Riverside Majestic Hotel Astana Wing
by the TopOfHotel team
Riverside Majestic Astana Wing is a riverside hotel in the middle of the Waterfront, where the top-floor Sky Lounge at sunset is the real reason to book.
Riverside Majestic Astana Wing is a riverside hotel in the middle of the Waterfront, where the top-floor Sky Lounge at sunset is the real reason to book.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The Riverside Majestic chain has sat on the Kuching river so long it has become a landmark, and the Astana Wing is the newer side — meaningfully younger than the original building. The wing's real draw is room size: noticeably more spacious than the area standard, in a way you feel walking in. Reviews keep landing on the same two words, spacious and clean, with comfortable beds and a usable bathroom. If you book, name a river-facing room — the view of the Waterfront and the Legislative Assembly across the water is a different thing entirely from the city-facing side. The honest part: the building is showing its age. Walk into the wrong room and you feel it right away — reviewers report stains in the bathroom or tired-looking linens. Quality here is luck-of-the-draw, so if your room disappoints, do not hesitate — tell the front desk and switch.
Food and amenities
The thing people talk about is the Sky Lounge on the top floor, with an outdoor zone facing straight down the river. The best window is the half hour before sunset — gold light, the water turning orange, photos that need no editing. Breakfast is served in the riverside restaurant, which has its own outdoor terrace over the water. There is an outdoor pool and a gym. On staff, reviews split cleanly: some guests meet only lovely people, others meet indifferent ones who do not do much to help — it is honestly not consistent yet.
Location and getting there
What keeps people coming back is the location, plain and simple. The building connects to the Riverside Shopping Complex, so two minutes out of your room you have food and shopping, and everything around is Kuching's main tourist area. Plant yourself on the river and walk everywhere — the Cat Statue, Tua Pek Kong Temple, and the tambang ferry pier across to the Astana side are all within one short radius. From Kuching International Airport it is about 12 km, an easy 20-25 minute drive.
Things to know before booking
Three things to weigh. First, the building is dated in parts — some rooms feel worn and bathroom stains turn up in reviews, so ask to switch if yours is rough. Second, service is uneven — friendly staff one stay, an inattentive front desk the next. Third, hot water and bathroom drainage draw the odd complaint. None of these are dealbreakers if the river view is what you came for, but go in with eyes open.
Our take
This one is for travelers who weigh a riverside spot and the Sky Lounge view over a flawless room — couples who like to nurse a drink through sunset, families who want to plant themselves in one place and walk to everything. If you need the room and the service to be spot-on every time, the newer The Waterfront Hotel is more consistent. But for the view and the walk-out-the-door riverwalk, the Astana Wing earns its 8.4/10.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Riverside spot in the heart of the Waterfront — step out of the lobby and you are on the Sarawak riverwalk, a few minutes from the Cat Statue, Tua Pek Kong Temple, and the tambang ferry pier.
- The top-floor Sky Lounge has outdoor seating with a full view down the Kuching river — reviewers single out the half hour before sunset, when the water turns gold.
- Rooms in the Astana Wing run spacious and clean — many reviewers praise the usable space, which is wider than the area standard.
- Connected directly to the Riverside Shopping Complex, so food and shopping are a two-minute walk without going outside.
- Plenty of reviewers praise the staff as friendly and helpful, from check-in through housekeeping.
- Parts of the building are showing their age — some reviewers walk into a worn room, find stains in the bathroom, or notice tired-looking linens. Room quality here is luck-of-the-draw, so do not hesitate to ask the front desk to switch.
- Service is hit or miss — for every helpful staff member, some reviewers met an indifferent face at the front desk. It is simply not consistent yet.
- Hot water and bathroom drainage draw occasional complaints in reviews.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Kuching
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Kuching — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in KuchingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Ask for a river-facing room — the view of the Waterfront and the Legislative Assembly building across the river beats the city-facing side.
- Head up to the Sky Lounge in the evening and time it for sunset to shoot the river.
- If a room is not to your liking, tell the front desk — they can switch you, and quality varies room to room.
- Walk to the Cat Statue and Tua Pek Kong Temple — both are an easy few minutes from the hotel.