The Kuala Lumpur shopping scene is truly an impressive one. The Bukit Bintang and Kuala Lumpur City Centre areas provide the most variety for high-end fashion, with upmarket malls like the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Suria KLCC being home to many international luxury brands.
Street markets are popular in Kuala Lumpur, too. The Petaling Street and handicraft emporium Central Market are the perfect places to get a real sense of the city’s culture and local shopping scene. There’s something for every taste and budget in Kuala Lumpur; here are the top picks for shopping in Kuala Lumpur.
1. The Curve Mall
The Curve Mall is one of the most unique shopping centres located in Petaling Jaya. This mall beats many of its competitors because of its weekly flea market, indoor/outdoor layout, range of al fresco dining, and pedestrianised walkways.
The addition of Kuala Lumpur’s only Ikea, as well as an adjoining Tesco, makes The Curve Mall the most family-friendly mall in town. On weekends, the mall is filled with parents and their young toddlers and children, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of room to shop.
How To Get There: You can get to The Curve by public transport; there are RapidKL buses that depart from KL Sentral to The Curve. You can also take the train to LRT (Light Rail Transit or metro) station Kelana Jaya. From here, you can either take the bus or taxi.
2. Mid Valley Megamall
The award-winning Mid Valley Megamall, built in 1999, is one of the world’s largest retail spaces. As one of the country’s largest urban developments, the 4.5 million-square-foot emporium comprises of a shopping mall, an office tower block, 30 signature offices, and 3 hotels in Mid Valley.
The shopping mall is home to over 430 stores spread across its five floors, a convention centre, an 18-screen Golden Screen Cinema, and a bowling centre. If you have hours to spend shopping, eating and having fun, then Mid Valley Megamall is definitely the place to be.
How To Get There: The best option is to take the LRT towards Kelana Jaya, and then stop at Bangsar LRT Station; this is one stop past KL Sentral. From here, you can take the free shuttle bus or a taxi to the Mid Valley Megamall.
3. Petaling Street Market
One of the most popular street markets in the country, Petaling Street is a lively and vibrant shopping district located in Chinatown. The street is lined with hundreds of stalls selling a variety of tourist trinkets, T-shirts, electronics, and other souvenirs at very affordable prices.
A massive green awning covers the entire street, shielding vendors and visitors from the scorching heat and pouring rain, but still wear a hat or sunglasses, just in case. Petaling Street is also filled with a delicious array of local cuisine. The Chinese, Malaysian and seafood restaurants, as well as the snack stalls, are a good pit stop before heading back to the main strip to haggle over bargain goods.
How To Get There: From Bukit Bintang, you can walk here in about 15 minutes or take the Monorail to Maharajalela station, which is around the corner of the southern end of Petaling Street. If you are coming from KL Sentral or KLCC, you can take the LRT and get off at Pasar Seni. The Pasar Seni station is just to the west of Chinatown.
4. Central Market
Built in 1928, the Central Market is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most familiar landmarks. The heritage space was once used as a wet market, but was revamped in the early 1980s and turned into a handicrafts outlet and a popular tourist attraction.
Inside the building is a warren of boutiques, handicraft and souvenir stalls, with traders selling local merchandise such as authentic Malaysian batik prints and more. Annual festivals are also celebrated at the Central Market, including Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali.
How To Get There: One of the best ways to get to Central Market is via the LRT. Get on the Kelana Jaya Line and make your way to the Pasar Seni LRT Station. After a few minutes of walking, you will reach Central Market.
5. Suria KLCC
For those who rank malls by the height of the buildings that sit on top of them, Suria is a clear winner. The Suria KLCC shopping centre is an imposing six-storey building at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers in the Kuala Lumpur city centre.
It has everything from luxury goods to everyday items, including branches of Parkson, Isetan, Cold Storage and Marks & Spencer, a fantastic food court, a cineplex, a huge branch of Kinokuniya bookstore, and a fun-filled Science Discovery Centre and aquarium. The adjoining KLCC Park has water fountains and a two-acre playground, perfect for children’s play-time.
How To Get There: Suria KLCC is easily accessible by bus, taxi, subway or for some even on foot, depending on the location of the hotel. When you travel by subway, you need to get off at Suria KLCC (if you use the Kelana Jaya line). You can also take the monorail to Bukit Nanas station and walk to Suria KLCC from there (10 minutes).
6. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Another award-winning shopping destination in Malaysia is the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The location, which opened in 2007, has three major sections – a shopping mall, an office block and two residential towers.
The huge, haute couture shopping Mecca houses over 450 stores from high-end fashion brands like Coach, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Dolce & Gabbana to department stores like Forever 21, Pull & Bear and MNG Mango. The mall is also known for its dining options as much as its shopping. There is a mixture of casual eateries (Fish & Co., Din Tai Fung, Madam Kwan’s) and fine-dining restaurants, such as Al-Amar (Lebanese cuisine) and Spice of India.
How To Get There: If you are staying at a hotel in the Bukit Bintang area, it is easy to walk to Pavilion KL. If you plan to travel by monorail, you need to get out at Bukit Bintang station. From there it is a 5-minute walk to the Pavilion. People who are familiar with the KL city centre could also exit at Monorail station Raja Chulan, and walk to the rear entrance (Connection) of Pavilion KL in about 3 minutes.
