Franz ElizKundasang has a few fun places to dine in and take photos during the day. A good example of such a place is the BW Bus Restaurant. It’s a unique-themed restaurant that has gained more popularity in recent years, especially among Malaysian tourists.
BW Bus Restaurant features a ‘dine on the bus’ concept. It’s one of the family-friendly restaurants in Kundasang with a unique theme. At BW Bus Restaurant, diners can dine on old Sabah buses, capture cute photos with friends and families, and go down a playground slide like a child.
For many, BW Bus Restaurant isn’t just a dining place but also a must-visit local attraction in Kundasang. Keep reading to explore more about this quirky bus restaurant.
A Bus-Themed Restaurant in Kundasang
You can find many unique-themed cafes or restaurants in Sabah, including in Kundasang. In Kundasang, the BW Bus Restaurant is one of the most hyped local attractions.
I dare say that the restaurant’s main highlight isn’t its food or drinks but its unique theme. The restaurant features a ‘dine on a bus’ theme, a very unique dining concept, especially for a small town like Kundasang.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, diners will find old buses – there are more than three buses – that have been refurbished. These buses remind me of Sarawak’s old STC buses.
You’ll still see local buses similar to these, but they’re slightly different in design and are painted in white and red instead.
Visitors Pay for an Entry Ticket Exchangeable With Food or Drinks
Even though BW Bus Restaurant is an excellent place to take insta-worthy photos, it’s a restaurant first before everything else. Hence, visitors are encouraged to buy food and drinks, whether it’s a bowl of fries, a glass of cappuccino, and so on.
There’s an RM5 entrance fee, which can also be used for buying food and drinks. If your order costs more than RM5, you’ll only need to pay the remaining balance.
After ordering your food or drink, go ahead and explore the restaurant and take as many photos as long as you like.
Only One Bus Is Open for Dine In
As discussed, there are more than three buses at the restaurant. Some of them can be seen on the ground while others sit on the upper floor. The buses are turquoise and they’re in good condition, appearance-wise. However, the buses are not fit to drive I believe. Out of the many buses available, only one bus is open to the public for dine-in.
After exiting the cashier counter, you’ll find a staircase on your left. It will take you to the bus where you can sit and enjoy your food and drinks.
You Can Enjoy a Lovely View While Dining on the Bus
The bus in which diners can enjoy their meals or drinks sits on the upper floor. Whilst diners sit at their tables, they can enjoy a lovely nature view from the bus. From the bus windows, you can see many trees, clouds, and hills.
After dining on the bus, be sure to take pictures of you and the bus with Mount Kinabalu in the background. With fewer clouds, you should be able to see the mountain. I didn’t get to take a shot with it, unfortunately.
For those planning to visit BW Bus Restaurant in the afternoon, keep in mind that it can get quite hot, especially on the open-air upper floor. It’s best to wear sunglasses or a hat while exploring the area.
What Can I Do at BW Bus Restaurant?
Consider having brunch, lunch, tea time, or dinner at BW Bus Restaurant. There are finger food, hot and cold drinks, and more. Take your time and don’t forget to take memorable photos with the buses. You’ll find many nice spots for your photo session at this bus restaurant.
Note that you can easily sweat in Kundasang, especially on a hot, sunny afternoon. Make sure to stay hydrated always. You may walk around the restaurant with your drink if you like. There are shaded sitting areas where you can take photos; meaning you don’t need to be exposed to the sun every time you want to capture nice photos.
If you need to take a leak, there are restrooms on the ground floor near the big phone decor. You’ll find sitting and squatting options. They were clean as far as I remember.
Note: The restaurant is usually not crowded, so there’s plenty of space for everyone. You can sit on rattan chairs, under a canopy umbrella, on the bus found on the upper floor, or in any shaded areas with chairs.
Have a Meal, Drink, or Dessert
As discussed earlier, visitors can enjoy a meal at BW Bus Restaurant. The restaurant doesn’t have many food options, but the meals look appetising.
During my recent visit in 2023, the restaurant offered dishes like Crispy Chicken Burger, Garlic Soy Chicken Rice Bowl, Mushroom With Garlic Bread, Teriyaki Chicken Aglio Olio, Fried Onion Rings, and Cheese French Fries. For drinks, they have coffee, iced matcha, ice shakes, milo dinosaur, and more. And if you like ice cream, the restaurant has coconut ice cream.
My friends and family enjoyed our brunch at BW Bus Restaurant.
Role Play As a Bus Driver
There are a few tables on the bus. I’ve visited BW Bus Restaurant twice and have always chosen the seat right behind the driver’s seat. The bus was empty during my first visit, so my friends and I had the entire space for ourselves.
We took turns role-playing as the bus driver. What a fun experience indeed. It’s not every day that we get to dine on a bus or “drive” a bus.
Did it feel like driving a real bus? It came close to that.
Wait at the Bus Stop or Call Someone
If you don’t want to Grab your way around, why not stop a bus? There’s a bus stop where you can “stop” a bus. You may also sit while waiting.
If the bus doesn’t turn up (yeah, that’s likely to happen), use the restaurant’s public phone to “call” someone to pick you up instead.
There’s a huge dial pad on the restaurant’s wall and a wall-mount landline phone for you to make pretend calls.
Note: The restaurant is usually not crowded, so there’s plenty of space for everyone. You can sit on rattan chairs, under a canopy umbrella, on the bus found on the upper floor, or in any shaded areas with chairs.
Go Down a Playground Slide and Feel Like a Child Again
After dining on the bus, visitors may take the stairs to get back down again. Alternatively, they may take the slide instead. I took the slide twice. It’s more fun and it takes me back to my childhood, like how these old buses make me feel.
Going down the slide can be very quick for very lightweight people. It’s important to be careful when going down the slide. Your cloth fabric also matters. You may slide down quicker if you’re wearing smooth pants than if you were to wear pants of a heavier-weighted fabric.
Would I Return to BW Bus Restaurant?
I’ve been to Kundasang twice and have visited BW Bus Restaurant during my visits. I enjoyed my time there the first time, so I decided to revisit the restaurant – this time with my friends and family. My aunt loves taking photos, so taking her to BW Bus Restaurant was a good idea.
I would return to BW Bus Restaurant if I visit Kundasang again with someone who might be interested in visiting the restaurant. If I were alone, however, I probably wouldn’t return for the third time. Compared to other dining places in town, BW Bus Restaurant has fewer food and drink options.
Is BW Bus Restaurant Open Until Night?
BW Bus Restaurant is open until night. The restaurant operates every day, Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For the best view, I recommend coming to BW Bus Restaurant during the day.
Coming at night has its perks, too. It’s less hot during the night and visitors can still take lovely photos with the buses at BW Bus Restaurant.
Summary
BW Bus Restaurant is a bus-themed restaurant in Kundasang that has earned increasing popularity, especially among Malaysian tourists. It has an inviting atmosphere – friendly staff, beautiful decor, and clean facilities. The food and drinks served at BW Bus Restaurant are good. No complaints.
Considering that the RM5 entrance ticket can be exchanged for food and drinks – plus the experience and beautiful photos one gets in return – I think a visit to the restaurant is worth it.
