Tired of shopping in Singapore? A massive seafront mega mall is set to redefine the retail landscape in Penang just over an hour away soon. Officially opening in September 2026, The Waterfront Shoppes is a 1.5-million-square-foot venue in the centre of a new integrated waterfront precinct. In fact, this new mall is almost the exact same size as VivoCity—Singapore’s largest shopping mall. Framed by a stunning 750-metre coastal promenade, the huge mall is designed to merge world-class shopping across four levels with panoramic views of the sea and the iconic Penang Bridge. Meanwhile, the launch marks Penang’s transition into a modern lifestyle and retail capital alongside its fame for street food and heritage. Here’s why you need to visit the first waterfront mall in Penang on your next trip.
Why is Penang’s new seafront mall worth the journey?
The giant waterfront mall brings an elevated retail experience, highlighted by a Beverly Hills-inspired outdoor Rodeo Drive Strip, featuring standalone flagship concept stores. Additionally, there will be a diverse tenant mix with 302 outlets including curated fashion boutiques, international brands making their northern Malaysia debut, and delightful artisan cafes.
Wonderfully, a huge chunk of the entertainment wing will be taken over by a massive 45,000 square-feet cinema. Plus, there’ll be an open-concept heritage food hall with 30,000 square-feet of gourmet stalls offering authentic Penang street food under one roof.
Excitingly, the expansive alfresco waterfront dining zones are other attractive features. These restaurants allow visitors to enjoy breezy meals by the sea, while also directly connected to Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) and two vibrant international hotels.
Crucially, the developers haven’t ignored the island’s roots because the sprawling complex uniquely integrates elements of Penang’s historic architecture and world-famous street food culture into its design.
Interestingly, the entire The Light Waterfront master plan was originally inspired by Singapore’s own Sentosa Cove. And just like VivoCity, the new Penang mall offers an expansive outdoor promenade, massive indoor event spaces, and hundreds of retail outlets spread across wide corridors—but at Malaysian prices.
Indeed, Penang has always been a beloved quick flight destination from Singapore. And now The Waterfront Shoppes of The Light City adds a layer of modern luxury and convenience previously missing from the island.
Located just 10 kilometres from Penang International Airport and linked to the future Mutiara LRT Line, the precinct offers Singaporeans a highly accessible, home-style waterfront experience paired with Penang’s unbeatable culinary scene and affordability. Just hop on a quick 1 hour and 25 minutes flight from Singapore. Find the best things to do in Penang here.
How is it the same size as VivoCity?
The largest mall in Singapore is VivoCity which shares an incredibly similar footprint to Penang’s The Waterfront Shoppes. While Singapore’s VivoCity has 1.53 million square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA), The Waterfront Shoppes boasts 1.50 million square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA). Certainly, both shopping destinations are sprawling multi-level waterfront venues that resemble each other.
