This rustic café has been a favourite for locals thanks to its high quality coffee, cosy interiors, and scrumptious quick bites. Known for its speciality coffee, October Coffee Gaya boasts its own house blend and an impressive selection of other available beans.

Its interiors feature wooden fixtures and greenery, making it a comfortable and homey escape from the city to catch up with your favourite people. Pick from its lineup of sweet and savoury bites on the food menu, including scones, beef bruschetta, and slices of freshly baked cakes.

This modern and minimalist café in Kota Kinabalu is another Instagram-worthy hangout that dishes food inspired by Japanese cuisine. Its space is decked out in neutral tones, modern furniture, and other Japanese-inspired motifs that add to its fun yet refined atmosphere.

Its menu details Japanese comfort food and snacks like tantan shrimp ramen and inari pockets. On top of its larger plates, pastries are available, courtesy of Comma Bakery.

This takeaways-only, home-based café is a cosy respite from the East Malaysian heat that offers some of the best speciality coffee in the city. 

Located in the loft of a bungalow in Putatan, The Alchemist’s Café is perfect for those on the go. It offers cold brews and espresso-based coffees in bottles and other non-coffee drinks like hojicha lattes and matcha lattes. 

This modern industrial work-friendly café on Jalan Berjaya 3 is perfect for those who need a comfortable and productive space to get tasks work done with your caffeine fix by your side. Different seating options are available, from standing bar tables to more private nooks upstairs, so there is something for everyone’s working style.

Food-wise, the café offers sweet bites, including its waffles and cake slices that pair perfectly with a strong cup of coffee, whether it’s a latte or a long black. Laptop and tablet users will also appreciate the abundance of plug points all over the café!

A popular choice amongst locals in Kota Kinabalu, Nook Café is a boho-themed hangout you can stop by for a quick cup of coffee or a full brunch meal. Its space is brightly lit and filled with potted plants and rattan furniture, great for a laidback afternoon with your fellow foodies and café hunters.

On the menu, you’ll find typical brunch fare like French toast, churros, and croissant sandwiches. After you’re done sipping on your coffee or dirty chai lattes, don’t forget to pick up a loaf of its sourdough on your way out. 

Popular amongst coffee aficionados and matcha fans around the city, Mizumizu is a quaint café with a tiny space that brews mighty cuppas. Ideal for those who love sampling blends and beans from around the world, Mizumizu rotates its selection of filter coffee every now and then, featuring both local and international coffee roasters.

If you’re feeling a little peckish while there, get a croffle, a hybrid between a croissant and waffle, or pick up a slice of cake to go along with your coffee or matcha latte. If you’re a non-coffee drinker and aren’t intrigued by an AeroPress, there are other options, such as its Strawberry Basil Soda.