Time flies and the first half of 2024 has flown past in a flash, but if you’re too short on leaves to go for an actual flight, fret not, as there’s a mall across the border to check out.
Just a 20-minute drive from the Woodlands causeway, is Toppen Shopping Centre, a sparkling mall chock full of activities. From a free rooftop sports arena to a cinema with 5 different types of halls, here are some of the things you can look forward to:
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A JB trip often comprises shopping and food but their cinema scene is pretty nifty too, especially with the newest TGV Cinemas, with 5 different types of halls to choose from.
Right at the entrance, you’ll be greeted by the retro Coca-Cola snack bar, with a power charging station to boost up your phone battery while waiting for the movie to start.
Perhaps the best hall to catch an action or horror movie in is the Flexound Hall (RM25, ~S$7.17), the first in Southeast Asia and the largest in the world, where there are speakers embedded into each seat for optimal sound quality.
We caught an action movie here and could vividly feel the reverberations of each explosion in the movie. No one is going to go “wait, what did the guy just say?” here as the dialogue comes out nice and clear, straight to your ear.
For families with young ‘uns in tow, the Family Friendly hall is a perfect spot with seats like the huge Lounger (RM65, ~S$18.63) that can fit a family of 4. Linked to the back of the cinema is also a playroom for kids with restless feet to run around.
Family Friendly kid’s playroom.
Infinity Hall.
Other halls included in this cinema are the 5 regular Deluxe+ screens, premium Prestige hall, and large-screened Infinity hall which has 3 different types of seats and is powered by the latest 4K laser projector and the 57-channel Dolby Atmos sound system.
Opening hours: ~10.30am-12am, Daily. Varies depending on show times.
Bring along a set of sportswear as there’s a bunch of adrenaline-inducing facilities on the rooftop Active Zone. The good news is that everything here is free of charge – although you’ll need to put in a refundable deposit when you borrow some equipment.
9-6 peeps out there, take a break from climbing the corporate ladder and scale the high wall in Toppen’s Active Zone instead. Rock climbing and bouldering in Singapore can get pretty expensive, ranging around the $30s per entry, so this is a fantastic opportunity to climb without having to watch your pennies. Plus, there’s a boulder wall for kids below 12 years old if they want to climb too.
There are 5 routes of varying difficulty to try out, from beginner-friendly flat walls to tougher inclined routes. Climbing gear like harnesses, shoes, and even chalk are provided, but you’ll need to bring along a pair of socks to use the climbing shoes.
Bouldering wall.
Deposit required: Harness and shoes – RM30 (~S$8.60), Helmet – RM20 (~S$5.73), Chalk Bag – RM10 (~S$2.86). Rates may vary.
Deposits will be refunded when the items are returned in the original condition at the end of the session!
If you miss the skateparks in Singapore don’t fret, there’s one right here too. With graffiti spray painted along its walls, you can show off some of your skills, and pick up some tricks from fellow skaters. Skateboards and rollerblades aren’t available for rental so remember to bring your own along.
Open-air multi-purpose court.
Let your inner Lebron James loose and shoot some hoops at the rooftop basketball court. The area can also be turned into a badminton court or futsal court for a few bouts of friendly matches.
Rooftop Active Zone
Location: L3 Rooftop Active Zone
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Leave your stresses behind at the Mini Studio karaoke, where you can bellow your lungs out in cosy wooden capsule rooms. We managed to find a good variety of English and Mandarin songs here, including the latest hits.
There are 8 different language settings to choose from.
There’s no need to worry about going embarrassingly off-tune in their Small Room (1-2pax), as the microphones are linked to the provided headphones instead of loudspeakers. Prices start from a wallet-friendly RM18/hour (~S$5.16) for a Small Room.
Medium Rooms fit up to 4 people and start from RM23/hour (~S$6.60). Come with a larger group to enjoy even more economical prices from RM28/hour (~S$8.03) for a Big Room that fits up to 8 people – that’s just roughly ~S$1/hour per person.
If walking around the huge mall has gotten the kids tired, let them freshen up at the outdoor playground and splash park, where there are water fountains, slides, bridges, and a giant splash bucket. Eateries like Molten Chocolate Cafe surround the playground so parents can grab a cuppa nearby and relax while the kids run free. There are shower amenities for your kids to clean up and dry off after splashing around.
At dusk, a great place to catch the sunset is the Rooftop Garden. Filled with lush greens, neon lights, and an unobstructed view of the area around, the sprawling space is great for post-dinner walks and HTHTs.
Grab a shot or two for the ‘Gram at their wooden gazebos framed with vines and neon strips.
The existing IKEA Tebrau is also now connected to Toppen via an air-conditioned link, so you can pop by to bag some savings on your furniture buys. As the largest IKEA in Malaysia, this one is a lot bigger than the one at Tampines with 54 showrooms for inspiration for your dream room.
Unlike in Singapore, you won’t have to rush in to fight for seats either as their spacious cafeteria has plenty of room for everyone.
If the kids can’t sit still, bring them to JumpLah Playground to release their pent-up energy.
It’s a new take on the classic “The Floor Is Lava” game, where you’ll have to hop, dodge, and do everything possible to avoid stepping on the tiles that have been lit up in red. The red tiles will be coming at you hot and fast, so you’ll definitely work up a sweat.
It can get quite slippery so bring along a pair of grip socks for extra traction and safety. Beat the game in 15 minutes and you’ll earn yourself bragging rights for being quick and agile. To join the fun, each ticket will set you back from RM25 (~S$7.16) from Mondays to Thursdays and RM32 (~S$9.17) from Fridays to Sundays.
A trip to JB is incomplete without a food feast. And with so much to do and see while you’re here, you’re better off fueling up at one of Toppen’s many restaurants and cafes. Here are some things that are on the menu:
Featuring an array of local food, Food Empire is an air-conditioned, comfortable food court for grabbing a hearty affordable meal.
Seafood lovers can’t miss out on the Nasi Goreng Stulang store, a branch off the popular joint near the second link frequent JB-goers might know about. The seafood here is brought in fresh daily, cooked on a sizzling iron griddle, and charged by weight so you can order however much you want.
A must-try is the Pari, or stingray, which is tender and sweet, and topped with a coat of spicy sambal. The Udang also blew us away as well with large and juicy prawns grilled with curry.
Classic Kolo Mee and Mancai Mihun.
For Malaysian favourites, head to Sarawak Taste for lip-smacking fare like their Kolo Mee, available in classic, laksa broth, or with toppings like fried chicken and seafood. A dish hardly found in Singapore that you might want to try as well, is the Mancai Mihun, a light bee hoon dish with eggs and mancai, also known as sweet leaf.
Any plans for a diet will be gone with the wind when you step into Molten Chocolate Cafe. Their menu comprises a variety of lavish chocolatey dishes from Molten Sizzling Pancake (RM30.74, ~S$8.82) to Fettuccine Crepe (RM35, ~S$10.04)– both a feast for the tastebuds and the eyes.
No drink is more perfect for rainy weather than a cup of Belgium Hot Chocolate (RM16.82, ~S$4.82), which comes with an intricate floral-like art on top.
If you’re driving to JB, Tuas Checkpoint is the nearest to Toppen Shopping Centre. It will take you around 50 minutes with traffic. There’s a parking lot at Toppen Shopping Centre with rates from RM2 (~S0.57).
Parking rates:
Mon-Thu: RM2 (~S$0.57) for 3 hours, RM1/hour (~S$0.29) subsequently
Fri-Sun & PH: RM3 (~S$0.86) for 3 hours, RM1/hour (~S$0.29) subsequently
Alternatively, you can take bus 170X from Woodlands Checkpoint to Johor Bahru Checkpoint. Afterwards, walk to JB Sentral bus stop and ride bus T14. From there, it will just be a short 7 minute walk to Toppen Shopping Centre.
To get all updates on promotions and ongoing events before visiting, download the Toppen Shopping Centre app (App Store | Google Play).
Parents who want their hands free to carry shopping bags and not their kid who doesn’t want to walk can get a stroller at the customer service counter for free. There are also wheelchairs available for the elderly or disabled. These are available for up to 3 hours of use after putting down a refundable deposit of RM100 (~S$28.65).
Image credit: Toppen
JB has always been the enthralling answer to all our weekend what-should-we-dos, but now there’s another reason to visit. With the easily accessible Toppen Shopping Centre, complete with its plethora of activities to try out, and nummy grub to munch on, there’s no need to look any further for your next getaway!
For more cool things to do in JB, check out:
This post was brought to you by Toppen Shopping Centre.
Photography by Lery Villanueva.
Originally published on 6th December 2019. Last updated by Syahiran Sean on 7th June 2024.
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