Kuching is Borneo’s most sophisticated city, its the gateway to both the jungle and the sea. Its proximity to the National Parks makes it the perfect place to base yourself for days trips to see some of the best of Borneo’s fantastic wildlife.
The city has a beautiful atmospheric charm, and the romantic waterfront is the perfect place to take a stroll in the evening.
There are several hotels around town, but the Hilton Kuching is considered to be the best. If your planning on visiting the area but wondering what the hotel is like I’ve put together this comprehensive review.
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I recently spent two weeks working in Sarawak and stayed at the Hilton hotel Kuching so you can rest assured that I have discovered all the pros and cons of this well known branded hotel.
This is an honest Hilton Kuching review, and having chatted to many people who live or are staying in Kuching about accommodation in town I do believe it is the best place to stay although it’s perhaps not as luxurious as other Hilton Malaysia hotels.
Reception at the Hilton in Kuching
The reception is spacious, and there’s plenty of seating if you wish to meet up for people or you’re waiting for a taxi.
Check-in is reasonably swift; you’ll need your passport to hand as the reception will take a copy of it and a credit card which they hold a deposit on. The porter will bring your bags to your room if you desire and they’ll also store your luggage in a secure place if you have a late flight or your taking an overnight trip.
Rooms at the Hilton Kuching Hotel
The rooms which overlook the waterfront offer the best views of the city and the higher up the building you are, the more spectacular the view. At night the coloured lights over the river and promenade look beautiful although the music during the fountain display can get a little annoying.
The rooms are reasonably spacious with a king-size bed, a separate lounge chair and a desk with an office chair.
Amenities
Other amenities include a kettle, a minifridge, a safe, ironing board, slippers an LCD television and a radio alarm clock.
Umbrellas
The weather in Borneo can be unpredictable with heavy tropical downpours a frequent occurrence at certain times of the year. Although the Hilton Kuching does not provide umbrellas, you can borrow them from reception. They take a small deposit which is refunded when you return the umbrella.
Bathroom
The bathrooms are disappointing and in need of renovation. While they are clean, there are signs of mould on the grout and shower curtains, in my opinion, do not have a place in a high-end hotel. That said the shower over the tub has good water pressure and there was plenty of hot water.
Sadly there is no fan in the bathroom; hence, the towels don’t try, and you have to wait for the mirror to demist before you can use it. While the hotel will replace towels daily if you wish, it’s not very eco-friendly. These are only small criticisms, but I do think the Hilton should address the bathrooms as they are under par with other facilities around the hotel.
The worktop is spacious, and there’s plenty of room to store your toiletries. The hand basin is a little more modern and at least its made from white porcelain. There’s also a shaving socket and a shaving mirror.
The lighting in the bathroom is rather dim. Neither the large mirror or the shaving mirror are lit, and with no natural light, the room is rather dark although I did appreciate having a full-sized mirror that ran the length of the wall above the sink.
Complimentary products
The Hilton Kuching, Sarawak provides complimentary bathroom products by Crabtree and Evelyn. The products are all verbena and lavender-scented and have a pleasant smell.
Complimentary products included shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand cream, and a bar of soap. There was also a shower cap and a travel toothbrush. However, there was no cotton wool or buds.
Plastic bottles
Sadly everything is provided in small plastic containers which are not suitable for the environment, and I do think that hotels of this calibre should be using refillable dispensers rather than disposable bottles.
Drinking-Water
Water was provided in plastic bottles in the room and regularly restocked by housekeeping. Indeed every time I returned to my room there were two new bottles of water, but I would have preferred to see them use glass bottles.
It was disappointing to find no water dispensers around the hotel. If you carry a reusable water bottle, there isn’t anywhere that you can refill it. I did mention this in my feedback to the hotel, so hopefully, they will address it in the future.
Bedding and Towels
The bedding was of reasonable quality, although I did find marks on several occasions. It was nicely pressed, and the bed was always made up by the time I returned in an evening.
The towels were clean and of a satisfactory standard, although I prefer mine more soft and fluffy. They’re not replaced daily unless you request them to be. I don’t mind my towels not being refreshed daily, but it was a challenge to dry them. The bathroom was a too damp and with no heated towel rail I often used to drape mine over the chair in front of the window to dry while at work.
Housekeeping
The housekeeping staff cleaned the rooms daily and were always discreet. They emptied the bins, cleaned the bathroom, tidied the room, including folding clothes, made the bed and replenished any items consumed.
The common areas around the hotel were spotless, and the floors are kept sparkling.
Shared spaces at Hotel Hilton, Kuching
The outdoor space is what sets this hotel apart from other hotels in Kuching.
Swimming Pool at the Hilton Hotel in Kuching
The swimming pool is large, and there’s a straight section for those that want to swim laps.
There’s also a separate children’s pool which is shallow and away from the main pool. Both pools are surrounded by sun loungers, and there’s an outdoor bar which serves snacks and beverages.
While some may not like that the children’s pool is a different area from the main pool, others may prefer not to have young children in the main pool. The pool is open from 7 am till 9 pm.
Alongside the pool is a large grass court which is suitable for playing a range of games such as football, tennis or just generally as an outdoor play space for children. While there is no play equipment, but it is a green space which is rare to find in a city hotel.
Gym
The gym is a good size and is equipped with all the machines you would expect. The running machines have tv screens to entertain you while you burn those calories and there’s a good selection of weights.
There’s also a small area set aside should you wish to exercise using the exercise balls or practice yoga. The changing rooms are spacious, and there are lockers for you to keep your belongings in.
The fitness centre is open 24hours a day so you can work out whenever you feel like it. The door is operated by your room key.
Hilton Kuching Spa
The spa offers a range of treatments which include massages, facials manicures and pedicures. Treatments are reasonably priced although I can’t vouch for the quality as I didn’t book any. The spa is open from 10 am till 10 pm 7 days a week, and you can book treatments by calling them from your room.
Dining Options at the Hilton Kuching
The Hilton Kuching, Sarawak has six options for dining, so theirs plenty of choices if you prefer to eat at the hotel.
The Hilton Steakhouse Kuching
This is an award-winning venue which has a private dining room. The furnishing is lavish, and the views of the waterfront are beautiful. Prices aren’t cheap by Malaysian standards, but there’s a good selection of fine quality steaks on the menu.
The setting is formal, and the silver service is as you would expect from a high-end restaurant. The Steakhouse Hilton Kuching restaurant, however, does lack an atmosphere with few people dining there of an evening. Service is slow although food is cooked to order so I can appreciate that it takes times to prepare and cook dishes.
The restaurant is rather dark and the atmosphere a little solum for the high price tag attached to the meal here. It’s only open from 6.30pm till 10.30pm and although it’s not busy I’d advise booking a table.
Matang Terrace
This bar/restaurant by the pool sells tasty light snacks, and it’s handy to have somewhere to eat if you want to spend a day relaxing by the pool. The cocktails are a little overpriced, but the ambience is pleasant in the garden surroundings. Its open from 7 am till 9 pm daily.
Cafe Cino
This deli-style cafe is in the main reception area of the hotel, and it serves a delightful selection of freshly baked bread and a tempting range of cakes. There’s also a good range of sandwiches and paninis which can be enjoyed with an excellent range of speciality teas and coffees. It’s open from 7 am to 1 am.
The best time to visit is after 7 pm as there’s 30% off the cakes.
Senso Bar
The bar has several areas in which to relax of an evening with speciality cocktails, champagne, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks. The mood lighting gives the bar a relaxed ambience and its an excellent place to meet up with people of an evening. It’s open from 5 pm until one is.
Toh Yuen
The Hilton Kuching restaurant Toh Yuen is a Cantonese restaurant which serves Szechuan dishes. The red and gold interior decor is rather lavish, and traditional music gives a nice ambience. The restaurant is open for lunch between 11.30am and 2 pm, and dinner is served between 6.30pm and 10.30pm.
Waterfront Cafe Hilton Kuching Buffet restaurant
The cafe is open for all-day dining with local dishes such as Pansoh Manuk and bamboo chicken with fragrant rice. At the weekend there’s a seafood buffet, and there’s often buffet dinners midweek in the evening. The cafe is also where breakfast is served. It’s open from 6 am till 11 pm, and the Hilton Buffet Kuching seemed to be the most popular choice that guests opted to dine at.
Room service
The hotel offers 24hour room service with a menu selected from the in house restaurants. Food ranges from American breakfast to authentic local cuisine. There’s also a kids menu and a drinks menu. Vegetarian choices are limited to pizza, but I did ask the chef to make a vegetarian curry one evening, and he happily obliged. The tray charge is minimal.
Breakfast at the Hilton Hotel Kuching
Breakfast at the Hotel Hilton Kuching, Sarawak is served in the waterfront cafe, and there’s an excellent selection of food. Cuisines from all over the world are catered for including a noodle bar, an egg station and a variety of curries. There’s also a decent selection of cereals and hot porridge.
If you prefer a continental style breakfast, you won’t be disappointed. There’s a good selection of bread, warm croissants, pancakes and cakes including delicious banana bread. To accompany the pastries, there’s a selection of cheese and some cold meats.
A selection of salads is also available, and toppings include a variety of nuts and seeds. The jam selection was a little disappointing, but peanut butter and maple syrup were available.
The western hot buffet offered a fantastic selection of food, including sausage (although they were not pork), hash browns, baked beans and scrambled egg. I was also delighted to see a vegetarian station, which was varied each day and dishes included pasta, rice and curries. On a couple of days, there was also hot Indian bread, which I adore.
For those who wish to have a more healthy breakfast, there’s a fresh juice bar with a wide range of fruit and vegetable juices. The carrot juice was particularly enjoyable as was the lime juice. There is also a good selection of fruit and yoghurt, with melon, pineapple, orange, banana and fruit salad available daily.
Coffee and tea
Sadly the coffee was from a machine, and it wasn’t great although you could help yourself to as many cups as you like. There was a selection of tea, including breakfast tea, Earl Grey and a couple of fruit teas. The buffet and drinks were self-service, which I don’t mind, but some may prefer a more personal touch.
Around and about the Hilton Hotel in Kuching
The Hilton Kuching is ideally located on the waterfront with a good selection of restaurants within walking distance.
The waterfront is beautiful and its an enjoyable place to take a stroll in the evening. Every night there’s a fountain show, with coloured lights and music by the bridge. It’s not as spectacular as those you can find in Dubai but its an enjoyable experience that’s worth watching at least once.
The town is pleasant, and there’s a couple of museums and a market that you can visit. The Chinese district is also a fascinating place to explore.
Most people come to Kuching to see the Orangutans and visit Bako National Park. These are a must on any Borneo itinerary.
You can also take half-day trips to the Sarawak cultural village, Kuching Wetlands and the Long Houses at Annah Rais.
For more information check out the best things to do as recommended by TripAdvisor by clicking here.
Getting to Kuching
There are flights to Kuching from most domestic airports around both Malaysia and Borneo. Service providers include Malaysia Airways, Air Asia and Firefly.
You can also fly to the majority of airports in Malaysia from Kuching, including Mulu, which is another National Park that I’d recommend.
You can read my review of the Mulu Marriott here. If you’re planning a holiday in Borneo I’d highly recommend a trip to Mulu, the Marriott there offers luxury accommodation and is surrounded by the Mulu National Park which is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Getting Around
The easiest way to get around is by taxi. Make sure you download the Grab taxi app, which works similarly to Uber. You can pay cash for all the journeys, so you don’t need to worry about bank charges. Taxis by grab are much cheaper than the local taxis, and they usually arrive within a few minutes. There are bus services to most of the main sites, and the local tourist office is a good place to pick up timetables.
Final Thoughts
While the Hilton Kuching Sarawak is a little dated, I enjoyed my two weeks stay there. Its central location on the waterfront made it easy to get around, and there are some fantastic restaurants within proximity.
Borneo is a fantastic place to visit and having looked around several of the other hotels in Kuching; the Hilton is the best option.
Hi, I’m Fiona Berry- I live in Lancashire in the North of England, but my job as an instrumental music examiner takes me all over the world. Travel has enriched my life in so many ways and allowed me to experience different cultures, make new friends and see extraordinary sights. Through this blog, I share my knowledge and expertise so that my readers have all the resources they require to ensure their travels provide unique and unforgettable memories to destinations that are beyond the ordinary.
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