Hillside Kokol

A wonderful ans beautiful spot for those who looking for sunset/sunrise or aesthetic photoshoot. You will need to spend and buy drinks before entering the premise. Personally for me the drinks and food is quite overpriced. RM10 just for tea and size of the pizza is really small too. Nothing really special about the food menu. There’s bakery as well inside it. People come here especially for the view, it will be very crowded during the weekend and you will need to find a parking spot up the road and you park at the roadside as well (park at your own risk). Staff is welcoming and they do assist in arranging the chair and table if you are in a big group numbers. Other than that, everything was okay, great experience, amazing view, nice interior decoration but drinks and food was overpriced in my opinion. Currently they are upgrading the Garden area, hopefull they will add more and more interesting thing here.

Very chill vibe to relax mind & soul while in-haling/ filling in tummy with great F&B. The down side would be they open at 10.30am it would be great if they can open 1-2hours earlier & the view would be too great to die for. Overall, it was great & would definitely come back.

Very nice atmosphere, but the parking is very difficult because initially you will be uphill. So I'd suggest to quickly go up unless there's already parking available, do a quick u-turn further up. The traffic controller will guide. Once enter, you must order a drink to go in. Plenty of space inside unless it's weekend, which will be pack full. Beautiful sunset. Come after 4pm for a breezy and cooling weather. Not much shade option if you choose to go outside, no umbrella provided (unless you buy - Rm30), so probably bring one yourself if it's raining. Drinks and food are standard, nothing too special.

I had to visit this place after it went viral on TikTok! This cafe is on a hill, a bit far from Kota Kinabalu city center. The drive takes about 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic. The road goes through forests and villages, so drive carefully. The place is beautiful and very relaxing. There's plenty of parking, and it's easy to find a spot if you go during non-peak hours. To enter, you need to buy food or drinks. They have a good selection of beverages, snacks, pastries, and pizza. The prices are what you'd expect at a regular cafe. There's lots of seating, and what I loved most is that the cafe faces the sea, it's the perfect spot for watching the sunset. The restrooms are clean, the space is large, and there are many great photo spots. When I was there, I saw some ongoing construction, so maybe they're adding more features soon. If you're looking for a relaxing spot to unwind and catch a beautiful sunset, this is definitely a place you should check out.. Kudos to the management of Hill Side for creating such a wonderful place!

This café is a hidden gem with breathtaking mountain and city views! The atmosphere is cozy, with a rustic-meets-modern interior and large windows that frame the stunning scenery. It’s the kind of place where you could relax for hours over dessert and coffee while soaking in the panoramic views. The pastry selection is impressive — beautifully presented and delicious. I tried their egg tart, which had a perfectly crisp crust and creamy filling, and the fries were hot, crispy, and lightly salted — simple but satisfying. The cakes and Danish pastries in the display looked tempting, especially the fruit-topped ones, which I’ll definitely try next time. The outdoor seating area is perfect for enjoying the cool breeze and views of the valley and dragon fruit farms below. It’s also very Instagrammable — the balcony shots are unbeatable. Service was friendly and efficient, and the vibe is laid-back but refined. Overall, it’s an amazing spot if you’re looking for good desserts with a view worth the drive up the hill.

We came in the morning on a weekday, so it was still quiet and serene. Great view of the city. Good coffee and delicious cakes. The egg tarts and croissants are equally good. We will definitely be back!