The forest vendors’ weird and wonderful produce, including fruits only found on Borneo and home-grown spices and herbs, are a highlight of any visit to Satok Market. But there’s also a wet market, a dry market, and a food court, serving up Malay favorites and Sarawak specialties.
The Malaysian government relocated Satok Market from its downtown location on Jalan Satok to its new site north of the river in 2013. Don’t panic if you see the market listed as closed online: it just means it has moved.
Medan Niaga Satok sits in the Kubah Ria district, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) east of downtown Kuching. The free H2 hydrogen bus runs on a loop that includes Kuching Waterfront; get off at Kubah Ria.
Satok Market operates throughout the week but is at its best on weekends, when vendors from more remote areas come into the big city to sell their wares. Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings are liveliest.
Kuching offers a wealth of quirky shopping opportunities. Head to the Cat Museum for all forms of feline memorabilia or visit Fabriko for unusual local designs based on traditional fabrics. The bazaar on Kuching Waterfront sells souvenirs including woven baskets, with the Museum Shop & Café at the Main Bazaar selling excellent textiles and locally made beauty products.
IT
