The best shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur

A mid-week opening in November of 2023 did nothing to stop shoppers from swarming The Exchange TRX, the city’s sparkling new shopping complex commanding over 1,300,000 square feet. If 400 of the world's leading brands and retailers — including Malaysia’s first Apple Store, Malaysia’s first Shake Shack, and the Korean cult eyewear brand Gentle Monster’s first flagship store in the country — aren’t enough of a draw, the mall also has a ten-acre rooftop park featuring al fresco eateries, a play space with water play for kids, multi-purpose facilities, a formal garden, and an urban forest of more than 900 trees. A few other new-to-Malaysia brick-and-mortar brands currently exclusive to The Exchange TRX: the A-lister approved activewear brand Alo Yoga, cult-favourite skincare brand Drunk Elephant, and Maison Kitsuné and its café, roastery and resto-bar, Café Kitsuné.

We know Jalan Tun Razak can be, well, a parking lot at peak hours. Fret not, The Exchange TRX has the only interchange station between the two MRT lines in the city, meaning you can get to the mall wherever you are on either the Kajang or the Putrajaya line.

Two other Pavilion malls have mushroomed up in the Klang Valley since Time Out last updated our guide, but in our humble opinion, the first is still the best. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur stands out even in the shopping district of Bukit Bintang with an inimitable mix of high-end and high-street fashion, restaurants and bars. There are 700 stores spread over ten levels and nine “precincts”, each offering a different shopping experience: find al fresco dining options including the city’s only Five Guys at the Connection “precinct”, or head up to Tokyo Street for Japanese restaurants and speciality stores. 

Finally, maybe it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but for some reason, mall décor plays a big part in festive celebrations in Malaysia. (No, really. We get heated about it.) Pavilion Kuala Lumpur nails it every year.

Situated at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers is Suria KLCC, Malaysia’s most iconic shopping destination and as good a place as any to begin a fashion — and architecture — tour of the city. It spans over one million square feet, and with more than 340 specialty stores, shoppers are spoiled for choice stumbling upon treasures from local designers, international brands, and more. If money’s no object, the literature and graphic novels at Books Kinokuniya go into the cart, plus atmos’ shiny sleek sneakers and Le Labo’s artisanal scents. 

For families, there’s also Aquaria KLCC, a state-of-the-art oceanarium; the high-tech science discovery centre Petrosains; and the Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Malaysia’s first concert hall and home to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. It wouldn’t be a trip to Suria KLCC without a short stroll at KLCC Park, a lush, 50-acre urban sanctuary with a children's playground, a wading pool for toddlers, and jogging tracks.

Mid Valley Megamall lives up to its name. The megamall, covering 1.7 million square feet, houses more than 630 shops, restaurants, and service outlets over six floors, plus a cinema and a convention centre. For shopping, its fashion folio encompasses everything from homegrown labels Dressing Paula to high-street giants H&M, Uniqlo, and Zara. Sportswear is also popular at the megamall, with stores by adidas, asics, JD Sports, New Balance, Nike and Under Armour. Mid Valley Megamall focuses more on lifestyle than luxury, though if that’s more your cup of tea, you could always stroll over to its little sister The Gardens Mall for Bang & Olufsen, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and more. 

Beyond retail, restaurants, bistros and cafés abound at Mid Valley Megamall for easy refuelling. Fast food, food courts, and international chains aside, save tummy space for made-in-Malaysia eateries BananaBro, myBugerLab, and Oriental Kopi.

Publika Shopping Gallery is a creative hub that captivates both adults and children alike, with an open-air piazza and an outdoor park. It’s not simply a shopping destination, but a space for community, arts and cultural events, and markets, making it a lively spot all-year round. Between shopping sprees at specialty stores peddling local designs, home décor and vintage collectibles, the mall is also famous for its food offerings from Positano Risto’s contemporary Italian cuisine to Chica Bonita’s tacos and tequilas, plus bars with live music, izakayas, and even mamak stalls.

Fashion fans will find all the leading local labels at Bangsar Village I & Bangsar Village II, including Fern, Lilit, Nelissa Hilman, Wanderlust & Co, and Whimsigirl, to name a few. Sure, it’s on the smaller side — but it’s a pleasure for ladies with dozens of beauty and hair salons, including A Cut Above, Hammam Spa, and Sothys Paris; and for families, with shops for babycare and children’s products, a Gymboree Play & Music, and even a Lego store and a Toys ‘R’ Us. A number of cafés and restaurants are tucked away on every floor of the mall, including Artisan Coffee Bar, Kayra, and Village Roast Duck.

1 Utama Shopping Centre, spread over six million square feet, is still Kuala Lumpur’s biggest shopping mall. Whether you're in the market for the city’s best bagel, a Furla bag or a POP MART figurine, 1U is a one-stop destination for shopping, dining, and play away from the hot Kuala Lumpur sun. It also has not one, but two cinemas; Malaysia’s largest in-mall performing arts centre PJPAC; an indoor surf park FlowRider; an indoor skydiving center WINDLAB; Asia’s largest indoor rock-climbing gym Camp5; a rollerskating rink; a futsal field, and the list goes on. Time Out tip: Don’t miss The Secret Garden, the largest rooftop garden in Southeast Asia, covering 30,000 square feet and showcasing 500 species of exotic flora.

In Petaling Jaya, Sunway Pyramid is a favourite amongst locals — not simply for an Egyptian-inspired architectural style featuring a giant sphinx statue, or the ice-skating rink that attracts about 15,000 skaters monthly, nor the connecting sprawling Sunway Lagoon amusement park with a water zone, wildlife zoo, rides and more. 

Here, you’ll find mums and nannies carrying bags laden with fresh produce from Jaya Grocer; young students from neighbouring colleges and universities with H&M, Monki, and Uniqlo shopping bags; and yuppies upgrading their iPhones at Machines or the other tech stores. A curated mix of cafés and restaurants, including Din Tai Fung, Ole-Ole Bali, and iconic chef Gordon Ramsay’s first Bar & Grill outside of the United Kingdom, means the mall is always buzzing at meal times.