Guide To IOI City Mall, Malaysia’s Biggest Mall In Putrajaya

IOI City Mall in Putrajaya

Combine the two things that Malaysians love – superlatives and shopping – and you get IOI City Mall, the largest shopping mall in Malaysia. Located just a 35-minute drive from KL’s city centre and KL International Airport (KLIA), the mall is a proud boon of Putrajaya that locals visit to shop, eat, and be entertained.

From an indoor sports arena with 15 badminton courts to a galore of all-you-can-eat hotpot restaurants, here’s our guide to IOI City Mall, one of Malaysia’s must-visits for all you mall rats.

Is IOI City Mall the largest mall in Malaysia?

You may be wondering – “IOI City Mall really the biggest mall in Malaysia meh?”

With its Phase 2 expansion in August 2022, dubbed IOI City Mall 2, the mall became the largest mall in Malaysia – surpassing previous record holders, PJ’s 1 Utama Shopping Centre and KL’s Mid Valley Megamall. IOI City Mall is also currently the third largest in the world, with 8 million sqft of space and over 700 retail outlets.

– What to do at IOI City Mall –

1. IOI City Farm

Family-friendly urban farm with three zones

Image credit: @ioicityfarm via Instagram

Animal lovers can surely relate to popping into a pet store at the mall just to coo over adorable animals. At IOI City Mall, there’s IOI City Farm that is home to 17 animal species such as rabbits, marmosets, guinea pigs, and meerkats, and also 50 types of aquatic animals like the sturgeon fish.

Image adapted from: @ioicityfarm via Instagram

The land creatures and marine life are spread out across the family-friendly attraction’s two main zones, Little Rimba and Fresh Water World. The third zone, the Green Land, houses over 100 plant types as well as reptiles and amphibians like sailfin dragons and poison dart frogs.

Image adapted from: @ioicityfarm via Instagram

But you can do more than just look here. The indoor urban farm park also hosts animal interaction sessions with silkie chickens, bearded dragons, chinchillas, and more throughout the day. Touch Tanks and Feed Ponds allow for close interactions with the farm’s amphibians and marine life too.

Admission: RM48/pax (Weekdays) | RM58/pax (Weekends) | RM32/pax for senior citizens and persons with disabilities | Free for children below 2

Unit: AT-6, Level 2, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-9pm, Daily
Contact: IOI City Farm website

2. IOI Sports Centre

Indoor badminton and futsal courts

Image credit: @ioisportscentre via Instagram

If bowling isn’t enough to keep you and your active squad entertained at malls, check out IOI Sports Centre inside the sprawling Putrajaya mall for a round of badminton or futsal indoors.

There also pool tables at the complex.
Image credit: Tian Gan via Google Reviews

The sports complex on the mall’s 4th floor has a total of 15 well-maintained badminton courts, utilised by both guest shuttlers and budding students from the IOI Rashid Sidek Badminton Academy. You can also rent out one of two mini courts for a futsal session.

The complex is also complete with facilities such as shower stalls, bathrooms, and lockers.

Fees (Badminton): RM10/hour before 6pm (Weekdays) | RM25/hour before 6pm (Weekends) | RM35/hour between 6pm-1am (Weekdays & Weekends)
Fees (Futsal): RM50/hour before 6pm (Weekdays) | RM100/hour before 6pm (Weekends) | RM130/hour between 6pm-1am (Weekdays & Weekends)

Unit: AT-10, Level 4, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-8pm | Sat, Sun & PH 10am-8pm
Contact: IOI Sports Centre website

3. District 21

Post apocalypse-themed attraction with 8 zones

Image adapted from: @031.1mhz via Instagram, @mstqmhud via Instagram

Walk along the stretch of IOI City Mall and you might bump into a robot “bursting” from the building’s walls. But don’t worry – it’s not the end of the world. The robot is part of the outer signage for District 21, a post apocalypse-themed indoor amusement park with a total of eight daredevil zones.

Image credit: @mightysuperruth via Instagram

The weather is summery all year in Malaysia, but you’ll forget where you are when you’re snow tubing down the 44m-long track of Tubby Ride. There’s also Sky Trail, an indoor rope challenge with 23 elements, and Roller Glider, the first indoor roller glider in Malaysia with 180 metres of zipline and coasters.

Image adapted from: @mohammadsuhairi via Instagram, @hy_shyyyy via Instagram

If you’re coming here with your young ones, the theme park also has kid-friendly zones like the bouncy Launch Pad for practicing slam dunks, and Maze for navigating tunnels and cages set 10m off the ground.

Do note that District 21 has a strict no-slippers-or-sandals rule – covered shoes and sports attire are required to access the activity zones here.

Admission: RM64/pax (Weekdays) | RM80/pax (Weekends) | RM10/pax (Visitors)

Unit: AT-6, Level 1, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-8pm | Sat, Sun & PH 10am-8pm
Contact: District 21 website

4. GSC East

The largest GSC in Malaysia

Image credit: IOI City Mall

GSC outlets are a fairly common sight at any Malaysian mall. The chain cinema is a favourite haunt for local movie geeks and the go-to place for anyone looking to catch the latest feature films. At IOI City Mall, there’s not one, but two GSC outlets – understandable given the mall’s size. But the larger of the two, and the one with the biggest GSC Play Park in Malaysia is the one at IOI City Mall 2, which has a total of 13 halls and IMAX halls to boot.

Image credit: GSC

This new GSC houses the country’s largest version of the kid-friendly Play Park, a one-of-a-kind movie hall complete with a giant indoor playground. For accompanying adults and kids that aren’t too keen on the chaos of the slides and ball pits, the hall is also furnished with plush Premiere recliner seats for chilling out and actual movie watching over popcorn and drinks.

The slides hover over the cinema’s foyer.
Image credit: GSC

While waiting for the doors of this movie hall to open, the kiddos can zoom down slides in the foyer while the grown-ups can grab a quick bite at GSC’s Happy Food Co. cafe.

Unit: AT-5, Level 3, IOI City Mall 2

5. Icescape Ice Rink

Olympic-sized skating rink

Image credit: IOI City Mall

The list of superlatives associated with IOI City Mall carries on with the Icescape Ice Rink, certified by as the biggest ice skating rink in Malaysia as certified by the Malaysia Book of Records.

The Olympic-sized rink has ample room for beginners to skate leisurely and seasoned pros to show off their best twirls without feeling cramped. There’s also no time limit for skating sessions here, so you don’t have to feel rushed to make the most of your time on the ice.

Image credit: @anchyi1102 via Instagram

Skate shoe rentals are included in the admission fee, with gloves (RM10), socks (RM6), and a Penguin (RM30/hour) skating assistant available to rent.

The rink sends its zamboni ice smoother out to resurface the ice at 2.30pm, 5pm, and 7.30pm for 30 minutes, which gives skaters time to refuel or rest. Popular food chains right next to the rink to do just that include Marrybrown, 4Fingers, and A&W.

Fees: RM30/pax (Weekdays) | RM35/pax (Weekends) | RM5/pax (Visitors)

Unit: AT-6, Level 2, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Icescape Ice Rink website

6. Wangsa Bowl

Spacious 38-lane bowling alley

Image adapted from: Johnson IF Collection via Google Reviews

Bowling is a group activity that’s hard to go wrong with, whether you have first-time or seasoned bowlers in your gang. At IOI City Mall, the bowling chain Wangsa Bowl has a spacious alley with a total of 38 lanes.

Image credit: @ayie07scha via Instagram

A bowling session here is priced according to time, with 30- and 60-minute options available. Note that the alley can get packed on the weekends, as it often hosts tournaments and events. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to show up before lunch or dinner hours to snag a lane without the long wait.

Shoes and socks can be rented for RM3 per pair.

Fees (30 minutes): RM17/lane before 5pm, RM22/lane after 5pm (Weekdays) | RM30/lane (Weekends)
Fees (60 minutes): RM30/lane before 5pm, RM40/lane after 5pm (Weekdays) | RM60/lane (Weekends)

Unit: AT-6, Level 2, IOI City Mall
Contact: Icescape Ice Rink website

– What to eat & drink at IOI City Mall –

7. Suki-Ya

Reasonably priced all-you-can-eat Japanese hotpot

Image credit: @ceciy0629 via Instagram

Suki–Ya at IOI City Mall almost always has a snaking line at the door. But don’t let this deter you from joining the queue to try its reasonably priced, all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, which receive stamps of approval from diners who frequent the mall.

Image adapted from: @nordiasmurni via Instagram

A meal here starts with two choices of soup: sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, miso, kimuchi, mala miso, or tomato soup. Fill up your hotpot with beef, chicken, and lamb, or seafood such as scallops, mussels, and clams, all served free-flow.

Complement your meal with an assortment of sushi, and cap it off with a trip to the ice cream bar, where flavours like matcha and chocolate await.

Price (weekdays): RM39.80++/adult and RM23.10 nett/child (lunch) | RM48.80++/adult and RM25.40 nett/child (dinner)
Price (weekends): RM43.80++/adult and RM28.30 nett/child (lunch) | RM52.80++/adult and RM30.60 nett/child (dinner)

Unit: 38 & 39, Level 2, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 11am-8pm, Daily
Contact: Suki-Ya website

8. Dookki

Tteokbokki buffet

Image credit: @_itcouldbejia via Instagram

If you’re up for Korean food, Dookki is an all-you-can-eat, pork-free restaurant at IOI City Mall that lets you enjoy unlimited tteokbokki and free-flow sides like Korean fried chicken and gimmari.

Image credit: Tommy Chong via Google Reviews

The restaurant specialises in DIY tteokbokki – take your pick of all the ingredients for your tteokbokki “steamboat”, including vegetables, seafood, and fish cakes to enjoy with the rice cakes. As for the sauce, you can mix up a concoction to your liking at the sauce bar.

Image credit: @myhomecafe.my via Instagram

When you’ve had your fill of tteokbokki, enjoy the second part of your meal – fried rice. Simply add rice, corn, sesame seed, and seaweed to the pot and let all of that soak up the leftover sauce for an authentic Korean-style outro to your hotpot fare.

Price: RM39.80++/adult and RM19.80++/child

Unit: 12B, Level 1, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 11.30am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Dookki website

9. Yakiniku Kuro

Personal smokeless grills

Image credit: IOI City Mall

Yakiniku Kuro is where you can enjoy a solo yakiniku experience, with designated single seats and smokeless personal grills at the centre of the restaurant.

Their menu features Yakiniku Set Meals (from RM34.90) to cater to solo diners, including a bowl of rice, miso soup, a side salad or kimchi, condiments, and a protein of your choice: beef, lamb, or seafood.

The most popular protein here is beef, with cuts that cover short ribs, skirts, short plates, and striploin.

Unit: 209, Level 3, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

10. YGF Mala Tang

Pay-by-weight mala hotpot

Image credit: @xiyan_966 via Instagram

Yang Guo Fu Mala Tang, or YGF Mala Tang, is a pork-free restaurant that specialises in mala tang. Similar to a buffet, you can fill up a bowl with as many ingredients as you want from the bar of proteins, vegetables, and noodles.

Image credit: IOI City Mall

At the cashier, your meal will be charged by weight, at RM6.90/100g. Here, you can decide to have your ingredients tossed with a dry mala base, or with a soup. Soup options include non-spicy tomato, or beef stock and mala, with adjustable spiciness levels.

There’s also a dipping sauce station, with condiments like chilli oil, sesame sauce, and garlic.

Unit: 29B, Lower Ground Floor, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

11. K’Fry

Highly raved Korean fried chicken

When it comes to satisfying Korean fried chicken cravings at IOI City Mall, you’ll find many locals flocking to K’Fry. This restaurant’s signature is none other than Korean fried chicken served with seven different sauces, including honey butter, soya garlic, and spicy yangnyeom.

Image credit: @kfrymy via Instagram

The K’razy Spicy Cheese Fried Chicken Bumbuk (from RM40) is the chain’s bestseller. It comprises 6 juicy, boneless fried chicken coated with sweet and spicy yangnyeom sauce and mozzarella cheese. The price is slightly steep, but the portions are great for sharing.

Their rice balls are also recommended to pair with the fried chicken, with the must-try Anchovies & Tuna Rice Ball (RM25.50) packing the umami flavours of fried anchovies and fish roe, along with tuna mayo.

Image credit: @kfrymy via Instagram

With how popular the restaurant is, they’ve since expanded their space to include an alfresco seating area. Even so, the tables get snagged quickly, and long queues at the door are common. It’s best to book a table online here to avoid lengthy wait times.

Unit: 29B, Lower Ground Floor, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily

– What to buy at IOI City –

12. Eco-Plus

Household goods for RM2.40

Image credit: IOI City Mall

We Asians certainly can’t say no to a good bargain. With items going for just RM2.40 at Eco-Plus, you can shop for food, hardware, kitchenware, and more without putting a dent in your wallet.

Image credit: IOI City Mall

This is the flagship concept store of the popular local household retailer, Eco-Shop. The major difference at this particular outlet is its sheer size – eight zones are stocked with over 10,000 products from beauty products to hardware goods. There’s also a good selection of essentials and household items with slightly higher prices, but still all under RM20.

Unit: L2-51, Level 2, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

13. Gashapon Bandai

OG capsule machines for anime to kawaii figurines

gashapon at ioi city mall

Cracking open a gashapon to reveal a figurine you’ve been ogling on the capsule machine is thrilling, to say the least. At Gashapon Bandai’s official store at IOI City Mall, you can try your luck at snagging figurines and keychains from well-loved anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece.

The machines here are sorted according to categories like Hobby and Cute, so you can beeline to a section for whatever is up your alley – whether it be K-pop idols or Sanrio characters.

gashapon at ioi city mall

A Normal Gashapon is priced between RM15-35, while a Premium Gashapon is RM35-125. The capsule machines only accept tokens, which you can grab for RM5 per piece at the counter or a self-service machine.

Unit: 217, Level 3, IOI City Mall 2
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

14. Outpozt

Asian streetwear brands all under one roof

Image adapted from: IOI City Mall, SPAO via Facebook

To shop a variety of streetwear brands all under one roof, head to Outpozt. The retailer hosts both local and Korean brands like SPAO, EVERSINCE, OHNII, and Dr Mister. Whether you’re hunting for that perfect oversized T-shirt or a baseball cap with funky text, there’s sure to be something for you here.

Image credit: Gigi Coffee via Facebook

Tucked inside the store is an express Gigi Coffee outlet, serving a select menu of their best 20 drinks, including the popular Buttercream and Matcha lattes.

Unit: 236 & 237, Ground Floor, IOI City Mall 2
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

15. Mix Store

Image credit: IOI City Mall

MIX STORE is a favourite snack paradise among locals for their wide variety of imported snacks from all around Asia. At their stores, you can find foods that can’t be found at even the international aisles of a local grocery store – from niche instant noodles to exotic East Asian snacks.

Image credit: IOI City Mall

At their largest flagship outlet in IOI City Mall, aisles of goods are sorted according to type, such as beverages, instant noodles, chips, and even blind boxes. There’s also a frozen food row where you can pick out everything from dumplings to ice cream, and a section dedicated to a smorgasbord of instant hotpot meals.

Unit: 34-36, Level 1, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

16. PopMart

Second PopMart store in Malaysia

Image credit: IOI City Mall

More and more retailers are offering blind boxes these days – a testament to the growing demand for the cute and quirky character figurines they hold. But the OG PopMart store remain the go-to among collectors for their range of adorable IP and collab figurines. And they’ve just opened their second physical store in Malaysia, at IOI City Mall.

Image credit: IOI City Mall

Here you can browse everything from their popular Dimoo and Skullpanda blind boxes, to their latest collaboration series with Powerpuff Girls and Spingebob Squarepants.

Unit: 227A, IOI City Mall
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily

– Where to stay near IOI City Mall –

Moxy

Image credit: Moxy Putrajaya via Facebook

Those planning to explore IOI City Mall and Putrajaya for more than one day can park themselves for the night at Moxy. The new hotel is linked directly to the mall, with 480 rooms designed to make guests feel more like they’re staying in a stylish New York apartment than in a typical hotel room.

Image credit: Moxy Putrajaya via Facebook

Whether you’re coming with your SO or friends, the hotel has rooms to accommodate different group arrangements, with rates starting from RM380/night.

Address: IOI Resort City, 62502 Putrajaya
Opening hours: 3pm (Check-in) | 12pm (Check-out)
Contact: Moxy Putrajaya website

Palm Garden Hotel @ IOI Resort City

Image credit: Palm Garden Hotel via Facebook

Just a short walk from IOI City Mall are several luxury hotels in IOI Resort City, including Palm Garden Hotel. The 4-star resort hotel sits amidst lush greenery, and every room and suite overlooks the hotel’s nature-inspired courtyard with waterfalls and fountains.

Image credit: Palm Garden Hotel via Facebook

There are three types of rooms, with their most affordable Tamera (RM400/night) able to accommodate two guests with single beds or a plush king-sized bed.

Address: IOI Resort City, 62502 Putrajaya
Opening hours: 3pm (Check-in) | 12pm (Check-out)
Contact: Palm Garden Hotel website

Which MRT station is near to IOI City Mall?

A convenient way to get to IOI City Mall is by car or motorcycle, as it is easily accessible via major highways like MEX and North-South Highway.

If you’re opting for public transportation, alight at Putrajaya Sentral on the MRT Putrajaya Line and board the T523 bus at the station. This bus picks up and drops off passengers at the mall’s Bus Terminal West Wing daily, with fares set at RM1.10 per way. The bus comes by every hour, from as early as 6am to the last at 9pm.

What are the parking rates at IOI City Mall?

If you’re coming by private vehicle, you’ll be happy to find ample parking bays to match the seemingly unending sprawl of the mall. But the best part about parking here has to be the relatively affordable parking rates.

For basic parking, the mall charges RM2 for the first hour on weekdays. On weekends and public holidays, this charge doubles to RM4. But every subsequent hour is just RM1, all week. Motorcyclists will only need to fork out RM1 and RM2 per entry, on weekdays and weekends respectively.

If you’re opting for Premiere or Valet parking services, rates for these start at RM15 for the first 3 hours, and RM2 for every extra hour.

The largest mall in Malaysia, IOI City Mall

Malaysia is truly a shopping haven, and many of its sprawling malls have become must-visit destinations in the country. IOI City Mall is one such unmissable place. Though it’s situated just outside of Kuala Lumpur where the majority of the country’s major shopping centres are clumped, this mall is definitely worth a visit for its unmatched collection of 700 retail outlets and food options that’ll keep you entertained and fed for an entire day.

While you’re in the area, you could also pop by the popular nearby Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA.

Cover image adapted from: @ceciy0629 via Instagram, @anchyi1102 via Instagram, @theazlinaawawi via Instagram