Most Singaporeans can confidently say that we have gone to JB at least once in our lifetimes, if not several times, as if it’s the only city in Malaysia. Instead of heading to KSL Mall for the millionth time, consider venturing a little further and putting Kuala Lumpur on your list instead.
Other than skyscrapers such as the Petronas Twin Towers and shiny new Merdeka 118, KL is also known for its numerous grand malls filled with food, shopping, and kid-friendly activities. Housing everything from exclusive Japanese concept stores to one of the largest theme parks in Malaysia, here are the biggest malls in KL you can visit.
The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.29 as of 29th July 2024.
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Image credit: Elmina Lakeside Mall via Facebook
Situated in Selangor, Elmina Lakeside Mall is an open-air mall connected to a huge soccer field and a tiger-themed outdoor playground. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hop over to the nearby Elmina Central Park where there are facilities for cycling, running, and water sports like canoeing.
With 80 retail and dining outlets here, this lifestyle destination can easily fill up your 1-day JB trip. For your daily necessities, visit Jaya Grocer to stock up on your groceries and don’t miss out on CARiNG PHARMACY, a JB pharmacy that sells hair serums, body wash, and affordable supplements.
Image adapted from: Thai Odyssey
The beauty and wellness scene here is strong as well, with parlours like Thai Odyssey offering traditional Thai massages, body scrubs, and herbal therapy. A Half-Body Massage here will cost you RM83 for 45 minutes, and they also have packages (from RM1,000)that offer loyalty points you can use to redeem Aroma Hand Soaps, Pure Essential Massage Oils, and Aroma Conditioning Shampoos.
If you’re coming with your kids, drop them off at the huge Toys “R” Us store filled with Ultraman figurines and Hot Wheels model cars.
Image adapted from: @elminalakesidemall via Instagram
You won’t be short on food options, with familiar names like Burger King, Subway, and Krispy Kreme. The mall has plenty of bubble tea options too, such as Gong Cha and a Chagee outlet here that doesn’t have snaking queues like the outlets in SG.
Image credit: KL Pavilion Design Studio
With 700 shops and multiple precincts, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is a bustling mall that is located in the Bukit Bintang district. Beyond the luxury boutique shops, you will find a Japanese-themed precinct with eateries and shops catering to the Otaku culture.
Image credit: Pavilion KL via Facebook
The first stop you should make in Tokyo Street is Kuma Yukata, where you can rent a yukata (RM70) as you roam around. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to put one on, as the staff will guide you through the steps.
To satisfy your cravings, try out the Okonomiyaki Pancakes (from RM24) at Okonomi by Tokyo Don and the popular Matcha Ice Cream (from RM9.50) at Matcha Hero Kyoto. You can also check out the wide variety of Japanese snacks available at Shojikiya, a great alternative to Don Don Donki.
Image credit: Dadi Cinema
If you are looking for a more relaxing activity, Dadi Cinema offers comfortable seats in aesthetic cinema halls for an immersive movie experience.
For those who love getting free samples at food fairs, Mid Valley Megamall is the place to add to your bucket list.
The mall is home to the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, which spans 60,000 square feet and is constantly host to food fairs, seminars, and concerts. Check out the event calendar on their website to be aware of upcoming events being organised.
Image credit: Mid Valley Megamall
If you are searching for a family-bonding activity, Holiday Planet is your answer. It’s not your typical arcade, as it has VR game simulators and karaoke rooms where you can sing your hearts out. You can also drop by Impulse Gaming, a video game store that sells game consoles and figurines.
For food options, you can try the pastries at Family Mart, a Japanese convenience store that you can’t find in Singapore. Alternatively, head to the aesthetic cafe, Antipodean, for Australian-style brunch dishes such as their Avocado Toast With Smoked Bacon (RM33) and quality ground coffee.
Located at the foot of the famous Petronas Twin Towers, Suria KLCC is a 6-story mall in the KL City Centre. However, the skyscrapers are not the only thing to see there, as the mall is packed with various attractions that will keep you on your toes.
Take a break from shopping and eating to immerse yourself in another world at Petrosains Discovery Centre. There are 11 exhibits to explore in total, covering everything from dinosaurs to space technology, including interactive areas for kids. This discovery centre proves that learning about science doesn’t have to be restricted only to classrooms.
Image credit: The Westin Kuala Lumpur via Twitter
Be sure not to miss the water fountain shows at Lake Symphony, with 150 programmed light animations accompanied with music. You can catch this orchestral show hourly from 8pm-10pm daily. After a day’s worth of activities, refuel yourself with some Korean Fried Chicken (from RM20) from K Fry Urban Korean.
Conveniently situated beside Mid Valley Megamall, the Gardens Mall has more than 200 stores and houses a rooftop bookstore, BookXcess. What sets this bookstore apart is their “Powder Room” – a women-only section which carries books curated by women, for women.
There’s also a cafe, Red Red Botak Head, inside the store should you feel hungry or need a caffeine boost. If books aren’t your thing, you can visit Metapark, an arcade with a playground built indoors and familiar ticketed games such as Street Basketball and claw machines.
If you’re feeling extravagant, consider treating yourself to a movie at the boutique luxury cinema, Aurum Theatre. It boasts plush recliner chairs, private halls and 270-degree big screens. However, do note that tickets are priced from RM120, which are on the pricier side.
Image adapted from: Alan Liem via Google Maps, @tzuka.co via Instagram
You will not be disappointed with the dining scene as there is a wide range of ramen and tonkatsu restaurants. Visit TZUKA: Cafe & Bistro to try their Salmon Chazuke (RM25), rice served with salmon and green tea broth or have ramen in the cosy wooden interiors of IPPUDO.
Image credit: @jennysunita via Instagram
Berjaya Times Square has got to be the most action-packed mall on this list, with thrilling roller coaster rides and even a go-kart track. This mall houses the 3-storey Berjaya Times Square Theme Park, which is the second largest indoor theme park in Malaysia. It’s basically Universal Studios without the sun and rain, with prices from RM65/child and RM75/adult.
Image credit: Stars Archery
You can even practise your hand-eye coordination at Stars Archery, the mall’s very own indoor archery range that’s open to both amateurs and professionals. Equipment and safety gear can be rented at the range, with a starter package of 20 arrows for only RM20.
Image credit: @gokartbtskl via Instagram
Mario Kart fans, head down to Go-Kart BTSKL, where you can watch the action, or even speed around a vibey neon race track in one yourself. Pro tip: Use your Berjaya Times Square Theme Park ticket to get a discounted price of RM10 for a 10-minute session.
If you have just finished shopping at Pavilion KL, Lot 10 is another mall that’s just a 5-minute walk away. You won’t want to miss this mall, with its Japanese concept stores offering exclusive products and dining options.
The main attraction of the mall would be Isetan The Japan Store, which was the world’s first Isetan specialty store when it opened in 2016. It comprises 6 levels of fashion, lifestyle and tech, with an entire level dedicated to food. Get Japanese groceries, desserts and the like from brands such as Ginza West, Henri Charpentier, and Toraya – one of the oldest traditional Japanese sweet-makers.
A must-try restaurant on this level is Tamaruya Meat Master, where you can select your own meat, which the chefs will cook teppanyaki-style in front of you.
Image credit: David Fu via Google Maps
Hum to the Don Don Donki tune as you roam around Jonetz by Don Don Donki, a concept store that was Malaysia’s first DDDK outlet. The store spans 3 stories, is open 24 hours, and carries Muslim-friendly products as well as halal-certified Wagyu.
For the kids, there are 2 arcades in this mall: Cow Play Cow Moo and Metapark.
Image credit: @klcatplayground via Instagram
Those looking for a different experience, check out Sunway Putra Mall which has just the thing for cat lovers. C-A-T Playground is a cat cafe where you can play with 10 rescue cats in a feline playground for RM20/hour. Plus, they’re also Malaysia’s first cat-assisted therapy playground, specialising in Autism Sensory Integration Therapy and Animals Assisted Therapy.
For another cat-themed experience, there’s Karaoke Manekineko, where packages start from RM100 per group of 4, including free-flow drinks and snacks. The karaoke rooms are designed with cute cat graphics and a kids’ play area too.
If you’re looking for something more physical, Sunway Putra Mall also has Sk8te City, a roller skating rink which offers lessons and skating packages from RM40/kid and RM50/adult.
Singaporeans often travel to Malaysia for one main purpose: the affordability of household products compared to here at home. If you’re looking to spruce up your home without burning a hole in your wallet, MyTown Shopping Centre is where you should head to.
The IKEA Cheras outlet found right beside the mall is one of the largest in Malaysia, with 56 showrooms and over 8,500 household products. While IKEA is known for its signature Swedish meatballs, this cafeteria also has curry puffs for a local twist.
Should you be looking for non-furniture products, there are shops such as Daison and Kaison selling household products and kitchenware.
Image credit: BananaBro
Besides homeware shopping, you can have a picnic at the Sunken Garden, an amphitheatre-style seating area with wooden benches. This area is near the Town Park, a space created for music festivals and events you can check out too.
This mall is strong on local cuisine, with restaurants such as BananaBro serving their Craving Set (RM13.90), featuring rice served with 4 choices of curries and 3 vegetables. The vegetables are refillable and you can choose to add-on a meat or seafood side dish if you’re still hungry.
The Exchange TRX is a recent addition to the malls in KL, boasting a 10-acre rooftop park as one of its main attractions.
As you enter the rooftop park, you will be greeted with a biodiverse environment that is filled with 150,000 plants from 150 species. Also found here are play areas for kids that are neon-lit when night falls.
Apart from carrying multiple luxury brands, an ideal store to shop at would be SEIBU, sister brand of the well known SOGO. This store carries over 700 lifestyle and homeware brands such as SuperDry and G-Star Raw. You may also find yourself strolling over to the Books Kinokuniya section to browse stationery and cute plushies.
Mil Toast House is a viral Korean cafe that is also not found in Singapore, and it’s the perfect place to have your tea break. Be sure to indulge in their Vanilla Soufflé French Toast (RM23), a fluffy variation of our conventional toast soaked in egg and their aesthetically designed bottled milk (RM13) available in various flavours.
With the endless number of activities we have laid out for you, you might want to consider hoofing it a bit further to these biggest malls in KL on the weekends to skip the mass of Singaporeans in JB. It’s a slightly longer journey there and back, but we promise you won’t be disappointed.
For more guides on things to do in KL:
Cover image adapted from: Petrosains – The Discovery Centre via Facebook, @jennysunita, @gokartbtskl via Instagram
Last updated by Brandon Chia on 10th October 2024.
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