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!

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.