Shamrock Irish Bar

The Shamrock has been pouring pints on Kota Kinabalu's waterfront boardwalk for more than 20 years, which makes it one of the longest-running bars on the strip. It is now run by Mike Ford, who is half-British and half-Malaysian, together with his Sabahan mother. Inside you get dark wood and vintage posters; outside, tables face the South China Sea.

Guinness is on draught, and the kitchen sticks to pub staples: beef and Guinness pie, Irish stew, shepherd's pie, fish and chips and burgers, plus a Caesar salad the owner reckons is the best in Sabah. The bar also has a house cocktail, the Orangutan Swing, made with local Montoku rice wine.

Bands play live, there's a pool table, and big games are shown on the screens. Aussie rules and international rugby have long drawn a crowd here. Regulars include expats, visiting West Malaysians and airline crews.