The hotel’s renewed identity is a tribute to its home, fusing the timeless heritage of Sarawak into a fresh, contemporary guest experience. Bringing this vision to life, the hotel is introducing several firsts for the city. Younger guests have a dedicated space in Malaysia’s first Hilton Kids Club, while those seeking a sophisticated evening can look forward to the opening of RYE – the hotel’s signature whisky-forward speakeasy – later this year.
This same attention to detail is found throughout the hotel, from its fully redesigned guestrooms and upgraded wellness facilities to its refreshed dining concepts. It all combines to create a multifaceted destination for families and culinary explorers, cementing the hotel’s place at the heart of modern Kuching.
Waking up to the Sarawak River
The standard King Deluxe Riverview room.
View from the Hilton Kuching room overlooking the Sarawak River.
The spacious Governor Suite with a separate living and dining area.
A close-up of a bath filled with rose petals, highlighting the hotel's attention to detail and curated local art.
Every great stay begins with the room, but here, it begins with the view. Imagine pulling back the curtains to see Kuching unfold before you. The first rays of sun dance across the Sarawak River as the iconic yellow sampans begin their gentle ballet on the water. Framed by the floor-to-ceiling window, the scene is less a view and more a living mural, constantly changing with the light. Without question, it is one of the best hotel views in Pusak. And for a little context, Pusak is the word for ‘cat’ in the Sarawak Malay dialect, which is where Kuching gets its famous name.
This deep connection to place flows effortlessly from the outside in. The room’s design creates a beautiful dialogue between contemporary Southeast Asian décor and subtle retro details – each element paying homage to the hotel’s long legacy. We loved the little details: the cool marble underfoot, the warmth of bamboo-inspired motifs, and the curated pieces of local art – a gentle, constant reminder that you are in the heart of Borneo.
While every room is a retreat, the suites offer a refined sense of space and luxury. The expansive Sarawak Suite feels like a private riverside residence, with separate living, dining, and work areas ideal for families or longer stays. For the pinnacle of luxury, look no further than the Governor Suite. Its bathroom is a private spa in itself, complete with both a spacious walk-in shower and a whirlpool. Each space has been designed with a clear intention: to be both sophisticated in its design and deeply comfortable in its purpose.
A plate for every palate, from local to international
The classic interior of the award-winning River View Café.
The decadent red mural at Toh Yuen, the Cantonese restaurant in Hilton Kuching.
Signature dish at Toh Yuen: stir-fried wild-foraged jungle fern, locally known as 'Midin.'
A view of the Sarawak River from The Terrace, capturing the mood of Kuching.
A toast with the signature 'Tuak Ito', a concoction of local rice wine and calamansi.
One of the joys of travel is discovering a place through its flavours, and at Hilton Kuching, this experience is infused into every meal. The breakfast spread at the River View Café captures this choice: turn left for familiar pastries and eggs, or turn right for a hearty bowl of authentic Sarawak Laksa. It’s a question explored across every menu – why choose between world-class comfort and the true taste of Borneo when you can have both?
This same philosophy scales up beautifully for the evening’s dinner at Toh Yuen, where the menu reads like a love letter to Sarawak’s produce, interpreted through a classic Cantonese lens. Dishes like the wild-foraged Jungle Fern Midin ground the meal in its Bornean location, while the rich Signature Butter Prawn and classic Peking Duck Wrap provide a deep sense of indulgence. For us, it was a delicious reminder of familiar Cantonese meals, but with an unmistakably Bornean twist.
While Toh Yuen captured our palate, it was The Terrace that captured the mood of Kuching itself. It was our favourite spot, the place where everything came together. The view connects you to the river, the signature Tuak Ito (a clever concoction of local rice wine and calamansi) connects you to the local flavour, and the relaxed atmosphere connects you to the leisurely pace of Kuching. In essence, it’s less about a meal and more about the moment – a chance to pause and simply soak it all in.
Spaces for fun, fitness, and family connection
The hotel's revitalised pool deck.
The Hilton Kids Club, a fun-filled space with charming retro-style pedal cars.
It would be easy to fall in love with your room, believing the river view alone justifies the stay, but that only tells half the story. The key card here unlocks more than a door – it unlocks experiences that animate every corner of the hotel, starting with the revitalised pool deck. Here, with clean lines and inviting sun loungers, the entire space is geared towards quiet contemplation, while a separate kids’ pool offers peace of mind for families as little ones splash safely nearby.
This focus on families levels up with the introduction of the Hilton Kids Club – the first in Malaysia. It’s a fully supervised creative hub where children are safely engaged in activities that celebrate Sarawak’s culture. Because let’s be honest: the peace of mind that comes from knowing your children are happy – giving you that all-too-rare chance to unwind – is the greatest luxury of all.
And while the kids are happily entertained, the hotel’s commitment to wellness continues in the fully upgraded gym. Gone are the days of basic hotel treadmills in a windowless room. This is a proper, modern fitness space, stocked with the latest state-of-the-art cardio machines, a full range of free weights, and functional training equipment. It’s a genuine perk that means you don’t have to compromise on your health and wellness routine, even while indulging on holiday.
The other side of Kuching
A journey through the heart of Kuching offers a glimpse of traditional shophouses and iconic landmarks.
A moment of reverence at Kuching's historic Tua Pek Kong Temple.
A scenic walk across the iconic Darul Hana Bridge, with the beautiful Floating Mosque in the background.
A craftsman on Carpenter Street works on a piece of metal, preserving the heritage of tinsmithing.
The sight of a mother orangutan with her baby clinging close offers an intimate glimpse of the wild.
While it’s tempting to spend your entire holiday within the hotel’s urban oasis, we discovered that its strongest feature is how it connects you to the city. In collaboration with the Sarawak Tourism Board, the hotel introduces you to the city’s true storytellers – the expert local guides who share an authentic, insider’s perspective. We’d personally recommend asking for a guide named Melintan. His first tip wasn’t about history, but practicality: “put on comfortable shoes”. This was a sure sign that we were in for an authentic exploration, not just a surface-level tour.
Our heritage walk with Melintan began at the Tua Pek Kong Temple, the oldest in Kuching. He then led us across the iconic Darul Hana Bridge to admire the beautiful river views before guiding us into the living history of Carpenter Street. It felt like stepping into another world as we discovered quiet courtyards tucked away from view and the workshops of tinsmiths still plying their trade.
Of all the experiences Sarawak has to offer, seeing its iconic orangutans was at the very top of our list. The Hilton Kuching arranged our trip to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, an easy 30-minute drive away, timing our visit for the morning feeding session (8am-10am; there’s also an afternoon one from 2pm-4pm). Our guide had explained that seeing the semi-wild orangutans is a special privilege, as they may not appear at all during the fruiting season. After a quiet, patient wait, a mother orangutan and her baby swung into view from the canopy. It was a deeply humbling moment – a connection to the wild soul of Borneo we won’t soon forget.
A stay at the Hilton Kuching is no longer just about observing the city from a comfortable room – it’s about experiencing Kuching through the lens of a hotel that is passionately, thoughtfully, and beautifully part of the story itself.
Hilton Kuching
Address: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Shots by Imran Sulaiman
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