The best restaurants Borneo

On the roof of the Nak Hotel, this beautiful terrace overlooking the city is the ideal place to enjoy a good pizza or sip a cocktail. The setting is modern and cosy, all in white, barely broken up by chequered tiles and wooden chairs that will remind older diners of school. The menu gives pride of place to fresh, sourced produce: the lamb comes from New Zealand, the mackerel comes from the nets of local fishermen and is accompanied by a pomelo salad. There's also a children's menu, featuring dishes from the menu in mini-portions.

The Mulu National Park café is undoubtedly the best option for eating. Located behind the reception desk, the large, very airy room overlooks the river. A dynamic team prepares Malay dishes as well as Western specialities in order to satisfy all types of customers. It is the ideal place to meet people, discuss hikes to do or already done, canyoning or the Pinnacles expedition if you are still having a good time. Continuously open, you can also take a break during the day to quench your thirst with a lemonade.

Located within The Magellan hotel complex, this airy, sea-view restaurant offers a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The cuisine is primarily Mediterranean-inspired(mezze, pizza, etc.), but the menu also features more local or fusion dishes. The menu of wood-fired pizzas changes weekly, with recipes influenced by Malaysian cuisine that are sometimes surprising! Good value for money, in a relaxed setting that's very pleasant at sunset.

The neon letters of this pocket restaurant can be spotted from afar... along with the crowds who come here at certain times to stock up on kebabs of all kinds. Very popular with the locals, the dining room, and especially the few tables on the terrace, fill up fast in the evenings. The chef works with prestidigitator-like speed to bring out a host of skewers cooked on wooden sticks: crab, tofu, oysters, vegetables or, more original, hundred-year-old or quail eggs. Most are steamed or fried. Nasi Lemak is also highly prized.

This unassuming canteen is sure to delight fans of the local scene. In a small street lined with restaurants, just up the road from the Topspot Foodcourt, this establishment serves the great classics of Malaysian dining. Nasi goreng (fried rice), mee goreng (fried noodles), laksa sarawak, chicken... You'll find the same old plastic tables and chairs, and the same heterogeneous non-decor in a large, airy room. The bravest will eat like the locals... with their right hand! A hearty meal to accompany iced tea or lemonade.

This unpretentious restaurant, at least as far as the setting is concerned, brings together a few hawkers, the street traders who have settled here. Many locals consider it the best place in town to try Bornean laksa. You'll find it at the Sarawak Kuching Laksa stall, which prepares its broth by adding coconut milk. Noodles, shrimp and chicken are then plunged into the broth. A delicious dish. But you can also try ngau chap, a beef-based soup, another popular Kota Kinabalu dish.

If you're curious or adventurous by nature, and your taste buds are itching, then this is the restaurant for you. You're guaranteed an exotic culinary experience. Very popular, this is one of the few places where you can try Kelabit cuisine, an ethnic group from central Borneo. Choose from the many dishes on the buffet: ginger chicken, tripe in sweet and sour sauce (for the more intrepid), pounded fish and, above all, the famous bario rice. Arrive before 11:30 a.m., as dishes go fast.

As the name suggests, this restaurant serves Hungarian specialties. The owner, who hails from Central Europe, was nostalgic for the country and decided to share her rich gastronomic repertoire with the locals. The small room with its colorful walls seats just 20 people and is often overflowing. Goulash, chicken roulade and schnitzel (breaded chicken cutlet) seem to appeal to Malaysians. We appreciate the freshness of the ingredients and the faultless service. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also on the menu.

If Malaysians have retained a British tradition, it's that of high tea, accompanied by pastries and cookies. The setting, a colonial-style bungalow in the middle of an English garden, lends itself particularly well to a moment of nostalgia. The view over Sandakan Bay is magnificent from here. You can also come for lunch, and sample classic British dishes such as beef stew, fish & chips and scone for dessert.

For lovers of fresh shellfish and fish, this great Chinese restaurant is for you. Every evening, the same scenario repeats itself: a horde of hungry customers flock here for the freshness of the produce, the reasonable prices and the good food. You choose your dinner directly from the aquariums or crates. The chef then prepares your selection according to your taste: steamed, grilled, fried, curried, in a sweet-and-sour or soy-ginger sauce, the choice is vast. It's best to get there around 6 p.m. to avoid stock-outs.

LIWAGU is considered the best restaurant in Mount Kinabalu Park. It too is located at the entrance to the park. The warm, well-kept surroundings make you want to linger a while. A bar and a lounge area with large rattan armchairs in front of a fireplace allow you to relax with a glass of wine or a beer. In the restaurant, a chef prepares tasty food at the crossroads of Malaysian and Western traditions. Enjoy a burger or roti canai, Indian pancakes served with a sauce.

With its traditional wooden storefront, small red lanterns and friendly terrace, you'll effortlessly recognize this establishment as you stroll along Jalan Padungan. Originally a teahouse designed to introduce the culture of the Chinese tea ceremony(Gong Fu Cha), this Taiwanese institution later expanded its menu to become a restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of noodles, with more or less spicy recipes, and a multitude of side dishes, but you shouldn't miss the chance to try one of their excellent teas.

Situated on the banks of the river, this outdoor establishment faces Fort Margherita. It bears the name of the settler who built it in his wife's name. Shady and airy, with a lovely traditional decor, it's a pleasant place to sit down for a romantic drink and contemplate the landscape, especially at sunset. The menu also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their laksas in particular stand up very well, but there are many other great classics as well as Western options.

The warm, welcoming setting, with its exposed sandblasted brick and wood panelling, is reminiscent of a New York brownstone or Vermont warehouse. The long hall features a long bar opening onto a verdant courtyard. Mediterranean cuisine is served, with an emphasis on Spanish products. This is to be expected, since the chef hails from Barcelona. Try the platters of Spanish cheeses and hams to share, or the tapas for a convivial meal. Wide choice of wines and cocktails.

It's 5 a.m. and Mirir wakes up, but only on Thursdays and only at the end of the day. Much livelier than the city's other night markets and just recently renovated, this is a must-see spot. You'll find yourself strolling among the many tempting stalls in a festive atmosphere. Satay skewers, sushi, desserts (including apam balik), the choice is varied. Handicrafts and fresh produce are also on sale. For barbecue fans, don't miss the "smoke house", where you'll find several stalls selling grilled meat or fish.

Housed in a former Australian soldiers' camp, this café-bar-restaurant serves a variety of fusion cuisine in a neat, nostalgic setting. The establishment was set up by a group of fellow travelers, whose combined experiences are reflected on the plate as well as on the walls. Pasta is served with shrimp and turmeric, while tacos are made with fish (their signature dish). Save room for a waffle, as good as any in Brussels. In the evening, the place transforms into a trendy bar and the terrace fills up. Salsa night on Fridays.

In the lively atmosphere of Jalan Gaya,this Kota Kinabalu institution is always packed, especially at weekends. Here you can enjoy a quick bite of their famous Bak Kut Teh, which literally means "meat and tea". It's a pork soup simmered in a broth of herbs and spices. The dish was imported by Chinese coolies in the ^19th century. The soup is made from pork organs such as intestines, stomach and ears. If giblets aren't your thing, ask for a meat-only soup.

A little piece of Italy in the middle of Borneo, that's what this tiny restaurant offers, with its open kitchen and a few tables on the waterfront. The tables face the harbor and its fishing boats. The Italian chef concocts generous dishes from his native Grande Botte: spaghetti with seafood, penne with pesto, pizza or the unmissable tiramisu. Everything is freshly prepared to order, so waiting times can be quite long. But the excellent service, the fine Italian wine and the sunset will make you forget this inconvenience.

A stone's throw from pasar malam, this Chinese stall is tucked away in a pedestrian alleyway. Neon lights illuminate a room painted an old neon green. You don't come here for the setting, but for the Ding Bian Hu, a Chinese specialty from Fuzhou that you won't find anywhere else in Malaysia. It's a rice paste cooked in a wok and served in soup with rice cakes and fish. Locals love it for breakfast. The bowl may seem modest, but this particularly hearty dish is sure to satisfy any ogre's appetite.

This is an excellent restaurant for learning about the culinary specialties of Sarawak's different ethnic groups. Authentic Dayak and Orang Ulu cuisine is served in a pleasant, well-kept setting. It's hard to make a choice as the dishes are unknown to us, but it is possible to choose a tasting menu if you come with several people. A little hard to find, it's located in a maze of streets, close to the Telang Usan Hotel. Reservations the day before are essential, as the establishment is very popular with locals.