Looking for a different kind of weekend escape that doesn’t involve alcohol or partying? Singaporeans can sneak off to Kuala Lumpur to visit Southeast Asia’s largest 24-hour bookstore in the city centre. Get lost inside The Library by BookXcess where a 2-storey City of Books turns sleepless nights into slow, analog moments, where you can wander endless aisles, curl up in cosy reading corners, and forget about screen time for a while. The new bookstore and library has become the hottest night activity for book lovers and night owls since its launch at Level 2 of Sunway Square Mall earlier this month. Wonderfully, it’s just one hour away from Singapore. Here’s what to expect.
What makes Southeast Asia’s largest 24/7 bookstore the ultimate late night escape?
Southeast Asia’s largest 24-hour bookstore offers towering bookshelves, wallet-friendly reads, art installations, and the freedom to browse at 3am at the mall in Bandar Sunway. The massive 38,000 sq ft haven spans two floors with nearly 1km of maze-like walkways lined by high shelves stocked with over a million affordable books across fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature, as well as non-books zones. Plus, there are scenic views across the lake through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Additionally, it features Malaysia’s tallest bookshelf at around 10 metres and a striking 70-metre-long stretch that visually anchors the space. It blends modern library vibes with warm lighting, cosy nooks, rocking chairs, power sockets for late night study sessions, and Instagram-famous art like suspended Flying Books sculpture, and more.
Malaysia’s go-to chain for budget reads, BookXcess, isn’t new to 24/7 concepts with other outlets paving the way. Although, this flagship pushes boundaries as a lifestyle hub open daily, even when the mall sleeps. Plus, the location was specifically chosen to accommodate nearby university students and be a community hub for city goers.
SEE MORE: The Best Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur On A Trip