by Geena Roslyna

Whether you’re hunting for handcrafted souvenirs, Sabahan-made snacks, or meaningful cultural keepsakes, Sabah has no shortage of unique finds. While Kota Kinabalu remains a hotspot for curated gift stores, there are hidden gems scattered across other districts worth discovering as well!

Here’s where to shop locally across Sabah, from KK and beyond.

Whether you’re hunting for handcrafted souvenirs, Sabahan-made snacks, or meaningful cultural keepsakes, Sabah has no shortage of unique finds. While Kota Kinabalu remains a hotspot for curated gift stores, there are hidden gems scattered across other districts worth discovering as well!

Here’s where to shop locally across Sabah, from KK and beyond.

Kota Kinabalu 

1. Kadaiku 

Your one-stop shop for Sabahan-made goods, including souvenirs, corporate gifts, and keepsakes to make the trip more memorable. Products are all made by local artisans and small businesses, a great place to support the local Sabahan brands.

Best buys:
– Handcrafted accessories
– Local snacks & drinks
– Cultural-inspired merch

📍Location: Lot 4&5, Ground Floor, Block L, Sinsuran Complex, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 

2. The Art Attic 

An aesthetic and charming souvenir shop with lots of handmade items and artisan goods.

Best buys:
– Handcrafted accessories
– Local snacks
– Cultural-inspired merch

📍Location: 7, Lorong Dewan, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

3. Salt x Paper

A stationery and gift shop in Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, selling beautiful paper goods, including notebooks, greeting cards, and stickers, all designed by local artists.

Best buys:
– Illustrated postcards of Sabah landmarks
– Notebooks, planners, and journals
– Small lifestyle gifts & creative merchandise

📍Location: No. 51, Jalan Gaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

4. The Borneo Shop 

Perfect for book lovers and explorers of Borneo! Offers a unique blend of gifts, books, and souvenirs, a must-visit spot for tourists seeking authentic memorabilia.

Best buys:
– Books and novels
– Postcards
– Plushies

📍Location: Wisma Merdeka, BG26, Ground Floor, Phase 2, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

5. Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market 

One of the most popular souvenir spots in Sabah. Expect a wide range of traditional crafts and affordable keepsakes.

Best buys:
– Pearls and jewelry
– Wooden carvings
– Woven baskets and bags

📍Location: 7, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

6. Gaya Street Sunday Market

A must-visit if you’re in KK over the weekend. The market offers a vibrant mix of souvenirs, handmade items, and local snacks.

Best buys:
– Handicrafts & Cultural Souvenirs
– Local Snacks & Edible Gifts
– Pearls & Affordable Souvenirs

📍Location: Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Worth The Drive: Gift Shops Beyond Kota Kinabalu

Looking for gifts outside of Kota Kinabalu? We thought it would be useful to include the following:

Sandakan

1. Gift & Souvenir Shop Sandakan Airport 

Convenient spot at the airport to grab last‑minute Sabah souvenirs before you fly out.

Best buys:
– Simple Sabah-themed gifts
– Travel-friendly items

📍Location: Batu 7, Jalan Airport, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

Tawau

1. Tawau Tanjung Market

A huge local market with multiple floors selling everything from fresh produce to dried seafood and hand‑woven baskets, wooden crafts, placemats, and other souvenir‑worthy goods, especially on the upper levels.

Best buys:
– Dried seafood
– Local snacks (like amplang)
– Simple handicrafts

📍Location: Bandar Tawau, 91000 Tawau, Sabah

2. Gift & Souvenir Shop Tawau Airport

The Gift & Souvenir Shop at Tawau Airport usually sells small travel gifts and Sabah-themed items for passengers waiting for flights. The selection is fairly simple because the airport is small.

Best buys:
– Magnets and small souvenirs
– Lightweight gifts for travel

📍Location: Terminal, 91000 Tawau, Sabah

Kota Belud

1. Tamu Kota Belud

Tamu Kota Belud is a lively weekly open-air market in Sabah where locals from different ethnic communities gather to trade goods and socialise. It is known for its colourful atmosphere, traditional foods, handmade crafts, and cultural displays, especially from the Bajau people.

Best buys:
– Traditional crafts
– Woven items
– Local produce

📍Location: 89150 Kota Belud, Sabah

2. Pekan Nabalu Market

Not a shop per se, but a popular market for highland souvenirs like local produce, handmade crafts, woven goods, and fresh products, a nice stop if you’re heading to the highlands.

Best buys:
– Fresh produce
– Handmade crafts
– Local snacks

📍Location: Pekan Nabalu, 89150 Nabalu, Sabah

Tips for Visiting Local Gift Shops

• Bargaining is common at local markets, so don’t hesitate to negotiate politely with sellers.
• Look for authentic craftsmanship like beadwork, woven bags, and locally processed snacks.
• Markets and shops often complement each other, markets for variety and bargaining, shops for curated, quality pieces.