Hard Rock Cafe Kota Kinabalu: Always a Safe Bet

2018-09-26 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

I stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe to buy a pin—something I do on every trip—and to get a proper dinner. I feel this way every time I go, but it's amazing how they manage to create the exact same atmosphere in every single location.

People sitting at a bar table with the phrase "All Is One" written on it. — Hard Rock's catchphrase: All is One

I actually thought about just buying the pin and leaving, but luckily I arrived right on time for the live performance, so I ordered a beer and some fish and chips. The food was just okay, but the performance was good enough to get me grooving in my seat. I'm not sure if they were an indie band or if it was just because it's the Hard Rock Cafe, but they mostly played pop songs—specifically, older pop songs that everyone could recognize. The band members seemed a bit older, but they had great stage presence and really knew how to hype up the crowd.

A band performing on a stage illuminated by red lights, with empty tables in front.

Band members, including a guitarist and vocalist, performing live on the Hard Rock Cafe stage.

Band members passionately playing and singing on a stage filled with purple lighting.

A female vocalist holding a microphone and singing alongside members playing guitar under colorful lights.

A band performing on a stage with green lights shining against a geometric patterned background.

Inside the Hard Rock Cafe with some people dancing on the floor in front of the stage where a band is performing. — Chinese tourists who started dancing toward the end. I'm kind of jealous of how they can just group together and have fun without caring what others think, but at the same time, a part of me wished they'd be a bit quieter. They're an even more fascinating and fun group of people than us, whose opinions can flip so quickly depending on the mood.

I tried to upload a video too, but YouTube rejected it, so I failed..

Expenses (conservatively, multiply by 300 to get the amount in KRW)

Accommodation until Sept 4 RM 120
Transport to Lok Kawi RM 25
Drinks RM 3
Lok Kawi Wildlife Park entrance fee RM 20
Coke RM 2
Transport to accommodation RM 20
Lunch RM 20.3
Transport to Jesselton RM 7
Mantanani Nanamun Tour reservation RM 230
Rafting reservation RM 160
Transport to Tanjung Aru RM 7
Ice cream RM 9.5
Transport to accommodation RM 8
Transport to Hard Rock Cafe RM 5
Hard Rock Cafe pin purchase RM 112
Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe RM 102
Transport to accommodation RM 5
Drinks, snacks RM 20.9

Daily expenses: RM 876.7

Total trip expenses: 2875000 KRW + RM 2522.58