Taking a shopping day trip to JB has long been a favourite pasttime for Singaporeans, especially on beloved long weekends or public holidays. Whether it’s to get our nails done or make our tummies happy, Malaysia always has so much to offer for a kinder price tag.
The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, JB spans over a crazy 2.5 million square feet with a total of 4 different entrances. If you only have time to visit one mall in JB, our vote’s on this one.
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Mid Valley Southkey is closer to Woodlands Causeway and is just a 5-minute drive away once you cross the border. It’s pretty close to the ever-iconic KSL mall – read: you can easily go mall-hopping during a day trip. While there are public buses like T21 that can take you from JB Sentral to the mall, the journey takes much longer, so we suggest booking a Grab if you don’t drive.
Stay the night if you can – St. Giles Southkey Johor Bahru (from RM358/night, ~S$109.94/night) is a hotel attached to the mall. Considering the central location, it’s a pretty great place to set up base to explore the rest of the area.
Size aside, Mid Valley Southkey is also known as a one-stop shopping mall. Singaporeans might be happy to hear that they have our favourite fashion and beauty stores like Uniqlo, Sephora, and Innisfree. Luxury stores are also aplenty, and you can’t miss Dior Beauty, Gucci Beauty, and Rolex on the ground floor.
For a quick look at our listed attractions in Mid Valley Southkey Mall, here’s a directory overview.
| Store Name | Description | Location | Customer Review Highlight |
| The Founders Bakery | Popular cafe known for uniquely flavored bagels | LGK-26, Lower Ground | “Love their bagels, mix and match options are fun.” |
| GSC Cinema & Aurum | Two cinemas offering affordable and luxury options | GSC: AT-3, 3rd Floor (Mezzanine) Aurum Theatre: AT-3, 3rd Floor | “Comfortable seats, great sound, Aurum is ultra plush.” |
| KF Kiddy Circuit | Kid-friendly go-kart racing | TM-008, 3rd Floor (Mezzanine) | “Fun, safe, and great for kids.” |
| FamilyMart | Convenience store with Japanese snacks and meals | LG-020, Lower Ground | “Well stocked, better range than other outlets.” |
| Din by Din Tai Fung | Halal dim sum & Shanghainese restaurant | LG-005/006, Lower Ground | “Best dim sum in JB, delicious fried rice.” |
| SOGO | Large Japanese-style department store | AT-1, 2nd Floor | “Huge store, polite staff, wide product range.” |
| Say Nails | Affordable nail salon | S-045, 2nd Floor | “Friendly staff, clean, detailed work.” |
| Village Grocer | Mini mall with supermarket and F&B | AT-02, Lower Ground | “Huge supermarket, great variety, pleasant experience.” |
| YSL Beauty | Luxury beauty brand outlet | G-030, Ground Floor | “Helpful staff, samples, and discounts.” |
| Kiddytopia | Indoor playground for children | TM-042/043, 3rd Floor (Mezzanine) | “Just the right size, attentive staff.” |
| Thai Odyssey | Massage parlour specialising in Thai techniques | TM-011, 3rd Floor (Mezzanine) | “Very good masseuses, relaxing environment.” |
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to do at Mid Valley Southkey, here’s a list of shops, food options, and other activities to help you navigate the mall.
JB cafe addicts might be familiar with The Founders Bakery at Mid Valley Southkey, a popular cafe known for their chunky, flavourful bagels and cinnamon rolls priced around RM9-RM15 (~S$2.76-$4.61).
Although the bagels are available in set combinations, we recommend going with the mix-and-match option which is a little more fun. Choose from bagel flavours like Cheddar Jalapeno and Spicy Curry Cream Cheese, then pick your toppings from options like Brown Onion Paradise and Peach Cheesecake.
P.S. There’s no dine-in available at the Mid Valley Southkey branch, so you’ll need to order to go.
The Founders Bakery review: “Bought cinnamon rolls and bagel here, and I love their bagels so much! You can either pick their recommended flavours on the menu or you can mix and match and create flavours of your own. Their cinnamon rolls taste okay. not bad but the cinnamon taste is barely noticeable.” – Ayu Atikah via Google Maps
At this mega mall, you have the luxury of choosing between 2 of the best JB cinemas. Catch the latest blockbuster at either GSC Cinema or Aurum.
Image credit: Ferco Seating
The former has wallet-friendly tickets starting from RM15 (~S$4.61) and a variety of halls, including IMAX and a kid-friendly theatre.
If you are in your bougie era, Aurum is the pinnacle of luxury. We’re talking a “gold class” experience with ultra-plush reclining beds, fleece blankets, and meals included. Need to juice up your phone? Your seats have USB charging ports. A ticket to their Getha Lux Suite will set you back around RM110 (~S$33.78).
GSC Cinema review: “Very comfortable soft leather lounge seats, I cosied up from head to calf, but the surround sound system was a bit too loud. Overall, the experience was very worth the ticket price. Will definitely return for more movies here.” – bearythots via Google Maps
Kids and go-karts are a match made in heaven. Delight your mini Dominic Toretto at KF Kiddy Circuit, located on the 4th floor of the mall. Rain or shine, your little one can race through 200m of track. Single rides are priced from RM35/8 minutes (~S$10.75), with themed decor like dinosaurs along the way.
You don’t need to worry about your kiddo going too fast and furious as well, since the karts are set to a maximum speed of 8km/h.
KF Kiddy Circuit review: “Great experience for the kids, they totally loved it. It’s fun and safe, and the friendly staff were quite flexible with our needs. Highly recommended if you have kids or are a kid at heart yourself.” – Henry Tano via Google Maps
You can watch xiao long baos (XLBs) being made from the glass window.
Many have been known to profess their undying love for the fried rice and XLBs at Din Tai Fung. Din by Din Tai Fung takes a new spin on the food that many of us know and love, being the first pork-free Din Tai Fung outlet right here in JB.
Try out the Chicken Chop Egg Fried Rice (RM32.08, ~S$9.85) which serves as a worthy competitor to the famed pork chop fried rice. While the rice remains just as savoury, the fried chicken is peppery and makes for a delicious pairing. Of course, you’ve got to try their signature Chicken Xiao Long Baos (from RM 13.41/4 pieces, ~S$4.12); bite into them carefully to reveal juicy bits of meat and a decadent hit of chicken broth.
Our favourite dish ended up being the unconventional Sambal Chicken XLB, that has a rich and spicy sambal broth.
Other special mentions at this Mid Valley Southkey restaurant include the Braised Beef Noodle Soup (RM37.26, ~S$11.44) and Xiao Long Bao variants like Crab Roe & Chicken Xiao Long Bao (RM20.75/4 pieces, ~S$6.37) that you won’t be able to find in Singapore.
Din by Din Tai Fung review: “We ordered a few dishes, including dim sum, and everything was really good. Honestly, some of the best dim sum I’ve had in JB so far. The fried rice was nice, the Sichuan chicken was super tasty, and the prawn mayo was seriously delicious, definitely recommend it.” – June Sapine via Google Maps
Walking around the IKI NA section, a Japanese brand with clothes, accessories and homewares.
Some might remember the SOGO that Singapore once had in Raffles City way back in the 90s. While this Takashimaya-esque department store has since closed down on our shores, you can hit up the next nearest outlet in JB. From beauty products to homeware goods, you’ll easily kill off an hour wandering around the place.
SOGO review: One of the best department stores in JB. Polite store attendants, and they aren’t pushy at all. It’s huge, spanning 4 floors, and they have almost everything you need for your wardrobe and your home.” – Perera Christine via Google Maps
Getting your nails done in Singapore can get pretty expensive sometimes, especially if you opt for a gelish manicure. But at Say Nails Services, you can get yourself pampered like royalty at cheaper prices that start from RM98 (~S$30.10) for a basic gel manicure. The salon also offers services for lash extensions and brow embroidery.
The soft fluorescent lighting and minimalistic decorations will make you completely relaxed while you sit back and enjoy yourself.
Check out other nail salons in JB.
Say Nails review: “The staff are super friendly and welcoming, and the place is very clean and comfortable. My nail technician paid so much attention to detail, which made the whole experience relaxing. The design turned out even better than I expected – stylish, neat, and exactly what I wanted. The polish also lasts a long time without chipping.” – JaniceChok via Google Maps
Village Grocer is a mini village within the mall, with an enormous supermarket, F&B outlet and a stationery store. Both adults and little ones can be easily entertained for hours on end here just wandering around.
Dishes such as the Roasted Pork Fried Rice + Homemade Sausage (RM29.90, ~S$9.15) are good for those who want their individual portions.
Meat-eaters will enjoy a meal at The Butcher’s Kitchen, which serves a variety of German-inspired dishes. This spot is perfect for bigger groups as they have hearty sharing platters that won’t burn a hole in your wallets, such as the Sausage Platter with Coleslaw (RM50.40 for 6 pieces, ~S$15.43), as well as meat staples like Australian Beef Steak (RM165.90, ~S$50.79) if you’re feeling extra ravenous.
Village Grocer review: “I’m very impressed by the huge size of this supermarket and its wide variety of both local and internationally-sourced products. The supermarket also has a nice bakery cafe with a wide selection of bakes and beverages. My shopping experience at this supermarket was very pleasant – the aisles were wide and the air-conditioning was good.” – edtayjb via Google Maps
Check out other supermarkets in JB.
With YSL Beauty’s very first outlet in JB, you’ll be able to test-try all the makeup you want. The store’ wide makeup range has enough for you to have a field day – from all sorts of lipstick shades and their best-selling cushion foundation, the Le Cushion Encre De Peau.
Pamper yourself trying out all the makeup products at their vanity tables.
The friendly staff here will also assist you with whatever it is that you need, whether it’s finding out which product is the best for your skin type or figuring out which foundation shade matches your skin tone.
YSL Beauty review: “I had a wonderful time shopping here as the sales assistant was extremely helpful, attentive, and friendly throughout my visit. She gave me samples and a complimentary gift with my purchase. I also enjoyed a 10% birthday month discount.” – Mila Lamza via Google Maps
Another family-friendly spot within Mid Valley Southkey is Kiddytopia (RM48/child, ~S$14.69) on Level 4. Suitable for children aged 2 and up, it’s a lively indoor playground that sports multiple slides to whoosh down and ball pits to splash into. There’s also a section filled with giant building blocks for creative tots to play around with, a LEGO playzone, and trampolines to bounce all over.
Parents, worry not. While the kiddos have their fun and are cared for by attentive staff, there is free WiFi available at Kiddytopia for a timely Netflix binge. When the rowdy ones are all knackered out, refuel at the on-site cafe before heading back in for round 2.
Kiddytopia review: “I visited with my 8-year-old daughter on a weekday morning and there were more kids than I expected, so she had friends to play with. The place was just the right size and the staff were attentive, always keeping an eye on the children, which made me feel reassured.” – Julie Kim via Google Maps
Image credit: Thai Odyssey
Those with knotted backs and stiff necks can make a beeline to Thai Odyssey located on Level 3M at Mid Valley Southkey. It’s a well-known massage parlour chain throughout Johor, and like their name suggests, they specialise in massages that employ traditional Thai techniques.
Go for their signature Thai Traditional Massage (from RM140, ~S$42.86); skilled masseuses will utilise acupressure, joint mobilisation, deep muscle compression, and yoga-like stretches to dispel trapped tension and reduce fatigue. If you’re strapped for time, consider their quick 15-minute head or shoulder massage (RM39, ~S$11.94), and when you’ve got an hour or 2 to spare, their Thai Aromatherapy Massage (from RM160, ~S$48.98) is truly an experience for the senses.
Thai Odyssey review: “I had the aromatherapy massage and my masseuse was very good. The pressure was just right and she hit all the right knots. I liked that she tried her best to iron out the stiffness in my body, and I almost fell asleep during the massage. Their premises were very clean and quiet as well, which made me feel relaxed.” – Stephanie Chua via Google Maps
Those who have ventured to Japan before will be no strangers to FamilyMart, one of the many iconic convenience stores that’s the source of all our onigiri and oden fixes. Plus, the store has rows and rows of Japanese snacks you can’t get back in Singapore’s convenience stores.
The onigiri selection has a myriad of flavours to keep your tummy happy, with options like salted salmon, teriyaki chicken, and tuna.
And if you’re looking for something more filling, you can get a full course meal right here, with main meals such as Katsu Curry Rice that you can heat up and dessert choices such as Matcha Parfait. There’s even a seating area for you to enjoy all the food at a wallet-friendly price.
Before you leave, try Japanese oden, a type of fish cake stew. The well-loved street food in Japan comes with 2 broths here: Original and Tom Yum. All you gotta do is to pick the ingredients you want in your oden, including Ajitsuke Tamago, fishballs and daikon. We’re just glad that we don’t have to take an 8-hour plane ride to enjoy all this anymore!
Do note that the FamilyMart outlet at The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey is currently temporarily closed as it is undergoing renovation works, and is set to reopen in the near future.
FamilyMart review: “Well stocked, and they have a full display of ready-to-eat meals and products. Pretty good range, better than other outlets I have seen. Satisfied with the service as well.” – Kimberly Howarth via Google Maps
Penang Chendul’s Mid Valley Southkey’s outlet has since closed down, but you can check out their other locations at AEON Mall Tebrau City and Johor Bahru City Square.
The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey is the largest integrated mall in Johor – the grandeur of the place bumps up the shopping experience for sure.
It’s always nice to give yourself a break from going to the same usual malls and restaurants. The next time you treat yourself to a day trip out to JB, head to The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey to kaypoh a little and enjoy some of the goodies you can’t get in Singapore.
This post is brought to you by The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey.
Cover image adapted from: @the_foodie_storiess via Instagram, Aurum Theatre via Facebook Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao on 27th October 2025.
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