Design Hotels · Premium
Sutera Avenue, Central Business District (Sembulan)
Guest score
Borneo's first creative Design Hotels member, a boutique art-led property on Sutera Avenue in central Kota Kinabalu with a signature Sabahan-wood spiral staircase and street-level dining.
Last updated August 6, 2026
The LUMA Hotel is Kota Kinabalu's first creative design hotel, opened in January 2022 and enrolled in Marriott Bonvoy as a Design Hotels member. Occupying floors of a mixed-use office and apartment block on Sutera Avenue, it leans hard into design: a lobby spiral staircase built from local Sabahan wood inlaid with white marble, greenery, jewel-toned modular furniture, rotating local art and playlists by Sabahan musicians. Guestrooms carry nature-inspired names and a minimalist, earthy palette with wood panelling and raffia headboards. Independent reviewers and guests consistently praise the interior design, spotless rooms, silent and effective air-conditioning, warm attentive staff, and the convenient location a short covered walk from Imago Shopping Mall with cafes and restaurants at street level, including Flow Coffee by roaster Crack Inc. and JoJo Gastrobar. Watch-outs are real: because the hotel sits inside a larger building, several room categories lack proper windows or views; guests report the lobby-cafe breakfast is overpriced, Wi-Fi can be slow, and some note noise. As a Design Hotels affiliate, Bonvoy elite recognition is limited compared with full-service Marriott brands. Overall a stylish, well-located boutique stay best suited to design-minded short city trips rather than resort-style holidays.
| Address | Lot 2-5, Block A, Sutera Avenue, Jalan Sembulan, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Brand Sub Brand | Design Hotels |
| Neighborhood | Sutera Avenue, Central Business District (Sembulan) |
| Distance From Airport Km | 7 |
| Elite Benefits | Room upgrades for Platinum Elite and above, subject to availability, Complimentary breakfast or bonus points for Platinum Elite and above, per Marriott Bonvoy program terms, Guaranteed room availability with 24-hour notice for Titanium and Ambassador Elite |
| Landmark Distances | [object Object], [object Object], [object Object] |
The research view
Themes that came up again and again across independent reviews — not a single opinion, but the patterns that repeat.
Consistently praised
Worth knowing before you book
Verified elsewhere
Independent coverage from real reviewers and travel channels, published in the last year or two -- not written or commissioned by us. Each links back to the original.
Written reviews
Live Life Lah · Miera Nadhirah · Jul 2022
A design-focused walkthrough praising the waterfall-like spiral staircase, green rainforest-themed rooms, stylish bathrooms, in-house Flow Coffee and JoJo Gastrobar, and eco touches; only note is the gym not yet open at visit.
Daily Express Malaysia
Sabah news feature on Borneo's first creative design hotel, describing its nature-inspired urban architecture, dark-green schemes and organic furnishings, and its aim to give guests a first-class 'home away from home' stay.
Video reviews
Behind this page
This page pulls from the hotel’s own information alongside independent guest reviews. These are the primary sources we checked — last refreshed Aug 6, 2026.
Find out more about The LUMA Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, a Member of Design Hotels
The hotel is on Sutera Avenue (Jalan Sembulan) in Kota Kinabalu's central business district, about a five-to-eight minute covered walk from Imago Shopping Mall. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is roughly 7 km away, around a 10-minute drive depending on traffic.
Yes. It is a Member of Design Hotels bookable through Marriott Bonvoy, so members earn and redeem points. As a Design Hotels affiliate rather than a full Marriott brand, elite recognition and benefits are more limited than at standard Marriott properties.
Rooms are minimalist and design-led with wood panelling, earthy tones and clean, quiet air-conditioning that guests praise. Because the hotel occupies part of a larger office and apartment building, some room categories have no window or view, so request a windowed room when you book.
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