Hotels With bar in Sabah, Malaysia

Many people visit Kota Kinabalu just for its legendary sunsets, rumored to be among the top three in the world 🌇. That's why we chose to stay at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru. The hotel boasts its own private beach, so you don't have to jostle with crowds at the public Tanjung Aru beach. The Sunset Bar, the lawn, and the beachfront boardwalk all offer incredible vantage points for the sunset. Although there was haze when we visited, we were lucky enough to catch a decent sunset that day 🌇 – a delicate pink and purple hue, perfect for photos. To be honest, the hotel 🏨 grounds are massive, to the point where it's easy to get lost. After checking in, we couldn't find our room initially and had to ask staff to escort us. Even checking out, we almost couldn't find the front desk. However, the hotel offers a plethora of activities, and we simply didn't have enough time to explore everything. If you're booking, I recommend getting a ground-floor sea view room. You can walk straight from your balcony to the beach, saving you a long detour. Guests get priority for sunset viewing spots at the bar, with three price tiers. I think even if you book the cheapest option, you can still take photos in the more expensive sofa areas – no big deal. We booked the 198MB per person high-top seats, and the sunset photos turned out amazing. The hotel even provides beach flip-flops, which is a thoughtful touch. However, when I called the front desk later that evening to request another pair, they sent a different type of standard hotel slipper. The person who delivered them seemed to be a local, and communication was a bit difficult. When I explained I wanted the other type, he seemed annoyed or something, and told me they only provide them once and don't restock those specific flip-flops. Is that really a rule? I think it's just laziness; that staff member was unhelpful 🙅‍♀️. On a positive note, I have to commend the bar staff. They're super engaging, posing with a🫰 hand gesture in photos and even showing off a cool trick, balancing a bottle on their elbow – absolutely brilliant. Another special shout-out goes to the young man at the coconut 🥥 stall by the beach. He's genuinely handsome and kind, with a great personality. It was incredibly hot on the beach that day, so we went to buy a coconut drink. While chatting, he asked how many days we were staying, and I mentioned I was leaving that very day. When it was time to pay, he refused to take my money, saying it was on him since it was my last day. I was so touched by his generosity. The hotel breakfast is incredibly rich and delicious, with something for everyone. I would definitely book here again next time. Everything was wonderful. I imagine many people also have lawn weddings here – it must be so romantic. If you're going diving at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, it's very close to this hotel too.

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.

Back again after a year and honestly, it felt like coming home to a little slice of paradise. I didn’t realize I missed this much. From the moment we arrived, everything just clicked. Huge shoutout to Hurin, Ying, Alam, and Jenny for remembering me (still impressed!) and for the kind of welcome that makes you feel like more than just a guest. Every greeting came with warm smiles and genuine conversations, it’s those little moments that stay with you. Rachel also deserves a special mention for her attentiveness and thoughtful assistance throughout our stay. And that photo frame? Such a heartfelt touch, we’re definitely keeping that forever. What I love most about this place is the peacefulness. It’s the kind of quiet that lets you actually breathe, slow down, and just be. And the farewell at the dock still touches my heart, somehow making goodbye the hardest part every single time. If there’s one small note for management, it would be to consider upgrading the shower amenities and toiletries to something more premium to better match the overall experience and pricing. That said, it doesn’t take away from how special this place is to me. Already looking forward to my next visit. See you again soon.

Many of the positive reviews for this place are likely influenced by the free coconut water offered for writing a review upon check-out. Without any incentives, I'll honestly share my experience. 1. **Pros:** The water quality around Mantanani Island is excellent, and the snorkeling and diving offer stunning views. The staff are friendly, and the island scenery is definitely worth experiencing. 2. **Cons:** The island is swarming with tour groups, and there's a constant stream of elderly people and children, so it's not ideal if you're looking for a peaceful atmosphere. We stayed for three nights, paying over 4,000, and were assigned room 27, which was right next to the staff dormitory. The facilities in the room were very old. Additionally, the adjacent room housed different tour guides every day, and we couldn't see the sea at all from our room. For independent travelers paying this price, getting a room like this is truly unsatisfactory.

When a resort is so far away from everything, it really needs to offer an exceptional experience, and unfortunately, this one fell short of our expectations. There were definitely some positives. The breakfast was excellent, and we absolutely loved the sunbeds on the grass, especially with the natural shade. The resort itself is huge, and the restaurants, particularly the Japanese and Mediterranean ones, serve great food, although they are extremely expensive. Unfortunately, the negatives were hard to overlook. We specifically requested a quiet room and were placed in a remote part of the resort, about a five-minute walk from the main facilities. Despite this, the room was still surprisingly noisy, with sounds coming from the hallway and neighbouring rooms, especially through the bathroom. Room service was incredibly expensive for fairly average food, and housekeeping was disappointing. Our room was not cleaned on two of our five days. We also asked twice for our room-service dishes to be collected, but nobody came. We were eventually told to leave them outside the door, only to find them still sitting there the following morning. Considering the insects and rodents around the property, this was particularly concerning. The beach was another disappointment. Although the sunbed area is lovely, reaching the water requires roughly a five-minute walk across scorching-hot sand with no shade. The sea itself was quite warm and not particularly clean. One experience I would absolutely recommend is the hotel's guided night walk. It was genuinely fascinating and one of the highlights of our stay, so definitely book it if you get the chance! Overall, it was a very average experience at a premium price. For such an expensive and secluded resort, I expected much better service, attention to detail, and overall quality. Having stayed at resorts in other parts of the world, I found the standards here noticeably lower than what the price would suggest. Unfortunately, I left feeling that the resort simply wasn't worth the money.

Location is strategic , rooms are big enough.Aircon is good and cool enough. Overall ok just have some weaknesses for example the cleanliness. A lot of ants on table. Washing machine not functioning. Hair dryer got sparks when turn on Car park provided.

I stayed only for a night between my island stays to experience the city vibe. The location is very convenient for the markets and Gaya Street eateries. The room was spacious, very clean, accommodating and quiet. The bed was comfortable. The staff were very kind and friendly, with good recommendations for real local restaurants. Super nice staff with extra kindness by Eza and Jason. Thank you very much.

While the Sky Hotel delivers on space and comfort, a few maintenance and service details keep it from being a seamless experience. On the positive side, the room itself is impressive—spacious, cleanly kept, and equipped with a wonderfully cold air-conditioning unit that keeps the space perfectly chilled. The bed is exceptionally comfortable as well, guaranteeing a great night's rest. However, we ran into a frustrating issue right at the start when we couldn't enter our room due to a weak, dying battery in the door lock after a night and this happened after we had breakfast the next day. Beyond the lock malfunction, the remaining amenities are a bit of a mixed bag. The breakfast spread is fairly basic; it is decent enough to fill you up in the morning, but the quality and variety are strictly average. On-site parking is free, which is a great perk, though finding a spot can turn into quite a challenge if the hotel is booked at full capacity. Overall, it remains a decent option for a comfortable, cool, and roomy stay, provided you don't mind a few operational rough edges.

We booked a room that was renovated in 2025, so it was very new. It was on the first floor and had a garden. The hotel breakfast wasn't great, but the hotel itself was massive and very quiet, like a hidden paradise. It was incredibly relaxing, and we even saw some small animals and kittens occasionally. The hotel also has a spa, which I highly recommend. The ambiance and music were super therapeutic, and the masseuses had excellent techniques. I'd definitely consider this hotel again for my next trip to Kota Kinabalu. It's about a 40-minute drive from the city center, and a taxi costs around 35-50 Malaysian Ringgit.