Grab your passport and leave your bags empty because we’ve found the ultimate shopping trip across the border. After months of anticipation and a slight delay from its original August launch timeline, Kuala Lumpur is finally opening its new mega mall this weekend on November 1. The massive new shopping centre, 118 Mall, is located at the base of the world’s second tallest skyscraper. The spectacular 1.4 million-square-feet retail and lifestyle mega hub sits directly beneath the jaw-dropping Merdeka 118 Skyscraper. So it’s the perfect weekend escape for scoring cheap retail deals in Malaysian currency and soaking in the sights of a fantastic city.
The 7-storey lifestyle hub is projecting a staggering 22 million visitors in its first year alone—promising a jaw-dropping mix of cutting-edge retail, vibrant Malaysian culture, and world-class dining—all housed beneath stunning architectural glass. Perfect if you’re bored of the regional malls in Singapore and Johor Bahru. Here’s what to expect at 118 Mall.
118 Mall’s shopping and design
The centrepiece of 118 Mall is the The Atmosphere on Level 4. The sprawling 20,000-square-foot event plaza sits directly beneath a stunning 88-metre glass dome, flanked by huge, high-definition LED screens that wrap around the space. Plus, there’s plenty of natural light which is perfect for fashion shows, cultural festivals, and exhibitions.
The mall is debuting with an incredible mix of more than 300 stores. The biggest anchor tenant is SOGO118—a completely reimagined, youth-focused evolution of the classic department store. Breaking away from tradition, it features a curated selection of sough-after Korean, Japanese, and Chinese beauty brands, and a first-of-its-kind matcha bar located right inside the store so you can sip while you shop.
Meanwhile, there’s massive flagships for international brands like Coach, Skechers, Asics, and Decathlon, Babyshop, alongside Village Grocer to pack some premium snacks before heading back to Singapore.
While this mega mall in Kuala Lumpur is slightly smaller than Singapore’s largest mall VivoCity, it still absolutely dwarfs many of the Lion City’s most popular shopping destinations. In fact, it’s the exact same size as Jewel Changi Airport’s iconic mall.
What to eat at 118 Mall
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of food options at 118 Mall. Particularly, Makanizm Food Hall (spanning an impressive 40,000 square feet) offers the ultimate hawker experience. From delightful KL bites to popular eateries like Kenny Hills Cafe, Oriental Kopi, Dolly Dim Sum, Serai Premium, and caffeine fixes from ZUS Coffee…you’ll be spoilt for choice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Additionally, Level 3 caters directly to Malaysian food cravings with the expansive 80,000-square-foot zone named Malaysian Artisan District—dedicated to local crafts, fashion, and culinary excellence.
Getting there
Travellers can hop on a quick 1-hour direct flight from Changi Airport to reach this epic shopping destination. Otherwise, you can drive around 5 hours or take the new 4-hour ETS direct train from JB Sentral to KL Sentral. Once you’re in the city centre, 118 Mall is connected to many local attractions and the rest of Kuala Lumpur.
