Bar was, when it launched, one of the hottest tickets in town.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 10:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: 18:00 - 21:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: Yes
Draught Beer: Yes
Firefly Bar & Grill
Expect beautiful people, good happy hour beers and lots of smoke.
Firefly is actually a bar and grill, but for this section we will deal with the bar part of Firefly.
Type: Karaoke
Open: 17:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: 17:00 - 21:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: No
Draught Beer: No
M-Cubed Bar
Expect people with awesome voices. And beer.
It’s a little off the beaten track, but all the good places are.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 12:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: -
DJ: No
Live Band: No
Draught Beer: Yes
Shamrock Irish Bar
Expect great beers, good food and probably sports on TV.
Shamrock Irish Bar is located at the Waterfront Kota Kinabalu, right in the middle of the city’s nightlife strip.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 10:00 - 11:00
Happy Hour: -
DJ: No
Live Band: No
Draught Beer: No
Shangri-La’s Sunset Bar
Expect thumping sounds with which to see in the new year.
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort’s Sunset Bar is perched on the tip of a tiny peninsula, surrounded by ocean, palms trees, close-ups of the islands, and presents perfect views of Borneo’s incredible sunsets, cocktails on hand.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 17:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: 17:00 - 21:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: Yes
Draught Beer: Yes
Shenanigan’s Fun Pub
Expect expensive drinks prices and hot Filippino band sounds.
Shenanigan’s Fun Pub is Kota Kinabalu’s oldest nightspot and watering hole.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 16:30 - 23:00
Happy Hour: 16:00 - 17:30 & 20:00 - 23:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: Yes
Draught Beer: No
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort’s Sunset Bar
Expect great views, spectacular sunsets and expensive drinks.
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort’s Sunset Bar is perched on the tip of a tiny peninsula, surrounded by ocean, palms trees and close-ups of the islands.
Type: Pubs & Bars
Open: 15:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: 15:30 - 21:00
DJ: Yes
Live Band: No
Draught Beer: Yes
The Loft Kota Kinabalu
Expect football on the big screen, beers on the counter.
The Loft provides a quaint setting for beers, birthdays, sundowners or night caps; time it right and get a spectacular Sabah sunset on the house.
Type: Club
Open: 18:00 - 02:00
Happy Hour: -
DJ: Yes
Live Band: Yes
Draught Beer: Yes
WhiteRoom Bar Club Lounge
Expect beautiful people, thumping music and pricy drinks.
WhiteRoom is a bar, dance club and lounge in KK Time Square, which lies adjacent to the central business district of Kota Kinabalu.