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Review of the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia
We arrived by cab at the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu just as the sun was setting and the neon tiger beer signs were lighting up along the waterfront. The cab pulls up at the front and we are greeted by uniformed Hyatt staff and whisked away into the soft music and subdued lighting of the hotel's massive atrium.
Hyatt Hotel front entrance
The Hyatt sits on the Kota Kinabalu waterfront and features its own outdoor/indoor pub facing out over the South China Sea.
KK rocks at night and is alive with pubs and eating spots. The city is long and narrow, just a half dozen or so streets wide, bounded by the beach and the mountains.
You can check the latest discount prices and make reservations online now at the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu by clicking here.
We picked the Hyatt for a visit because it has the perfect location - wedged between the city center and the sea. The hotel is surrounded by a large shopping mall and hundreds of small stores, restaurants and pubs so everything is at the doorstep.
Check in was a little slow but once the formalities were sorted out we were up in the room and testing its super soft beds.
The rooms are well decorated with pottery and paintings complementing the comfortable, understated furnishings. The bathrooms are beautifully appointed with plenty of room and luxury fittings.
The rooms are big and well appointed and all have balconies. Ours overlooked the city with its twinkling lights and crowded streets. You can also get rooms overlooking the sea.
Hyatt Hotel view from the waterfront
For the price, the Hyatt is a real bargain considering the level of comfort. There are 288 rooms, all with air con, cable tv, mini bar and all the usual comforts. There are also writing desks and hi speed internet access for your laptop.
There is a nice pool overlooking the sea - great at sunset - and a long list of bars and eating spots to choose from including:
Tanjung Ria Café - The casual Tanjung Ria Café boasts an à la carte menu of both local favourites and international dishes, as well as buffet for lunch and dinner.
The Chinese Restaurant - The Chinese Restaurant offers superb Chinese cuisines and daily Dim Sum in a Shanghainese setting.
Nagisa Japanese Restaurant - The Country-inn inspired open kitchen concept, authentic Nagisa Japanese Restaurant overlooks the spectacular South China Sea and offers a sushi bar, teppanyaki counters and the comfort of private dining in a tatami room.
View of the hotel atrium from our breakfast table
Shenanigan's Fun Pub - Winner of the “Best Entertainment Spot 2000 / 2001 by Sabah Tourism, better known as the Best Fun Pub in Borneo, this traditional Irish pub offers international live entertainment, specialty cocktails and sumptuous snacks.
Shenanigan’s Terrace - Vibrant sea breezes cool this outdoor watering hole, the perfect after-hours spot to wind down with a glass of your favourite drink.
Mosaic - Taking the art of café dining to a new level, Mosaic entices coffee, tea and snacks aficionados to savour each sip and each bite amidst cosmopolitan outdoor surrounds.
Atrium Lounge - Offering cocktails and refreshments throughout the day and live entertainment in the evening.
Delicatessen - A wide selection of cakes, pastries, pies, breads and local delicacies available daily to indulge yourself, simply irresistible.
View of the hotel room
Breakfast at the Tanjung Ria Cafe was good with a big variety of western and asian dishes to choose from. More importantly for this reviewer, the coffee was excellent and the staff quick and generous with refills.
It really is a delight just to hang out in the hotel atrium or coffee shop and do some people watching. The pace is relaxed, overall the staff are a delight and you are made to feel right at home.
Every room has a balcony and this is great but it would be a nice touch if the Hyatt threw in a few chairs to sit on - because the views from either KK city or the ocean really are superb.
View from the swimming pool out to the South China Sea
We spent hours peering down on the busy shopping and restaurant district just below our balcony so a table and chairs would have been the perfect finishing touch.
Now, I have mentioned the pool which as the picture above shows, is just an everyday pool but with views across the sea to die for. What you can't see in the picture is that there is a road between the pool and the ocean but it is still a beautiful spot.
At sunset, you can watch the boats plying back and forth to the outlying islands and enjoy a beautiful Sabah sunset.
View from the Hyatt over the sea at sunset
Conclusion: A luxury business class hotel in a great location. Great for a short visit to Kota Kinabalu and certainly a great place for a break if you have just returned from Mt Kinabalu or the jungles of Sabah.
Whilst there are plenty of cheaper hotels in town, considering the price this hotel is excellent value for money when you consider the level of comfort.
Reservations: Hotelz Asia has some great deals for holiday breaks at the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu so why not pay a visit yourself?
You can check the latest discount prices and make reservations online now at the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu by clicking here.
View across KK city at night from the Hyatt Regency
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HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
