Best shopping malls in KL
Kuala Lumpur is known for its galore of malls. Picture this: four shopping malls packed on a single one-lane street, next to and across from each other. And that’s just Bukit Bintang. There are many more of them tucked away in KL’s city centre and suburbs.
To make shopping a breeze in Malaysia’s capital city, we’ve done the legwork and compiled this ultimate guide to the best shopping malls in KL, so first-time visitors and tourist-playing locals know what to expect at each spot.
Table of Contents
1. The Exchange TRX
First-in-Malaysia stores and eateries
The Exchange TRX is KL’s latest upscale mall which has been abuzz with shoppers ever since it opened its doors in 2023. It introduced a whole slew of notable international brands making their debuts in Malaysia, including Japan’s Seibu, Korea’s Gentle Monster, and New York’s Shake Shack.
The mall is home to the first Apple Store in the country too – it’s an unmissable 3-storey store with a ‘Grammable pyramid-shaped roof.
If you’re here solely for some retail therapy, The Exchange TRX won’t disappoint. It has fashion brands that range from the luxe Maison Kitsuné and Alo Yoga to the more affordable Cotton On and H&M.
You can also browse for books at MPH Bookstores‘ flagship store, or go on a grocery run at Mercato.
As for food, you’ll be equally spoilt for choice.
Freshly made maki rolls at Makii Makii, froyo with unlimited toppings at Yogiyo, grill-it-yourself yakiniku at Yakiniku Kuro, tasting menus at Union Bistrot – eateries here are aplenty.
Image credit: Playpoint via website
For some fresh air, make your way up to the mall’s 10-acre rooftop park TRX City Park. It has kid-friendly zones such as a playground with multiple slides, as well as outdoor benches for shoppers to rest their legs at and soak up views of KL’s skyline.
Nearest train station: Tun Razak Exchange MRT station, which is directly connected to the mall
Parking fee: RM5 for 1st hour (Weekday) | RM3 for 1st hour (Weekend)
Address: Persiaran TRX, Imbi, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: The Exchange TRX website
2. Mid Valley Megamall
Megastores & an exhibition hall
Image credit: Jasymne Foong
Mid Valley Megamall has “mega” in its name for a reason – it’s one of the biggest malls in the country. While it has since handed over its title of largest mall in Malaysia to IOI City Mall, this KL spot remains a favourite among shoppers for its mega-sized store outlets.
Even if it means having to spend some time finding a parking spot, there are over 600 retail shops for every kind of shopper to discover. They include the largest MR.DIY, TMT, Guardian, and Thai Odyssey outlets in the country, as well as huge stores from Good2U, Muji, and more.
Image credit: Mid Valley Megamall
Venture up to the megamall’s 3rd floor to find entertainment spots such as glow-in-the-dark bowling alley Supreme Cosmic Bowling. Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) regularly hosts expos and trade fairs like Tastefully Food Expo and BIG Baby Expo on the same floor too – you can find the exhibition hall’s event calendar here.
Image credit: MVEC
When you start to feel peckish, a lineup of restaurants and cafes await.
To savour Malaysian cuisine, head to NALE, Original Kayu, BananaBro, or Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock. For an even more hyperlocal dining experience, Makan Place is a lesser-known budget food court that caters to office workers in the area – you can get a meal here for under RM10.
The food court’s entrance is right next to the MBG outlet in Mid Valley Megamall.
Image credit: Jasmyne Foong
We’ll let you in on another secret to the sprawling mall – it’s also home to a good number of licensed money changers on the lower ground floor that offer competitive exchange rates.
Nearest train station: Mid Valley Megamall (KTM Komuter) or Abdullah Hukum LRT station, which is connected to the mall via a pedestrian bridge
Parking fee: RM2 for first 3 hours (Weekday) | RM3 for first 3 hours (Weekend)
Address: Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Mid Valley Megamall website
3. The Gardens Mall
An upscale mall with a rooftop BookXcess
Image credit: Propsocial
Just next to Mid Valley Megamall is its more upscale counterpart, The Gardens Mall. The two malls are connected underground at the basement level that bustles with eateries and by an overhead bridge on the 1st floor.
Image credit: The Gardens Mall via Facebook
The 6-storey shopping mall houses over 200 retailers, including premium brands such as Balenciaga, Celine, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier. There’s also Aurum Theatre, where you can watch the latest flicks on the big screen while lazing on plush Getha recliners.
Image credit: @aroundthecoffeeshops via Instagram
On the mall’s 6th floor, there’s a one-of-a-kind rooftop BookXcess. Besides sifting for books from a wide range of genres, you can dine at Red Red Botak Head, a restaurant serving Japanese-Malaysian fusion cuisine that’s tucked inside the bookstore.
Nearest train station: Mid Valley Megamall (KTM Komuter) or Abdullah Hukum LRT station, which is connected to the mall via a pedestrian bridge
Parking fee: RM2 for first 3 hours (Weekday) | RM3 for first 3 hours (Weekend)
Address: Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: The Gardens Mall website
4. Lot 10
Japanese food hall & indoor basketball court
When it comes to finding legit Japanese food in KL that’ll even impress your Japanese friends, there’s no better place to visit than Lot 10 – more specifically, J’s Gate Dining.
The dining hall brings together over 15 Japanese eateries on the 4th floor of the mall. Be satisfied by all sorts of authentic Japanese food, from BBQ beef don and udon noodles to artisan crepes and warabimochi.
Other Japanese-related places to find within Lot 10 shopping centre are Jonetz by Don Don Donki’s first store in Malaysia that covers 3 floors, and Isetan The Japan Store, the Japanese department store’s first outpost in the country with 6 floors of fashion, lifestyle, and tech.
Image adapted from: @yvonnesoo via Instagram
As for hobbyists, there’s a Swee Lee music store with a cafe and vinyl corner, and a free-to-use indoor basketball court.
On the mall’s rooftop, you’ll find Eden serving coffee, pastries, and some of the best views of KL Tower in the city.
Image adapted from: @kokongopi.id via Instagram, @fareastfolks via Instagram
While it doesn’t serve up as great a view, Lot 10’s underground food hall, Hutong, has more food options for hungry shoppers. Over 20 eateries are huddled in the hall, dishing up lip-smacking local-favourites such as bak kut teh, pan mee, and dim sum.
Nearest train station: Bukit Bintang LRT station, which is a 2-minute walk away
Parking fee: RM5 for first 3 hours (Weekday) | RM10 for first 8 hours (Weekend)
Address: 50, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Lot 10 website
5. MyTOWN Shopping Centre
A VR theme park & free playgrounds for the kiddos
Image credit: MyTOWN
There are four IKEAs in Malaysia. This includes the one in KL that’s linked to MyTOWN Shopping Centre, a shopping mall in Cheras that’s best known for being linked to the popular furniture store chain.
Image credit: MyTOWN
While IKEA is already kid-friendly with its Småland facility, MyTOWN also has three free-to-use playgrounds scattered around it’s premise. A popular one is at The Link on the ground floor – it’s located right between IKEA and the mall.
Image adapted from: @khalishnuhaa via Instagram
VAR Live, an indoor VR theme park with 13 zones, and Korean-inspired self-photo studios, The Film and Ohneul, have the Gen MZ crowd flocking to the mall come the weekends too.
If you’re looking to squeeze in a quick karaoke session during your mall excursion, head to MyTOWN’s Loud Speaker Family Karaoke which has mini studio rooms. Rates for the cosy room for two start from just RM12 for 30 minutes.
Image credit: @conanrose97 via Instagram
In between singing to hits and snapping photos, you can fuel up at popular restaurants such as Dookki, Mee Hiris China Muslim, and the affordable Mukbang Buffet that’s a Korean barbecue buffet priced at just RM29/pax.
Nearest train station: Conchrane MRT station, which is directly connected to the mall
Parking fee: RM3 for first 3 hours (Weekday) | RM3 for first 3 hours (Weekend)
Address: 6, Jalan Cochrane, Seksyen 90, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: MyTOWN website
6. Fahrenheit88
Huge Uniqlo and regular arts and culture exhibitions
Just next to Lot 10 on Jalan Bukit Bintang, Fahrenheit88 is best known for having a massive 4-storey UNIQLO outlet with the first UNIQLO Coffee and embroidery service counter in Malaysia. Its prominent main entrance, with an LED screen that faces the iconic street in KL, is also hard to miss.
There are signs pointing to the underpass, so you won’t get lost.
Image credit: Foursquare
Besides shopping for minimalist OOTDs at the Japanese retailer, take your shopping spree to the Sephora, BookXcess, Lovisa, and Bath & Body Work outlets at the mall, or the massive Brands Outlet that has trendy clothes at low prices.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds at the road crossing on Bukit Bintang, there’s an underpass connecting Fahrenheit88 and Pavilion KL that’s accessible from the Brands Outlet store.
Image credit: @randygrapher via Instagram
Fahrenheit88 regularly plays host to arts and culture shows and pop-up events too.
Image credit: @streetsense via Instagram
The mall was the venue for the Attack on Titan exhibition in Malaysia. It is set to welcome an immersive Arts & Symphony exhibition with huge projections of masterpieces by Van Gogh and Monet, as well as a Jujutsu Kaisen exhibition. You can keep updated on all the latest events at the mall here.
Nearest train station: Bukit Bintang (KL Monorail) or Bukit Bintang MRT station
Parking fee: RM6 for first 2 hours (Weekday) | RM10 for first 4 hours (Weekend)
Address: 179, Jalan Gading, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Fahrenheit88 website
7. The Starhill
Luxury mall with Malaysia’s only Eslite bookstore
Image adapted from: Francis Wong via Google Reviews
Mention The Starhill to Malaysians, and an echo of “atas” will likely follow. The fashion hub in Bukit Bintang is known for its directory of high-end brands, including Balmain, Off-White, Patek Philippe, and Davidoff.
Image credit: Eslite via Facebook
Bringing a quiet elegance to bookstores is Eslite Spectrum, the Taiwanese bookstore’s only store in Malaysia. It boasts aisles of books in a wide range of genres – children’s fiction to arts and architecture – as well as an art gallery space.
Image credit: @squarepad via Instagram
While it may seem like it’s all just shopping here, the luxury mall has restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops too. They include the flamboyant-pink Opera Cafe, Middle Eastern food connoisseurs Tarbush, and espresso bar Bean Brothers.
Nearest train station: Bukit Bintang (KL Monorail) or Bukit Bintang MRT station
Parking fee: RM5 for first 3 hours (Weekday) | RM10 for first 8 hours (Weekend)
Address: 181, Bukit Bintang Street, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: The Starhill website
8. Intermark Mall
Neighbourhood mall with a Tsutaya Bookstore
Image credit: Intermark Mall via Facebook
Intermark Mall is a centrally located mall that’s rarely packed with crowds. Most of its shoppers are office workers and hotel guests at the connected DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel KL, who are looking to shop for essentials at go-to stores like Jaya Grocer and Guardian.
There may not be as many fashion labels here like at the malls in Bukit Bintang, but Intermark Mall makes up for this with its long list of eateries.
Many of them are gathered at the mall’s basement food hall, where stalls serve a variety of cuisines at reasonable prices. Dodo Korea, which has Korean lunch box sets for under RM20, is a favourite among shoppers.
The first Tsutaya Bookstore in Malaysia can be found at Intermark Mall. Not to be confused with Tsutaya Books, this bookstore is its more casual sister branch, with a focus on affordable paperbacks, the Humanities genre, and Japanese stationery.
Nearest train station: Ampang Park LRT station
Parking fee: RM5 for first 2 hours (Weekday) | RM5 per entry (Weekend)
Address: 348, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Intermark Mall website
9. Suria KLCC
A science museum & Japanese bookstore
Image credit: Suria KLCC
Situated at the base of Malaysia’s iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the 6-storey Suria KLCC has been around for as long as the landmark has. In 1998, the KL mall with over 300 stores welcomed shoppers a year before the city’s famed towers officially opened.
Image credit: Petrosains, The Discover Centre and Klook
Suria KLCC is best known for its Petrosains Discover Centre, an interactive science centre with exhibits such as a Geotime Diorama and 3D Theatre. There’s also an indoor aquarium, Aquaria KLCC, at the mall which showcases over 5,000 aquatic and land creatures including sand tiger sharks and stingrays.
Japan’s famous bookstore chain, Kinokuniya, has the only branch in Malaysia at the mall too. The bookstore stocks a range of books, from Asian literature and Japanese manga books to study guides and songbooks.
Image credit: Suria KLCC via Facebook
While Suria KLCC’s nostalgic Rasa Food Arena has since closed, you can fuel up at Signatures food court with Japanese, Western, Malay and Chinese cuisines all found under one roof. There are vendors such as Fuel Shack, Chili Pan Mee, MyViets, and Milano Pizza operating here.
Nearest train station: KLCC LRT station, which is directly connected to the mall
Parking fee: RM5 for first hour (Weekday) | RM5 for first hour before 12pm (Weekend)
Address: 241, Petronas Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Suria KLCC website
10. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
A K-pop cafe & Tokyo Street
Image credit: Pavilion KL via Facebook
There are several Pavilion malls in the city – Bukit Jalil, Damansara Heights, and Kuala Lumpur, to be precise. But Pavilion KL is the OG one that mall rats flock to for the 700 shops it has that cover lifestyle, fashion, tech, and more.
Some of the stores to uncover here are Malaysia’s first PopMart store, as well as a K-pop cafe and album retail shop called Notes by YGM. You’ll find the latter tucked inside Dadi Cinema, a plush cinema chain from China with kid-friendly and recliner-seat halls.
Image credit: Pavilion KL via Facebook
Head to the mall’s Tokyo Street when you start to feel hunger pangs. Inspired by Nakasime-dori Street in Japan, the arcade similarly has vendors selling street food and knick-knacks. There are over 30 of them, including eateries and shops like Hokkaido Ramen Santouka for ramen lovers and Karafu for the plushie-obsessed.
Nearest train station: Bukit Bintang (KL Monorail) or Bukit Bintang MRT station
Parking fee: RM4 for first hour (Weekday) | RM4 for first hour (Weekend)
Address: 168, Jln Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Pavilion KL website
11. NU Sentral
Directly linked to KL’s main transit hub
Image credit: Imaad Whd via Google Reviews
NU Sentral may not be the biggest mall in KL, but it’s certainly the tallest and one of the easiest malls to reach, no matter where you are in Malaysia. The mall has 9 levels and is directly linked to KL Sentral, the city’s main transit hub that connects intercity and interstate trains, and passenger train lines.
The shops here cover everything – well-known eateries and apparel shops, hair salons, banks, florists, nail parlours, gyms, and more.
Beyond shopping, you can watch a movie at GSC, or challenge your friends to escape rooms at Breakout or a karaoke sing-off at Karaoke Manekineko.
The entrance to NU Sentral from KL Sentral.
Image credit: Future of Southeast Asia
Nearest train station: KL Sentral
Parking fee: RM5 for first hour (Weekday) | RM5 for first hour (Weekend)
Address: No. 201 Jalan Tun Sambanthan 50470 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: NU Sentral website
12. LaLaport BBCC
A Gourmet Street with Japanese eateries
LaLaport’s Gourmet Street houses authentic Japanese restaurants.
Image adapted from: @d_chum via Instagram, @diamante_aki via Instagram
LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) is Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport’s first mall in Malaysia – it’s also the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The feat sees the Japanese mall in KL welcoming made-in-Japan brands to its space, with many of them eateries located at the mall’s Gourmet Street.
They include Sakanoue Cafe that specialises in IG-worthy kakigori, Yatai with its authentic street fare, and Osaka Kitchen for teppanyaki-style meals.
Image credit: LaLaport BUKIT BINTANG CITY CENTRE via Facebook
Most head to the mall’s rooftop area to chill on the lawn and check out events that are regularly held here, like the annual Japanese Bon Odori festival.
Other entertainment spots at LaLaport BBCC include a retro-inspired GSC outlet with plush lounge areas, and indoor skating rink Rollerwa+.
Image credit: Zepp Kuala Lumpur via Facebook
Zepp Kuala Lumpur, a concert venue that regularly hosts concerts from popular international acts, is also linked to the mall.
Nearest train station: Hang Tuah (KL Monorail or LRT) is directly connected to the mall, or Merdeka MRT Station, which is a 5-minute walk away
Parking fee: Free parking for the first 3 hours
Address: No. 2, Jalan Hang Tuah, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: LaLaport BBCC website
13. Plaza Low Yat
One-stop shopping mall for all things tech
Image credit: Raymond Tong via Google Reviews
Plaza Low Yat is a mecca for all things electronics among Malaysians. It’s hailed as the country’s largest IT lifestyle mall with the best rates for gadgets since it opened back in 1999 – this is certified by the Malaysia Book of Records, no less.
The 7-storey shopping mall, which recently underwent a makeover, is a tech paradise. Each floor specialises in a specific category of technology – mobile devices, cameras, gaming, computers, and even affordable repairs – with popular brands like Samsung, Acer, Lenovo, DJI to be found here.
Image credit: Plaza Low Yat via Facebook
On the mall’s Lower Ground floor, there’s Food City, a food hall packed with 15 stalls serving Asian food.
Nearest train station: Bukit Bintang MRT station, which is a 3-minute walk away
Parking fee: RM4 for first 2 hours (Daily)
Address: 7, Jalan Bintang, Off Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Plaza Low Yat website
14. Sunway Velocity
Galore of hotpot and BBQ restaurants
Image credit: Sunway Velocity
To enjoy hotpot and barbecue in a less-crowded mall, head to Sunway Velocity.
The 7-storey mall has the popular Haidilao Hotpot and Bar B Q Plaza, as well as Hotpot Kitchen, Korean BBQ House, Xiangshan Fish Steamboat, and Palsaik.
Image credit: @maharajah8 via Instagram
You can enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine at one of many Chinese restaurants at the mall too, including Sichuan dishes at The Taste of Time, or tongue-numbing mala at Huo Long Malatang and Xiao Gu Jie Jie.
Image credit: The Taste of Time via Google Reviews, @the.hungryman via Instagram,
Watch a movie at the TGV cinema here, or challenge your friends to arcade games at Fun Sca’pe or Palo.
Image credit: EnerG X Park via Google Reviews
For more challenging fun that’ll have you crawling and jumping through obstacles, head to EnerG X Park. It’s an indoor extreme adventure park with wipeout zones, tubby rides, trampolines, and more. Admission fees are priced from RM38/pax.
Nearest train station: Taman Maluri LRT station or Maluri and Cochrane MRT stations
Parking fee: RM3 for first 2 hours (Weekday) | RM4 for first 2 hours (Weekend)
Address: 7, Jalan Bintang, Off Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Sunway Velocity website
The best shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur
In KL, the abundance of shopping malls are something locals like to poke fun of. But there’s no denying that the plentiful options mean that locals and tourists alike will always have something new to explore.
So, the next time you’re in need of some retail therapy or a weekend lepak spot, head to one of these malls in KL.
Cover image adapted from: Playpoint via website, Mid Valley Megamall, Klook, Pavilion KL via Facebook, LaLaport BUKIT BINTANG CITY CENTRE via Facebook, Raymond Tong via Google Reviews