LOOM - A Heritage Stay

27/03/2026

10/03/2026

Meet the Neighbours : 6

Some neighbours have been here for years.
Others are just beginning their story.

Much like LOOM, Laraspa is one of the newer kids on the block.

Founded by Grace, this wellness spa was created from her long-standing love for massage and the simple idea that relaxation comes from both skilled hands and a peaceful environment.

The rooms are calm and softly lit, with the scent of essential oil blends filling the space. Lavender, lemongrass, bergamot, chamomile, ginger — treatments are paired with these specialised essential oils, blended in different combinations depending on what the body might need that day.

It’s a little oasis of peace amidst the hustle and bustle, a reset before the journey continues.

If you’re staying with us at LOOM, you’ll receive 10% off your massage and a complimentary foot scrub at Laraspa.

09/03/2026

Meet the Neighbours : 5

For those who believe mornings should begin with coffee before anything else, there’s Nook Cafe.

Tucked along Lorong Dewan, this laid-back cafe has been serving all-day breakfast, brunch and in-house bakes for the past decade.

Celebrating its 10th year on the street, Nook is one of Lorong Dewan’s long-time residents. Now under the care of Jared and Sarah, the café is entering a new chapter as they steer it forward while working to revive the spirit that first brought it here.

Opening from 7am, it’s also one of the earliest places in town to get a proper coffee — perfect for travellers adjusting to new time zones, before an early Signal Hill Trail hike, or ahead of a day out on the islands.

With plans to slowly add more art, plants and their own touches into the space, Nook continues to grow with the people who care for it, just as many places on Lorong Dewan do.

Beyond the café, Jared and Sarah also run an art space .kk just a few shops down above Mamasita, where workshops and creative projects occasionally take shape.

Jared also leads guided city walks (by donation) for those interested in exploring Kota Kinabalu’s cultural landscape. Donations from these walks go towards Pillars of Sabah, the community association behind their creative and community-building initiatives.

As a LOOM guest, enjoy 10% off at Nook Cafe.

04/03/2026

Bar Abong is one of those places that makes you pause for a second and think, “Wait… is this the entrance?”

Follow that curiosity and you’ll find yourself in a natural wine bistro inspired by the sea.

The name Abong comes from the Bajau Laut word for seeing double or mabuk laut (sea sick), a fitting description for both seasickness and, occasionally, very good wine.

Behind the name is also a tribute to the seafaring communities who shaped this region long before the city existed.

Their pescatarian menu reflects that connection between sea and land, with many ingredients sourced close to home — daily fish from local fishermen, asparagus from Mount Kinabalu, and greens from Signal Hill Eco Farm just up the hill.

Their wines follow the same philosophy, natural, minimal intervention, and a belief that the best flavours come from working with nature rather than against it.

And if you happen to visit on a Sunday, you might find a live saxophonist setting the mood 🎶

You’ll enjoy 15% off on food as a LOOM guest.

Sea you there!
abong

03/03/2026

Meet the Neighbours : 3

Meet LoCo Feel Good, founded by Krystle, whose love for cold therapy began at home in Lake Taupō, New Zealand. What started as a personal ritual soon became something she felt KK was missing — an accessible, welcoming space where anyone can experience the power of cold and heat therapy.

LoCo is Kota Kinabalu’s first cold plunge and infrared sauna escape, designed to help you recharge and recover from the inside out. Whether you’re easing into your first ice bath or already hooked on the ritual, Krystle offers optional one-on-one guidance so you feel safe and supported throughout the entire process.

Her favourite part of the job is welcoming first timers who arrive a little nervous and leave with a huge sense of pride (and that undeniable dopamine rush!).

The space itself invites you to slow down, with herbal tea waiting, a daybed to rest on, and a semi-outdoor shower — time to truly soak in the shift.

And not forgetting the ones who visit KK to climb Mount Kinabalu, it’s the perfect recovery combo for sore muscles and tired legs 🧊+🔥 = 🤝🏽

As a LOOM guest, enjoy 10% off on all services and packages.

There’s something powerful about stepping into cold water and realising you can handle it. And like the wise Vanilla Ice once said, ice ice baby 🧊

02/03/2026

Meet the Neighbours : 2

If Lorong Dewan had a night-time personality, this would be it. Mysterious and unassuming on the outside, with lots going on on the inside.

Drunken Door is a speakeasy bar, created around a cheeky idea: walk through the door, enjoy the night… and maybe leave slightly tumbling.

Its a playful bar at heart, serving cocktails and food and the occasional DJ sets, live music, afro-latin social dance nights, chess nights, open mics and even a Pitch Your Single Friend kinda night. Its part bar, part social experiment you’ll love 🫰🏽👯‍♀️👯‍♂️

If you’re staying at LOOM, you’ll enjoy Buy 1 Free 1 drinks from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Consider it your head start 🍸🍹🧉🥃🍺

27/02/2026

We’re beginning our Meet the Neighbours series with a place that honours Sabah’s roots through food — Little Sulap.

Founded in 2018 by Chris Jamianus and then later joined by Florence Siding, Little Sulap first began in a tucked away humble hut. The name itself comes from the word sulap — a hut in Sabah culture, a place to gather and rest. This philosophy forms the heart of who they are: small in terms of space, big in terms of vision.

Today, that small hut has grown into a native Kadazan restaurant celebrating Sabah’s indigenous flavours — from citrusy hinava, to comforting broths, to the bold punch of tuhau and bambangan, and if your feeling even more bolder, a fresh Butod 🐛 (they have cooked ones too if you still want the full native experience without the wiggles 😆)

This is food that carries stories of kampung kitchens, forest ingredients and generations before us.

If you’re staying with us at LOOM, you’ll receive 10% off when you dine here.

A stay on Lorong Dewan isn’t complete without tasting what the land offers. Hope you come hungry and leave with a deeper sense of this place 🌾

24/02/2026

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS 👫🏽🏘️

What makes LOOM special isn’t just the space. LOOM is rooted in Lorong Dewan and this little street is shaped by the people who pour their craft and heart into it every day.

We’ve partnered with some of our favourite cafes, bars, studios and shops along the street to bring exclusive perks to LOOM guests.

This is our way of encouraging you to explore and support the businesses that make this street what it is.

Over the next few days, we’ll be introducing each neighbour. Stay tuned 📻

13/02/2026

Baskets of Borneo *spotted*:

We love seeing traditional baskets still being used in everyday life. We spotted this Wakid at Mamahill Campsite, Kokol where it’s still being put to work.

The Wakid is one of the most popular Dusun baskets for carrying heavy loads. Traditionally used for farm produce, firewood and even durians, it remains a practical tool to this day.

Made almost entirely from split bamboo, the wakid is sturdy and robust. The bamboo is cut and divided into segments, with the upper portion split finer and stretched outward to create its distinctive wider rim — allowing for more volume and easier loading. Strong, structured, and yes — quite heavy even when empty.

No different from its use decades ago, the staff at Mamahill uses the Wakid to carry bulky loads to and from the jungle.

Some forms don’t need reinventing.
When something works, it stays 🧺

Name: Wakid (dusun)
Ethnic group: Kadazan Dusun
Village/Town: Penampang, Tambunan, Ranau

Resource:
Linggi, J. P., The Kampung Legacy: A Journal of North Borneo’s Traditional Baskets (2019)

13/02/2026

Baskets of Borneo *spotted*:

We love seeing traditional baskets still being used in everyday life. We spotted this Wakid at Mamahill Campsite, Kokol, where it’s still being put to work.

The Wakid is one of the most popular Dusun baskets for carrying heavy loads. Traditionally used for farm produce, firewood and even durians, it remains a practical tool to this day.

Made almost entirely from split bamboo, the wakid is sturdy and robust. The bamboo is cut and divided into segments, with the upper portion split finer and stretched outward to create its distinctive wider rim — allowing for more volume and easier loading. Strong, structured, and yes — quite heavy even when empty.

No different from its use decades ago, the staff at Mamahill uses the Wakid to carry bulky loads to and from the jungle.

Some forms don’t need reinventing.
When something works, it stays 🧺

Name: Wakid (dusun)
Ethnic group: Kadazan Dusun
Village/Town: Penampang, Tambunan, Ranau

Resource:
Linggi, J. P., The Kampung Legacy: A Journal of North Borneo’s Traditional Baskets (2019)

05/02/2026

A moving documentary screening last night by three young filmmakers from Pulau Omadal. Sharing the realities of growing up stateless, limited access to education, healthcare and security. And yet still told their story with strength and grace. Was such a raw and honest look into their lives.

A tikar sits in loom also coming from the Bajau Laut community in Pulau Omadal. And as we are still new to leaning to histories and meanings of what we display, more each day it feels important to understand the people and the lives behind these pieces, not just the objects themselves.

Scan the QR code to learn how you can contribute to the communities, and support their film that’ll be out in cinemas soon.