The Marian Boutique Lodging House - Kuching, Sarawak

adiedalie

If you’re looking for something truly different and authentic in Kuching, The Marian is a must-visit. Staying here feels like stepping back into the pre-colonial era — the building itself is full of history, once a missionary school (and if I’m not mistaken, later a church), now beautifully restored. It’s not just a hotel, it’s an experience.||The rooms come in various options. I stayed in one of the more affordable ones on Level 2 — simple but comfortable, with excellent air-conditioning, good Wi-Fi, and a spacious bathroom. For the price point, it was really worth it.||A note of caution: because the property retains its original structure, there is no lift. The stairs are fairly steep, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with knee or mobility issues. That said, if you’re fine with stairs, the charm of the place makes it worthwhile.||The layout of the property is also quite unique, as it sits on top of a small hill with two entrances. Parking space is plenty, but the carpark is across the opposite entrance. At night I noticed the gate was locked, so if you’re driving, it’s best to let the hotel know — they can guide you to use the front gate instead.||One of the most beautiful surprises here is the view at night. From the property, you can see part of Kuching town lit up, and the State Assembly Building stands out majestically against the night sky — truly stunning to take in.||During my stay, the nearby Chinese temple hosted a pasar malam-style event, and it was so lively and happening. It really added to the atmosphere of staying right in the cultural heart of Kuching.||The location is another big plus — right in the heart of Kuching. The famous Kuching Waterfront is just a short walk away, and there are plenty of shops, cafés, and spots to explore nearby.||Facilities-wise, there’s a beautiful pool that looked very inviting (I didn’t get to try it, but it definitely added to the appeal). At the ground floor, near the check-in area, there’s also a nice restaurant and bar (alcohol is served; I’m not sure about pork). For Muslim travelers, that’s something to note.||Another highlight: plenty of cozy corners around the property to relax and lepak, perfect for soaking in the historic atmosphere.||Overall, The Marian is not just a place to sleep — it’s a heritage experience. For anyone wanting to feel the history of Kuching while enjoying modern comfort, a central location, a majestic night view, and even lively local events nearby, this is a once-in-a-lifetime stay. Highly recommended!

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Het hotel ligt op loopafstand van het centrum van Kuching en The Waterfront. ||Vanaf de receptie moet je met een trap omhoog om bij de accommodatie te komen. Hier moet je wel rekening mee houden als je slecht ter been bent. Afhankelijk van de ligging van de kamer moet je wellicht nog een aantal trappen nemen om bij de desbetreffende kamer te komen. ||De kamer was redelijk eenvoudig, maar prima. Was voorzien van 2x een tweepersoonsbed. Eentje bereikbaar via een (smalle) trap. De kamer had ruimte voor de bagage, een bureau met stoel en de badkamer was voorzien van toilet, wastafel en een douche. Op de kamer stonden flesjes water, die dagelijks werden aangevuld. ||Wij hadden wel een kamer vlakbij de weg gelegen, maar waren ‘s avonds zo moe dat we vrijwel direct in slaap vielen. ||Het hotel heeft een zwembad met ligstoelen. ‘s Ochtends staat er een (simpel) ontbijt klaar (koffie, thee, sapje, melk, boterhammen die je kan roosteren en wat beleg). Er is voldoende plek om te zitten. Hier heb je ook ontvangst met de Wifi. ||Net achter de receptie is een goed restaurant, Kantin, waar je kan genieten van lunch en diner.||De accommodatie heeft een lang verleden en dat is d.m.v. foto’s aan de wand ook zichtbaar.

Jane R.

Absolutely loved our 3 nights at The Marion. Older generation & slightly infirm, had ground floor room (if you dont count stairs up to the house!) but all were very manageable & help always offered. Brilliant location just 2 minutes to river walk & lots of activity. Amazing friendly & helpful staff. Thoroughly recommended if you prefer quirky, character & local to an "anywhere in the world" sanitized hotel.

beenalj2025

We stayed here on our honeymoon for 2 nights. Absolutely incredible hotel and I would stay there again any day without any hesitation. It's not a hotel as such, a lodging house. So it feels like you're staying in a room of a very big and beautiful house. It's spacious, historic and has so much charm. In the hustle and bustle of Kuching, this felt like paradise to me. I had read in reviews that the room walls are thin - I didn't feel this at all. The location is perfect - you step outside and you are in the city. The check-in and check-out was easy, other than that you were left to it, without any annoying staff constantly bothering you. It almost felt like we had the villa to ourselves. The breakfast was simple, but with so many food options in the area, this was never a problem. It was certainly breakfast with views! There is also restaurant downstairs, called Kantin at the Granary Kitchen and Bar. Amazing vibes here! Great for drinks of course, and a very friendly cat walking around. But their food was incredible! We have the rainforest rice - and THIS is why everyone talks about it. It blew my mind. I have tried to replicate it at home, but no luck. I would want to go back to Kuching just to stay in this hotel and visit the kitchen and bar. Highly recommend the hotel - you won't regret it!

Roy S.

Top locatie en ziet er mooi uit van de buitenkant. We hadden hier voor vier nachten geboekt en zijn na een nacht weer vertrokken. Gezien hun 'no refund policy' kun je fluiten naar je geld. Snap niet hoe deze accommodatie op Booking.com zo'n bedrieglijk hoge score krijgt. Voor het geld wat we betaald hebben was dit echt zwaar ondermaats. Wij zijn overigens echt niet veeleisend en zijn wel wat gewend op onze rondreis met twee kinderen door Maleisië.

- Vieze kamers; vlekken op de lakens en muren, stof in
de airco, schimmel op de badkamer
- Gehorige kamer; lawaai van de drukke straat, keiharde muziek tot laat in de nacht van de tegenovergelegen bars.
- Bed op de vide is enkel een matras op de grond
- Slechte/geen WIFI
- Behoorlijk veel trappen tot het appartement, wat best sjouwen is met de zware koffers
- Slecht ontbijt. Enkel toast met jam of pindakaas en nog wat cornflakes.
- Vies zwembad met algen, witte schuim en witte vlokken. Dit was voor ons de druppel.

Nols W.

Nice hotel at an excellent location. In the heart of Kuching, next to carpenter street. Great staff and service. Rooms in the old building are noisy with very thin walls, so get a room at the pool if you want more privacy. However, the hotel is kid-friendly nowadays so the pool can get very noisy too.

Eugene C.

For a boutique hotel, this is the most bang for buck. Literally few walks away to waterfront. Sure it’s not as fancy as Pullman but the beds are comfortable, the pool is clean, air conditioning blows cool, breakfast is simple, amazing views, it’s cozy and homey. Couldn’t ask for more. Fun fact, this hotel used to be a mansion from a wealthy family in Kuching, very rich history as you could tell from the architecture design of the building.

Katie D.

Overall an amazing place to stay in kuching, especially if your looking for somewhere with some character.

The place is rustic with a few little bits which arent perfect, but the place is really interesting, with lot of history and also really clean.

The hotel is near the old town and china town, with lots of bars and restaurants nearby and short walk to the river front.

Bedroom are small but everything you need, both bed and bathroom were immaculate! - (photos are from check out).

Staff were fantastic and really helpful and we book to tour through them which were also really well organised.

Breakfast is basic but again every is clean and idea to set you up for the day.

Honestly don't have a bad word to say. If we get a chance to visit kuching again, we would definitely book here again.