The Waterfront Hotel Kuching
by the TopOfHotel team
The Waterfront is Kuching's only independent 5-star — a rooftop river-view pool and a downtown perch right on top of the mall.
The Waterfront is Kuching's only independent 5-star — a rooftop river-view pool and a downtown perch right on top of the mall.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Open the door and the room reads newer than most of what is around here — calm, restrained tones and a soft bed. The two words that keep surfacing in reviews, almost a pattern, are clean and new-looking. At a starting rate near $51 a night, that is solid value for a room at this level. One small tip: ask for a high floor on the river side. From up there you look out at the Darul Hana Bridge set against the Legislative Assembly building across the water, and after dark you can watch the light show right from your window — plenty of reviews come with that exact photo attached.
Food and amenities
The real highlight is the rooftop pool, and the placement is excellent: it faces straight out over the river, with a rooftop bar alongside where you can nurse a drink and wait for sunset. Just do not expect to stretch out in full sun — the pool sits under a roof, so it stays fairly shaded. Come for the view and a dip and it lands perfectly; come expecting a Bali-style sun deck and you may be a touch let down. The breakfast buffet comes out full, mixing local and international dishes, and the gym and Wi-Fi are exactly what you would expect at this level — nothing to complain about.
Location and getting there
Location is the real trump card here. The hotel is built on top of the mall, it is 200 m to the Waterfront, and a little further on you reach Carpenter Street in the old Chinatown, passing the Tua Pek Kong Temple and the Cat Statue on one easy route. Base yourself here and you can walk most of Kuching for the whole trip without calling a Grab. From Kuching International Airport it is about 12 km in, a relaxed 20-25 minute drive with no real traffic.
Things to know before booking
Be clear on the pool: it is under a roof, not a fully open-air deck, so it stays shaded for parts of the day. If a midday sunbathe is the plan, this is not it. The hotel is popular, so rooms fill fast in high season and over long weekends — book early. And it runs noticeably pricier than the 3-4 star places nearby; if your budget is tighter and you do not need the 5-star tier, the 4-star riverside options on this list work out better value.
Our take
If you are here as a couple or a family and you want the highest room standard in the best location in town, this place has almost no competition. The people who should pause are those set on swimming in full sun, or anyone comfortable on a smaller budget who would rather not pay up for a 5-star — for them, a 4-star river-view pick is the smarter spend. Everyone else: this is the one to book.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Kuching's only independent 5-star, so the room and service standard runs higher than the other options in town.
- Connected straight into the Plaza Merdeka mall — take the lift down and you have restaurants and a supermarket right there.
- The rooftop pool and bar look out over the Sarawak River and the Darul Hana Bridge, and you can sit up there for the evening light show.
- The breakfast buffet earns repeat praise from reviewers as complete and varied, mixing local and international dishes.
- Just a 200 m walk to the Kuching Waterfront, which puts the Cat Statue, Tua Pek Kong Temple and Carpenter Street all within reach on foot.
- The rooftop pool sits under a roof rather than fully open-air, so parts of the day it is shaded with little sun — not the place for a full sunbathing session.
- It is a popular hotel, and rooms fill fast in high season and over long weekends, so book early.
- It runs noticeably pricier than the surrounding 3-4 star hotels, which is the trade-off for the higher standard.
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
- Book a high floor on the river side — the view of the Darul Hana Bridge and the evening light show is far better than the city-facing rooms.
- Head up to the rooftop bar around sunset and catch the window before the light show on the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building across the river.
- Take the lift straight into Plaza Merdeka for restaurants and a supermarket — you rarely need to head out for food or basics.