After a five-hour flight and a night in unfamiliar beds, we began day one in Kota Kinabalu completely exhausted. We still had time before checking in at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort, so we decided on a massage. Here's how a massage at Attiya SPA KK and a lunch at Akar's Casual Dining turned a tired morning into a great start.
Attiya Spa KK: A Thai Massage That Changed My Mind
Finding It: I checked a few cafe posts and reviews and settled on Attiya SPA KK. From the city center, where Luma Hotel is, it was about a 15-minute Grab ride.
The Space: The neat, nicely decorated interior raised our expectations right away. Upstairs, my kids had kids' aroma massages while I had a Thai massage.
The Kids: Unusually, the kids stayed very quiet during their massages, and one of my twins said it felt so good that they wanted another.
My Back Story: I'd slept in awkward naps on the flight and carried a heavy backpack, so my neck and shoulders were so sore that I needed muscle relaxants to sleep. They're tight even on an ordinary day, and I live with constant discomfort.
The Verdict: I never liked Thai massage, because once I felt like I'd been beaten up afterward. Attiya SPA KK blew that prejudice away. It worked out the knots in my neck and shoulders and loosened my whole body, recharging me to get the most out of the trip.
Lunch at Akar's Casual Dining
After the massage it was lunchtime. I was about to go to a cafe in the same building when something caught my eye and drew me in. Akar's Casual Dining sits quietly in one corner of the building that houses Attiya SPA KK.
The space isn't big, but the sunlight coming through the glass windows and the diners eating suggested this wasn't an ordinary eatery.
Lando's Alfredo Pasta: Fettuccine in Alfredo cream sauce, topped with grilled chicken and finished with grated cheese. It was easy to eat and tasty.
Akar's Gulai Kuning: Gulai is a curry-like dish of fish, chicken, or lamb simmered with coconut milk and spices, and it's one of Malaysia's signature foods. Akar's version is gulai made with grilled chicken breast and turmeric sauce, served with jasmine rice. There was a slight fish-sauce flavor, but compared with other food we'd eaten in Kota Kinabalu, it was cleaner and not bad at all.
Steak Frites: Steak with fries. Price and weight depend on the information posted inside the restaurant. I couldn't order the 80 g, so I asked for a 300 g steak, medium. It may have been the best dish I ate on this trip.
Essential Visitor Info
- 💆 Attiya SPA KK: About a 15-minute Grab ride from the city center; aroma massage for kids and Thai massage for adults
- 🍽️ Akar's Casual Dining: In the same building as the spa
- 🥩 My picks: Steak frites (300 g, medium), Akar's Gulai Kuning, Lando's Alfredo pasta
- 💲 Price note: Not cheap, but very satisfying
Final Verdict
Akar's was a lucky find after our massage. It isn't a bargain, but the meal was very satisfying. And Attiya SPA KK did something rare: it turned a tired Thai-massage skeptic into a fan. If you land in Kota Kinabalu exhausted, this pair makes a great first-day reset.
Do you book a massage right after a long flight? Share your go-to travel reset in the comments!
