There will always be days when you’re just lying around in your house and having absolutely zero ideas what you can do to spice up your weekends.
If you’re experiencing this right now and for some reason you’re somewhere around Johor Bahru or even Singapore, then the easiest way to lift up the mood is to get ready and visit some of the best shopping malls nearby.
Here are our top 5 shopping malls in JB that we highly recommend you to visit and some of their highlights that you should not miss.
Paradigm Mall @ Johor Bahru
Believe it or not, Paradigm Mall is the only shopping mall located in southern Malaysia that has its very own ice-skating rink.
The entrance fee is unbelievably affordable too—for RM25, you can skate for two hours!
Just keep in mind to bring your own socks or you’ll have to pay an extra RM7 for a pair of new ones. If you’re interested in skating better, they also have classes!
Paradigm Mall is also the home to the biggest cinema screens in JB, so movie lovers will absolutely have the time of their lives.
If you’re not into movies and more of an interior design lover, then the HomePro outlet can be your heaven on earth—you can find all kinds of furnishing needs for your home sweet home here!
While shopaholics can spend their valuable time at Parkson, parents can bring their children to the Indoor Rock Climbing Center for some fun.
JPO, the first factory outlet in both Johor and Southeast Asia is a must-stop destination especially for shopaholics out there.
It is conveniently located in Indahpura, Kulai, so don’t be surprised if there’s a huge crowd flocking to this place during your visit—apart from Malaysians, JPO is also a favourite spot for Singaporeans and other passing travellers.
Featuring over 130 shops, you can find all kinds of international brands including but not limited to Coach, Adidas, Timberland, and even Lego. The best part of all? There are usually big discounts on the items, so grab those chances!
Due to its proximity to Sunway College Johor Bahru, several secondary schools, and residential areas, Aeon Tebrau is surely one of the most visited malls in JB.
From groceries to the TGV cinema, arcade games, and more, you can count on this mall to cater to all of your needs. This mall even has a mini indoors theme park called Fanpekka which can be a great spot for your little ones to have some fun.
Aeon Tebrau is also lined with dozens of restaurants that not only serve a variety of cuisines but also a Japan Street which has a completely different ambience—you might even feel like you’re getting transported to Tokyo when you first get here.
This mall is also located next to Ikea, so if you’re done exploring here, feel free to jump to the next mall!
Do we really need a good reason to visit Ikea? Apart from being the second Ikea to open in Malaysia—the first one is in Mutiara Damansara, KL—but this is also the largest store of its franchise in Southeast Asia, so imagine all the shops and items sold here.
Opened in November 2017 and spanning over 46,000 square metres, Ikea Tebrau has over 50 furniture showrooms filled with aesthetic Scandinavian furniture. So if you’re searching for some fresh inspirations to redecorate your house, then this is the best mall for just that.
Within the same building as Ikea, you can also find Toppen Shopping Center. A vibrant mall with four levels, you can spend your time exploring some of its unique retail shops or go on a food-hunting session across some of the amazing restaurants here.
Toppen also has its very own family-friendly cafes and children play area, so those visiting with kids will surely have a good time.
The biggest mall after Paradigm, Mid Valley Southkey is yet another one of Johor’s modern shopping destinations heavily packed with hundreds of stores—from international retail brands to local shops and fine dining establishments.
You can spend a couple of hours watching movies in one of the luxury halls at Aurum Theatre—here, you can get an exceptional theatre experience! Fashion enthusiasts, on the other hand, will never get bored of this shopping mall as you can try and purchase a variety of outfits be it for your upcoming special dinner, an office event or even for your weekly outings.
Located just slightly over a kilometre away from Singapore, this three-storey shopping mall is best known for its sleek and modern design. Featuring a plethora of retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment centres, this place can give you everything you need from a shopping mall.
You can do your grocery shopping at Jaya Grocer—the first in JB—indulge yourself with some delicious Korean meals at Dooki Topokki, and watch a newly-released movie at the Emperor Cinemas which originates all the way from Hong Kong
Now that you know which ones are the best shopping malls for you and what are their main highlights, we believe you already have a good plan for what you’re going to do this weekend.
Before you start your car and head to the malls, we would also like to give you a friendly reminder to always budget your expenditures and of course, have a blast!
Things that you need when you're on-the-go (Hand-picked!)
Make your travels convenient and enjoyable with these essential products by your side! We curated the products that are high rating and ready stock in Malaysia without you spending time to search for the best one on the market.
| Items | Get from Shopee | |
|---|---|---|
 | Portable Vacuum Cleaner | Check price |
 | Car Air Humidifier Purifier | Check price |
 | Large Capacity Vacuum Flask Thermos | Check price |
 | Fast-charging Powerbank Built in 3 Cables | Check price |
