Kuching is best known for its dense rainforests, tribal villages, and national parks, but there’s also plenty to experience once you leave the forest, discovers Esme Fox.
ChinaHouse
Located in the white colonial-era heritage buildings of the former courthouse, ChinaHouse is a creative hub, community hall, coffee shop, and cake house all in one. Comprising four different establishments, including Kopi C coffee house, the Vine & Single wine bar, BTB restaurant, and the Art Space & Canteen, it has become the city’s ideal hangout any time of day or night, whether you want to watch a live band in the Canteen or sample some of the city’s best sweets at Kopi C.
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Speak Eazy
Located on popular Carpenter Street, Speak Eazy has become one of the most popular bars in town, particularly with the international and alternative crowds, who come for the decidedly 90s retro vibe and impromptu jam sessions. In addition to cocktails laced with Tuak, a local palm wine, Speak Eazy also serves good food, from pork and lemongrass fried rice with fish crackers to pork in black pepper sauce and chicken tagliatelle pasta.
The Barber
A quirky barber-shop themed restaurant, The Barber is an elegant dining space for groups of friends or a romantic dinner date. Decorated with old barber’s chairs, mirrors, vintage hairdryers, and theatrical style lighting, it’s a trendy spot for both locals and travellers. The menu features staples like salted egg yolk chicken, truffle fries, and pan-seared sirloin steak, while the bar serves excellent cocktails and over-the-top coffee frappes, topped with chunks of chocolate brownie, mountains of cream, flakes, strawberries and fudge sauce – just in case you’re into that.
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The Junk
Housed in a collection of old heritage buildings and filled with antiques, The Junk is the place to see and be seen, particularly on weekends, when it’s packed with locals enjoying some of the best live music in town. Five establishments in one, The Junk is made up of Junk Restaurant, a stylish dining space, Red Room, an after-dinner lounge with karaoke, Junk Bar, a relaxed watering hole, Backstage, a nightclub with resident DJs and dance floor, and Living Room, a laid-back lounge bar with garden.
Wrong Place
Despite its name, Wrong Place is the right place to go to in Kuching, especially if you’re after quality international cuisine. Streaky bacon beef carbonara, grilled lamb shoulder, the fat cow burger or tofu and chickpea patties are just some of the dishes available. Choose to dine on the restaurant’s plant-filled outdoor patio or inside the quirkily-decorated restaurant – think chairs made from bathtubs, old bicycles hanging from the ceiling, and colourful murals on the walls.
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Drunk Monkey
Just next to Wrong Place, Drunk Monkey is a buzzing bar with outdoor seating down a small side street. Popular with the after-work crowd, it’s the place to go for a cold beer or a glass of wine, especially if you want to mix it with stylish locals.
The Granary
Located in an old warehouse, you’ll find The Granary tucked away behind a giant piece of street art – an increasingly popular sight on the streets of Kuching. A huge creative space, The Granary has an excellent menu for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Mixologist Billy Morrison also makes a mean cocktail and holds events, including cocktail making classes and wine appreciation evenings.
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Kopicut
Want to get your hair cut? Get a professional shave? Or just relax with a drink or coffee? At Kopicut you can do all three. At the front, you’ll find a vintage-style bar and coffee shop serving freshly brewed cups, and at the back, an old-fashioned barber’s shop.
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