See More of Kuching with a Stay at Pullman Kuching
Kuching has a funny way of messing with your plans.
You might leave the hotel with the perfectly sensible intention of walking along the Waterfront, only to be distracted by a bowl of Sarawak laksa. A quick wander through Main Bazaar can easily turn into an hour of browsing woven textiles, old curiosities and things you did not know you were looking for. Then somebody mentions a particularly good bowl of kolo mee, and there goes the itinerary.
Honestly, that is part of Kuching’s charm. It is a city best explored with a little room for detours.
For travellers staying at Pullman Kuching, this makes the hotel’s location in the Golden Triangle particularly handy. The city’s heritage quarter, riverfront, museums and food scene are within easy reach, while Sarawak’s rainforest and wildlife are close enough to turn a city break into something considerably bigger.
“We have created a more fluid guest experience that gives travellers the freedom to shape each stay around their own rhythm,” says Sunardi Song, General Manager of Pullman Kuching.
It is a particularly useful proposition in Kuching, where a good hotel should ideally work as both a launchpad and a place worth returning to.
A hotel that actually looks like Kuching
Recently refreshed, Pullman Kuching now has a stronger sense of place.
Rather than simply adding a few local motifs, the design takes cues from Sarawak’s landscapes, architecture and history. The lobby combines rainforest-inspired colours and textures with the communal spirit of the longhouse. The Colosseum Grand Ballroom draws on the distinctive limestone formations of Gunung Mulu, while guestrooms frame views of Kuching and the Sarawak River.
At Nu Er Hong [女兒紅], the Maritime Silk Road becomes the visual thread, reflecting Kuching’s history as a trading port and meeting point for different cultures.
What I like about the redesign is that it does not attempt to turn the hotel into a miniature Sarawak theme park. The references are there, but they are woven into the experience rather than shouted from every corner.
It helps, too, that the team is predominantly local. When you are deciding where to eat, what is actually worth seeing or which part of Kuching deserves another hour of your time, local knowledge tends to beat a generic tourist checklist.
Space matters, especially on holiday
There is something particularly welcome about a hotel room that does not make you feel as though your suitcase has taken over the entire floor. Pullman Kuching’s refreshed guestrooms range from 38 to 51 square metres, with enough space for couples, friends and families to properly settle in.
The 51-square-metre Family Room comes with a king bed, single bed and separate seating area, while the Pullman Playcation Experience adds in-room and poolside activities for younger guests.
For couples, the 45-square-metre Premium Deluxe Room offers river views, while twin-room options make sense for friends travelling together.
Smart climate controls, filtered drinking water, connectivity and both bathtub and rain-shower facilities add the practical touches that become surprisingly important once you are staying for more than a night.
And yes, the bathtub is exactly the sort of thing you will appreciate after spending several hours walking around Kuching.
The easiest way to spend 48 hours in Kuching
For a first visit, I would resist the temptation to pack too much in.
Start with breakfast at Culina, then make your way towards the Kuching Waterfront. From there, wander through Main Bazaar and India Street, where traditional handicrafts, textiles and historic buildings compete for your attention.
This is the part where I would leave some time unplanned as Kuching rewards curiosity.
The Borneo Cultures Museum and Sarawak Textile Museum add context to what you see around the city, while Tua Pek Kong Temple offers another glimpse into Kuching’s multicultural history.
Later, hop on a penambang boat across the river or take the Darul Hana Bridge towards Fort Margherita. The crossing itself is simple, but the view back towards Kuching is worth the effort. The city looks different from across the Sarawak River, particularly as the afternoon light starts to soften.
Then head back to Pullman Kuching and let somebody else worry about dinner.
Culina takes a playful approach to Asian dining, bringing Sarawakian flavours into dishes designed to be enjoyed rather than dissected. There is Sarawak laksa, Sarawak Pepper Steak and Gula Apong Latte, alongside interactive options such as table-prepared popiah and create-your-own kueh pie tee.
The Junction is the more casual option, moving from coffee and pastries by day to cocktails, small plates and music later in the evening.
For something more refined, Nu Er Hong offers halal-certified coastal Chinese fine dining under Chef Charles, formerly of Hakkasan. Its menu draws from Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong cuisines, with the Maritime Silk Road concept providing a link to the cultural exchanges that have shaped Kuching over the centuries.
It means you can have three quite different evenings without leaving the building.
Then leave the building
The second day should take you beyond the city.
Semenggoh Nature Reserve offers the chance to observe semi-wild orangutans, while Bako National Park brings together rainforest, coastline and hiking trails in one memorable outing. For a gentler introduction to Sarawak’s diverse communities and traditions, Sarawak Cultural Village offers traditional houses, customs and performances.
Pullman Kuching can assist with licensed guides and established tourism partners, making it easier to arrange excursions beyond the city without having to figure out every detail yourself.
After several hours in the heat and humidity, however, I would recommend doing something radically unproductive: staying put.
The refurbished swimming pool is surrounded by greenery and lounge areas, with Liquid Pool Bar nearby for drinks and lighter bites. The 24-hour fitness centre offers another option for guests who would rather work out than sit still.
For those who like a little incentive with their exercise, the Sweat, Track & Treat programme runs now till October 2026. Guests who record 21 kilometres cumulatively in one calendar week on Strava can redeem selected wholesome dishes, with 50 per cent off a second meal.
Personally, I would consider the pool a perfectly legitimate recovery strategy.
Kuching, with somewhere to come back to
Ultimately, the appeal of Pullman Kuching is not that you need to spend your entire holiday inside it.
Quite the opposite.
It gives you a comfortable place to return to after a morning wandering Kuching’s old streets, a day chasing rainforest trails or an evening spent eating your way through Sarawakian flavours. And when you do decide to stay put for a few hours, there is enough here to make that decision feel perfectly reasonable too.
About The Author
Officially a Deputy Editor with over 10 years in travel media. Unofficially? A professional suitcase overpacker with a knack for turning chance encounters and itineraries into vivid, story-driven features. When not fine-tuning articles, she's likely front row at a concert, taste-testing something spicy, or deep in a conversation that veered wonderfully off-topic.
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