118 Mall in Kuala Lumpur
KL is no stranger to grand mall openings, but the soon-to-open 118 Mall in Kuala Lumpur is something else entirely. Sitting at the base of Merdeka 118, this seven-storey retail haven will house over 300 retail and dining outlets, with over 70% of the retail space already filled up. Developed by PNB Merdeka Ventures, it’s set to open its doors in August 2026.
Here’s what to expect at the 118 Mall, from a proper Malaysian food hall to a glass-domed event space unlike anything else in the city.
How to get to 118 Mall?
Image credit: 118 Mall KL via website
The mall is located near Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara. It’s only a 13-minute drive from Central Market, and less than a 10-minute drive from Bukit Bintang. You can use the Belfield Tunnel via Jalan Syed Putra to directly access the mall’s Basement 4 parking space.
Image adapted from: mrt.com.my and KLIA2 Info via website
But if you want to use public transport, the mall is directly connected to the Merdeka MRT station, with an escalator that brings shoppers right to the mall’s LG Floor. But if you’re using the LRT Ampang line, you can get off at Plaza Rakyat Station.
For e-hailing riders, you can choose the North Entrance of Merdeka 118 as your drop-off point.
Popular eateries & other establishments
Whenever we go out, there’s always someone who will pop the question: “Nak makan kat mana?”, and we’ll always take at least 20-minutes to search on Google and decide on a lunch spot. Well, 118 Mall is sure to have many eateries to choose from.
Image credit: Kenny Hills Bakers via website
These food and beverage tenants include Kenny Hills Cafe, ZUS Coffee, Eight Ounce Coffee, Oriental Kopi, Dolly DimSum, and Cili Kampung. Other retail outlets opening up shop at the mall are Skechers, Decathlon, Habib Jewels, Coach, Hackett London, Cole Haan, Asics, and LiNing.
Image credit: CITTA Mall via website
For families and everyday essentials, Village Grocer can satisfy your grocery needs, while HappiKiddo and Babyshop are for the parents with little ones.
The biggest anchor tenant is SOGO118, a refreshed evolution of the iconic Malaysian department store brand. Though this isn’t your typical SOGO, because the new concept reportedly leans into a more modern retail experience, complete with a new Matcha bar and a curated selection of Korean, Japanese and Chinese beauty brands.
The Atmosphere, a glass dome shopping experience
Image credit: 118mall via website
The most jaw-dropping feature of 118 Mall is The Atmosphere on Level 4. It’s 20,000sqft of event space beneath an 88-metre glass dome, powered by multiple large high-definition LED screens. The space is designed as an event plaza – think a spot for fashion showcases, exhibitions, and cultural events.
A local-heritage-focused art district & food hall
Image credit: 118mall via website
The crown jewel of 118 Mall is the Malaysian Artisan District, an 80,000sqft zone dedicated to celebrating everything local like food, craft, and retail. The heritage-forward concept sets this mall apart from your standard retail complex.
Image credit: 118mall via website
At the heart of it is Makanizm Food Hall on Level 3. Here, you’ll get the ultimate hawker-meets-food-hall experience, curated to showcase the best of what Malaysia’s food culture has to offer.
The View at 118
Image credit: Merdeka 118
Much like the Petronas Twin Towers, Merdeka 118 has its own observation deck that gives visitors a panoramic view of KL. Called The View at 118, this deck is situated at heights from 510 to 568m, making it the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia. Since the mall sits at the base of the building, mall goers can easily visit this observation deck.
Further details and ticket information to access this deck are yet to be announced.
Attractions near 118 Mall
Central Market & Petaling Street
Image adapted from: @centralmarketkualalumpur via Instagram; and frank variasi via Google Reviews
118 Mall is the retail heartbeat of the entire Merdeka 118 precinct, not far from iconic KL attractions like Petaling Street, which is only a 10–minute walk away. Central Market is also no more than an 18-minute walk away.
If you’re up to doing more than just walking, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad is a must-see heritage building just 5-minutes away from Central Market. Meanwhile, a Grab ride from 118 Mall is as low as RM8.50, and only a 7-minute drive.
Stadium Negara & Stadium Merdeka
Image adapted from: @bazrammerdeka and @klcityscapes via Instagram
The precinct is also just a short walk from Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara. The former is an outdoor stadium where locals could jog, hold sports events, and enjoy a community iftar picnic during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The latter stadium is a closed domed stadium where local event organisers hold cultural events, or even concerts.
Merdeka Textile Museum
Image credit: Architecture Asia via website
Just outside of the Merdeka 118 building is the upcoming Merdeka Textile Museum (MTM), which is scheduled to open at the same time as the mall. The museum showcases the history and the making of Malay textiles. Visitors get to learn about the person and inspiration behind textile designs and collections.
Image credit: Warisan KL via website
LaLaport Bukit Bintang Convention Centre (BBCC)
Image adapted from: LaLaport BBCC
Here’s a little secret: there’s a little piece of Tokyo’s Akihabara at a nearby mall called LaLaport BBCC. Here, there’s an ACG base with over 20 shops full of goodies and themed food centred on anime, comics, and games. This includes Malaysia’s first Animate cafe and permanent store.
The Zhongsan Building
Image adapted from: @rekadsgn via Instagram
There’s also a 4-floor artsy hub that is just a 10-minute drive away and no more than an 18-minute walk. The Zhongshan Building is an understated building tucked away on the corner of Jalan Rotan in Kampung Attap.
Here, you’ll find indie bookstores, cosy cafes, and quirky artisanal stores, including the popular Tommy Le Baker, Re{me}dy, and Ana Tomy.
Shop at the world’s second tallest building
Between the food hall, the glass dome event space, the massive Malaysian Artisan District, and the sheer scale of the place, 118 Mall is shaping up to be a landmark destination.
Whether you’re in it for the Kenny Hills Cafe, the SOGO118 Matcha bar, or just to say you’ve been inside the world’s second-tallest building’s mall, August just can’t come soon enough.
Cover image adapted from: 118 Mall KL via website