Australian Place (Borneo Museum 1945 Kopitiam)
(Ground floor of Borneo Backpackers)
Started in 2004 the restaurant marks a place as Australian Place . During the Second World War it became a hiding place for some Australian soldier. Now, other than a restaurant it also serves as a Mini Museum to commemorate the soldier that became a victim during the Second World War and some information about the formation of Sabah government and the participation with Malaya until the whole state become well known as ‘Malaysia'.
Gaya Street (2 minutes walk)
Directly facing our backpacker is the Gaya Street where you can find a numerous shops from clothing to Spa and massage centre and even grocery shops!, Gaya Street is most famous as it is most strategic to held a venue or exhibition and also our weekly ‘Sunday Tamu'(market) . You may find weaving product, wood craft, food and even pets for sale every Sunday. Best of all you may bargain the price. You may also find Permai Polyclinics at the end of Gaya Street and also Guardian Pharmacist in case you need medical asisstant.
BB Café (3 minutes walk)
A famous place to hang out in Gaya streets, it offers fast food restaurant, local cuisine restaurant, a bar with some Japanese cuisine and a shisha (similar like cigarette with flavor to choose such as fruity selection) hut for those who want to get new experience.
Sabah Tourism Board (3 minutes walk)
This is the place where you may get information on the tours available in Sabah and also where you can get the city map of Kota Kinabalu.
Little Italy (5 minutes walk)
Located just opposite Wisma Merdeka, this is the recommended Italian restaurant in town.
Wisma Sabah (5 minutes walk)
This is where Air Asia Office is located as well as Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (where you booked your lodging to Mt Kinabalu).
Wisma Merdeka (5 minutes walk)
One of the main shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu, yet still offers reasonable price for quality items. You may find optometrist and various shoes and clothing with designer number.
Segama Waterfront (5 minutes walk)
For a relaxing evening where sometimes you might be able to catch the sunset, the waterfront is the nearest location where you can get a beautiful view of Kota Kinabalu bay. The city council used a ‘sea' theme to create this place in which the fancy decoration of fishes and plank board that gives you a feeling sitting or standing on a ship.
Post Office (7 minutes walk)
It is easy recognize as the building stands tall in white paint and near the pedestrians bridge.
Signal Hill (10 minutes walk)
The best place to get aerial view of Kota Kinabalu city. The platform overlooks the South China Sea and all the five island of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park . A good place to relax and sharpen your photography skills with friends or family.
Jesselton Point (10 minutes walk)
For only 10 minutes walk from our place to Jesselton Point, this allow you to make a visit to our famous islands gateway known as Tunku Abdul Rahman Park . It will only take you 20 minutes to reach any of the islands where you may spend the whole day snorkeling, swimming or simply sunbathing. Boat service available from 0930 to the island and the last boat leaves from the islands back to the main land is at 1630hrs. This is also the place where you can enjoy the sunset while having a drink as there is plenty of restaurants and bar. If you are thinking to make your tattoo in Sabah , Jessel Tattoo provides you with a various selection of design.
Segama (10 minutes walk)
If you would like to find clothing in a cheaper price and particularly shops that sells textile product, this is the best place to go as you will be able to bargain and can get discount if you purchase a lot of items. For hang out and just having a relaxing drink with your friends you can visit Restaurant with the likes of ‘Texas' and ‘Upperstar' as they offer relaxing ambience, good music and good food. This is also where you can watch a football or soccer match when the league season's arrived.
KK Plaza (10 minutes walk)
This shopping mall is just opposite the Kota Kinabalu central market and a good place where you can shop for grocery stuff as well as the latest fashion. This is because, on the main floor and upper floor you can find clothing and shoes shop while on the basement a large supermarket is a good place to get the supplies you need for your next trip.
Central Market(10 minutes walk)
Located just near the Segama area, the Central Market is where you can get fresh fruits, vegetables and spices. This is also the place where you can see local delicacies of ‘salted fish' being sold. The upper floor is textile section where you are able to bargain a good price on clothing, bags and shoes. This is also where the ladies can find a tailor to sew their clothes.
Sinsuran (15 minutes walk)
Sinsuran Handicraft Market
A place where the Handicraft Market is located or known as the ‘Filipino' market that opens daily from 8AM to 5PM . This is a good place to try your bargaining skills and a great place to find souvenirs for family back home.
Sinsuran Food Night Market
Just behind the market is a food night market that opens from 5PM until 10PM. Mainly the stalls serves barbecue seafood and you may find the famous ‘Ikan Bakar' or barbecue fish with good value for money. This is also the place where local people use to eat and you will find a various kind of dish from noodles to rice and cakes.
For a snack of your next trip or as souvenir, you may get the ‘Amplang' chips which is made from prawn and also the famous ‘Kuih Cincin” with its unique feature and tasty to savor. This is also the place where you can buy fresh fruits especially the local papaya, pineapple and banana.
Waterfront (12 minutes walk)
A good place to have dinner while enjoying the evening air of Kota Kinabalu. Situated by the sea bay, the restaurants around this area offer a reasonable price for local and foreigner. Mostly serving Malay cuisine such as Nasi Goreng, Satay and Coconut Juice this a great place to enjoy the city of Kota Kinabalu .
Kampung Air (15 minutes walk)
It is well known for its open air seafood restaurant that serves fresh seafood with an affordable price. The restaurant also gives you a cultural performance every night at 1930hrs and just opposite the road from the restaurant, the Pavillion Cinema is the place for a couple to go as they offer seats design for couple. Just on the same side of the restaurant the Golden Screen Cinema is another option for the movie-goer as they have a spacious theatre to suit your convenience.
Asia City (15 minutes)
Shopping or even dining you can visit this area as it offers you standard restaurant such as Kohinoor the Indian restaurant. For cheap household utensils you can go to the RM2 shop. You may also find banks and shop that sell things that you could bring home as souvenirs.
Sedco Square (15 minutes)
Another place to hang out with friends where you can enjoy simple meal and easy drinking with friends.
Centre Point(15 minutes walk)
The main shopping area in Kota Kinabalu, Centre Point is the place where you can find a variety of shops from Adventure gear to designer number. For the movie-goer's this is also the best place to go as ‘Growball Cinemax' is located at the 8 th floor and it has more than 7 movie theaters that assemble the latest movie in Hollywood.
Warisan Square(15 minutes walk)
This is one of the latest shopping mall established in 2008 and the nearest place in Kota Kinabalu for you to find designer number for fashion clothing, leather items and also restaurant with cuisine from Japan , Italy and India.
Wawasan Plaza Bus Terminal (25 minutes walk)
This is where all the buses that goes from different destination in Kota Kinabalu such as Kepayan, Luyang and Kinarut. If you want to go to the long distance bus terminal in which located at Inanam, you may take a bus from this station.
1 Borneo (15 minutes by bus)
The newest and the largest shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu a wonderful place to walk around as you can spend one whole day inside. It has hotels, designer shop, ice cream and hot dog parlor, exclusive restaurants for cuisine from around the world and even local cuisine varies from seafood to malay traditional food. It also has supermarket, 7 eleven and cinema!. The children theme is also one of the highlight and for those who prefer the night life, lounge pub and club can also be found all in just 1 Borneo.
Tanjung Aru Beach (20 minutes by bus)
The best place to view sunset, the nearest beach to swim and a great place to hang out with family and friends. Although the main activity start at 3 PM , one can still go for sun bathing as early as they wish in which it is quieter. Later during the day, food stalls that sell tidbits such as maize coated with margarine and salt, sweet boiled peanuts and Coconut juice. A restaurant with cultural performance will also start their business and visitors may catch a glimpse of the local dances being performed. The newest hit in town is that people may also try out their surfing skills with an average level of waves.
