Top three food night markets in Kota Kinabalu!
Sabah is a popular Malaysian region located on Borneo, the world's third largest island. The state is popular amongst hikers, divers and nature lovers. But amongst all of this, Sabah is also food heaven!
Sabah is known to be a seafood paradise due to the abundance of fishing opportunities in the surrounding seas of Borneo. It is no surprise then that the capital city, Kota Kinabalu, is favoured by food lovers! But it isn’t just seafood that Kota Kinabalu does well… their whole street food scene has developed into a thriving enterprise, with food markets located all across the city. We have rounded up three of the top food night markets in Kota Kinabalu. Continue reading to find out more!
Api Api Night Food Market
This lively local street food market in Kota Kinabalu is a MUST VISIT weekend activity. Api Api Food Night Market is a popular market in Kota Kinabalu due to being set on the historical Gaya Street. The street was coined ‘Bond Street’ during the British colonial era, it was used as a railway track in 1902 and it has been used for markets by immigrant traders since the 20th century.
The food stalls are exclusively local and offer a wide variety of sweet and savoury delicacies at great prices. The market is incredibly popular amongst both locals and tourists. But be warned, it gets very busy!
Opening times: Friday & Saturday 6PM – 2AM
Location: Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu
Jesselton Cabin
Just a step away from Api-Api Food Night Market this hostel offers the perfect location to explore Kota Kinabalu.
Jessselton Cabin is small but inviting hostel that is home to six bedrooms. All the rooms are tastefully furnished to offer a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Waterfront Seafood Night Market
If you want to taste some locally caught seafood, head to the waterfront and venture into the Waterfront Seafood Night Market. You select exactly what fish and seafood items you want and pay per weight. Considering the freshness of the seafood, the prices are truly great! As there are so many stalls competing for your service, you can try bartering with the sellers to push them to their best price. Food is cooked exactly how you want it, making this the perfect seafood market in Kota Kinabalu.
Opening times: Every evening (from around 4PM)
Location: Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu
Homy Seafront Hostel
Located in the heat of Kota Kinabalu this hostel offers modern accommodation with comfortable amenities such as free breakfast and a beautiful sea view.
The property offers a range of rooms from mixed dorms to female only dorms. It also offers a range of beds options to accommodate for both solo and couple travellers.
Tanjung Aru Beach Night Market
Just off a beach which has one the best sunsets on the planet, the Tanjung Aru Beach Night Market is the perfect post-sunset food spot. You can enjoy delicious seafood, burgers and lots of local Malaysian cuisine. There are often musicians playing which makes the whole vibe of the market an entertaining and relaxing experience. Truly a MUST VISIT market in Kota Kinabalu.
Opening times: every evening from around 5PM
Location: Tanjung Aru Beach, Kota Kinabalu
Finally…
These markets in Kota Kinabalu offer some of the most incredible street food in Sabah, so we hope this guide helps you navigate the market scene in Kota Kinabalu. For more activities in Kota Kinabalu, why not read What to do in Kota Kinabalu? or The perfect alternative diving location to Koh Tao.
