The Kuching Waterfront, is the most popular gathering place in this capital city. The esplanade stretches for about 900 meter along the south bank of the Sarawak river.
Dotted the length of it are food stalls, a restaurant, bistro and street food hawkers. Many colonial-era buildings seen here have since been re-purposed for modern use.
They are the Chinese History Museum, Sarawak Steamship Building and Square Tower. Besides the old, there is a modern amphitheatre that showcases scheduled live entertainment.
During the daytime, the Waterfront offers excellent view of the north bank of the river. The Astana (governor’s mansion) and Fort Margherita stand out with their white exterior. The imposing State Assembly Building dominates the skyline.
In addition, the Malay kampungs bring up a piece of Sarawak’s heritage that dates back to the rule of the Brooke family.
At night, the whole stretch of the esplanade comes alive. Buskers fill the air with ethnic and contemporary songs and music. To add to the vibrancy, the Darul Hana Musical fountain comes on with its colourful display.
WHERE IS THE KUCHING WATERFRONT
HOTELS NEAR THE KUCHING WATERFRONT
The Grand Margherita Hotel Kuching sits on the Kuching Waterfront. It is of course the venue of the festival and you can see the venue from your hotel room window.
>> BOOK A ROOM AT GRAND MARGHERITA HOTEL
Imperial Riverbank Hotel Kuching is also very close to the waterfront, overlooking the Sarawak river.
Other good choices include Riverside Majestic Hotel and Hilton Kuching, both just minutes from the venue itself. In my opinion, Riverside Majestic offers luxury at amazing prices (You can read my personal review here), while Hilton is a trusted brand by itself.
>> BOOK A ROOM AT HILTON KUCHING
If the three hotels are not your choice, or are fully booked, check out this list of hotels in Kuching City Center. I’ve compiled them specifically to help those unfamiliar with Kuching. These hotels are within the Kuching City Centre, and a walking distance to the Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival Venue.
