The Jesselton Hotel

Hotels
8.3 (467 reviews)
69, Jalan Gaya, P.O. Box 10401 , Kota Kinabalu , MY
+60 88-223 333

listing image 1
Show all photos
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Lift / Elevator
Laundry
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Tour desk
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Good Location
Friendly Staff
Comfortable Rooms
Cons:
No Parking
Limited Amenities
Inconsistent WiFi

Categories

Cleanliness
7.63
Guests mentioned clean rooms, but some concerns about maintenance in bathrooms were noted.
Service
9.1
Friendly staff remembered faces and provided a warm welcome, especially noted for special occasions.
Location
9.14
Excellent central location with access to attractions, but occasional noise from the nearby night market was mentioned.
Room Quality
8.59
Rooms were described as aesthetically beautiful and comfortable, although some issues with parking were noted.
Amenities
7.62
Limited amenities within the hotel such as no bar or café, with some functional issues reported.
Value for Money
8.58
Generally considered a good value due to location and comfort, despite some criticism of high prices for breakfast outside.
Food and Beverage
7.13
Breakfast options nearby are good, but the hotel café was noted as overpriced.
Overall Experience
8.6
Overall good experience with some minor drawbacks.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 11:15

Property Description

Charming Colonial Decor
Immerse yourself in the colonial-inspired decor of Jesselton Hotel, situated in the heart of Kota Kinabalu.

Convenient Location
Explore nearby attractions such as Atkinson Clock Tower and Suria Sabah, all within walking distance from the hotel.

Modern Comforts
Relax in air-conditioned rooms equipped with amenities like a TV, marble bathroom, and minibar for a comfortable stay.

To experience the charm and convenience of Jesselton Hotel, book your stay with us now!

Important information:

Dear Valued Guests,

We wish to inform you that our hotel operational will be temporarily closed for major renovations in the Lobby area from August 29th to August 31st, 2024. During this time, we will be working to enhance our facilities and improve your future experience with us.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back with an upgraded and refreshed lobby.

From 1st January 2023, a tourist tax of RM 10 per room per night is applied to all foreign guests. This tax is not included in the room rate and must be paid upon check-in. Guests with a valid Malaysian Identity Card or valid permanent residents MY PR Card are exempted.

The Jesselton Hotel lobby (partially) will be undergoing refurbishment and extend from originally September 30th to October 14th, 2024, operating daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: BKI

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 467 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.63
Service: 9.1
Location: 9.14
Room Quality: 8.59
Amenities: 7.62
Value for Money: 8.58
Food and Beverage: 7.13
Overall Experience: 8.6
S
Saibah • couple • my
8
2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
K
Ken Yaw • couple • my
10
2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
C
Cristina • couple • es
9
Pros:

La localización es perfecta y las habitaciones son espaciosas. En general el hotel está muy limpio y agradable. Si tuviera que volver a KK me alojaría alli mismo.

2026-10-25 • via Nuitee
K
KAMAL AFFANDI • couple • my
10
2026-10-25 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • family_with_children • my
8
Pros:

The hotel was well located with easy access to good eating places nearby. The staff were very friendly and check in/out was very easy. The rooms were clean and comfortable and air conditioning worked well

Cons:

It is a shame that the renovations have changed the atmosphere of the lobby area. It doesn't feel like a boutique heritage hotel any more. There is no cafe or restaurant inside the hotel. The seating area feels a bit like a waiting room. We stayed a second night in a different room which was on the non-renovated side. The room was fine but the bathroom was in dire need of renovation. The shower and toilet and sink were so old it was hard to see whether it was clean or not because it was all so well used. Not attractive!

2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
P
Pascal • couple • fr
10
2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
A
Avelin • family_with_children • my
9
Pros:

Its central and easy to find food. There's night food market on fridays & Saturdays just outside the hotel & on Sunday There's a mirning market

Cons:

None

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
G
Gardner • couple • au
6
Expected more for the money
Pros:

Location is perfect for all the main atttactions of KK.

Cons:

The rooms are tired. The furniture and fittings are old, the bed is short and there is a great big flashing sign outside the back rooms.

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
M
MIDORI • solo_traveller • jp
9
スタッフ対応が素晴らしい
Pros:

スタッフがとにかく感じが良い。いつも笑顔できちんと対応してくれる。古いホテルなのは解っているので、多少の設備の不具合は許容範囲です。

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
M
Meghan • couple • us
10
The hotel felt very comfortable, had character and had a great staff.
Pros:

This was such a cute place with its own special old time-y vibe. Walking distance from pretty much everything you need. The staff was great, too. And it was excellent value for money.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
S
Shankaran • solo_traveller • nz
8
Very comfortable , Boutique rooms.
Pros:

Fabulous location in KK , great to walk around.

Cons:

Parking facilities (No parking)

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
S
Simon • couple • gb
9
Great heritage stay on Gaya Street.
Pros:

Excellent location on Gaya Street in the heart of the city. Heritage property with its own story.
The suite was spacious and comfortable.

Cons:

The room looked a little tired, but was still very good.

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
B
Brenda Anura • couple • my
10
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
張 • solo_traveller • tw
9
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
K
Kseniya • solo_traveller • ru
9
Pros:

Хорошее расположение - в центре города и недалеко от пристани и набережной. Очень красивый интерьер, а номер необычный. В номере все необходимое было предоставлено, был чайник, вода, фен, халат и тапочки - все, что нужно. Интернет быстрый - хватало на просмотр сериала. Относительно чисто - не хватало только протереть пыль в углах и постирать шторы - они были в пятнах. Но в целом было чисто, убирались каждый день. Завтрак надо заказывать заранее из меню, что не очень удобно, т.к. не можешь сориентироваться и увидеть весь ассортимент. И я не очень поняла, почему нельзя на завтрак заказать и сок, и кофе - мне приносили каждый раз что-то одно. Соус к завтракам мне не очень нравился, но это на мой вкус. В целом хороший отель, приятный персонал, красивое здание и интерьер. Но на завтрак лучше куда-нибудь ходить:)

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
J
jenny • couple • au
9
Lovely
Pros:

Lovely room excellent location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • couple • au
9
Large room, comfortable bed, good air con, great location & friendly helpful staff.
Pros:

Small hotel. Old world-ish. Peaceful.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
C
Craig • solo_traveller • au
8
Excellent location. Stylish interior. Nice staff.
Pros:

Great location. Nice staff.

Cons:

Stayed there twice. The room on the 3rd floor away from the main road was nicer. Not sure if I paid the same rate for both.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
M
Mattia • solo_traveller • it
7
Pros:

Ambiente affascinante, struttura moderna con un ottimo stile.
Posizione top nella via principale di Kota Kinabalu.
Personale molto gentile.

Cons:

Purtroppo la pulizia di alcune stanze è risultata carente.
In due stanze su 3 abbiamo riscontrato la presenza di alcuni piccoli insetti nel letto.
Lo staff ha gentilmente risolto la problematica dando la possibilità di cambiare la stanza.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee