JB Shop: 10 Shopping Malls in Johor Bahru for Singapore Day-Trippers
- Rick
- Dec 26, 2025
- 7 min read
Fancy a short / one-day trip to Johor Bahru for some shopping and local eats? Or go over once or twice a month for groceries at the supermarkets? Check out this list of 10 shopping malls in terms of proximity from JB Sentral and/or popularity among Singapore visitors.
For me, a regular to Johor Bahru, it is the supermarkets for groceries, Daiso / Mr. DIY for household items, and cafes / coffee roasters for coffee beans, that brought me over the Causeway at least once a month. And also to explore food havens near the shopping malls.
1. Johor Bahru City Square
Located right next to JB CIQ, JB City Square Shopping Centre is the closest to Singapore and sees the most visitors from Singapore. It features a large number of retailers, pharmacies, restaurants, a cinema, etc, and also a small supermarket in the basement. Being the closest to Singapore, its target customers are mainly visitors from Singapore and prices of goods tend to be slightly pricier — but still cheaper for Singaporeans than for Malaysians.
JB City Square is undergoing phased renovation and expected to finish by late 2027 / early 2028. Some shops / restaurants may close temporary or move out permanently while some may still be opened for business as usual. Expect changes in the retailers and restaurants till the end of the renovation period.
Get There:
After exiting from JB CIQ (1st Link), walk through JB Sentral and cross a pedestrian bridge. To the left is JB City Square and to the right is KOMTAR JBCC (see below).
Eat There:
Aside from a number of food options within JB City Square, there are numerous eating options outside the mall, along Jalan Wong Ah Fook (in Bandar Johor Bahru) and in a nearby popular food haven known as Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk.
Recommended:
Have breakfast in the shopping centre as early as 8am while waiting for all the shops to open at 10am. Read: JB Eats: Breakfast Served from 8am @ JB City Square
Catch a movie. It is so much cheaper than watching a show in Singapore. Just make sure to pick a show in the correct language and/or subtitle.
2. KOMTAR JBCC
KOMTAR JBCC is located right beside JB City Square and gets its fair share of Singapore visitors. Aside from retail shops and restaurants, it also housed a Daiso outlet, a Mr DIY outlet, couple of money changers and also a foodcourt on Level 3 — the only foodcourt among the several shopping malls in the small cluster near JB CIQ. The mall has an indoor playground, named Kidz Republic, designed to entertain children with various activities.
Eat There:
Aside from restaurants in KOMTAR JBCC and outside the mall in Bandar Johor Bahru, eat cheaply at Selera Pindang Food Court on Level 3 of the mall.
Recommended:
Still prefer cash over cashless payment in Malaysia? The money changers in KOMTAR JBCC offers better exchange rates than changers nearer to JB CIQ.
3. KSL City
KSL City Mall is probably the next most visited shopping mall by Singapore visitors for its affordability and convenience — for those willing to travel a little further. The mall features diverse shopping, abundant food options (from street food to restaurants), a cinema, Daiso, Mr. DIY, Lotus's supermarket, a number of massage centres and spas / salons, all linked to KSL Hotel & Resort for easy stays, making it a go-to spot for day trips and short getaways. There is also a night market outside the mall on Monday evenings.
Get There:
KSL City is serviced directly by a shuttle bus service from JB Sentral. Read: JB Bus: To KSL City Mall / Holiday Plaza in Johor Bahru
Eat There:
There are many affordable food options in KSL City itself, and cheaper local tastes are located just outside the mall, along rows of shophouses, in Taman Century. Read: JB Eats: What to Eat around KSL City Mall @ Taman Century
Recommended:
Catch a movie.
Go for massage or foot reflexology, a popular form of relaxation favoured by many Singapore visitors.
Visit the night market on Monday night. Read: JB Eat & Buy: Monday Night Market @ KSL City Mall (KSL星期一夜市)
4. Pelangi Leisure Mall
Tucked away in one corner of Taman Pelangi is Pelangi Leisure Mall, which looks like an abandoned warehouse if not for the signs of Mr. DIY, Marrybrown and Giant hanging on the outer wall. With few retail shops and Marrybrown as the only food option, the mall offers a bowling alley, a fitness centre and also a Mr. DIY outlet. The ground floor is occupied by Giant Hypermarket and is probably the largest supermarket in nearby Johor Bahru.
Being further away from the main road and all local bus services, Pelangi Leisure Mall is more convenient to locals and Singapore visitors who drive. The mall has a large carpark that is seldom fully occupied even on weekends.
Get There:
Eat There:
There are numerous eating options right outside the mall in Taman Pelangi and nearby Taman Sri Tebrau. More: JB Eats: What to eat in Taman Sri Tebrau (新山大马花园)
Recommended:
Buy groceries at Giant Hypermarket or household items at Mr DIY. Start saving on your grocery / household expenses.
Have a bowling game or workout at the fitness centre.
5. Plaza Pelangi
Plaza Pelangi has been around for many years and had gotten a major facelift few years back. It looks like a new shopping complex. However, its popularity among Singapore visitors is rather low compared to other shopping complexes in Johor Bahru, especially with the popular KSL City nearby. Plaza Pelangi has a premium Mercato supermarket, where prices are relatively higher than other supermarkets but it boasts higher-quality, luxury goods.
Get There:
Eat There:
Plaza Pelangi offers several restaurants and cafes. For cheaper eats, there are many food options just outside the mall in Taman Maju Jaya and the wider Taman Pelangi.
Plaza Sentosa
Plaza Sentosa is closing down by end-February 2026 for redevelopment. Most of its tenants have shifted / are shifting out to shop lots in the neighbourhood and along Jalan Sutera. The nearest shopping malls to Plaza Sentosa are KSL City and Mid Valley Southkey (see below).
Get There:
6. Mid Valley Southkey Mall
Opened in April 2019, Mid Valley Southkey Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Johor Bahru. It is located in Kota Southkey right next to Taman Sentosa. The shopping mall has hundreds of shops, including restaurants, a Village Grocer supermarket, a cinema, entertainment zones, etc, and an adjoining hotel named St Giles Southkey, offering a one-stop shopping and leisure experience. The shopping mall has gained much popularity among Singapore visitors.
Get There:
Eat There:
Mid Valley Southkey offers tons of eating options, including a foodcourt. There are more options in nearby Taman Sentosa.
7. Toppen / AEON Mall Tebrau City / IKEA Tebrau
Tebrau City is a shopping cluster in Taman Desa Tebrau that comprises of Toppen, AEON Mall Tebrau City, IKEA Tebrau and Lotus's supermarket. The cluster is some 20 minutes' drive from JB Sentral. IKEA Tebrau is the largest (in Southeast Asia) and a somewhat-cheaper alternative to the IKEA outlets in Singapore. Toppen is a relatively new shopping mall opened in November 2019 and inter-connected to IKEA Tebrau. The shopping cluster is popular with visitors who drive.
For Singapore visitors, getting bulky furniture from IKEA Tebrau may not necessary be cheaper, after taking into considerations the 9% GST and transport cost, and also the trouble to transport them back home. Nevertheless, the outlet is still popular among Singapore visitors to get smaller, cheap items that are easy to carry back.
Get There:
There is direct bus service to Toppen / IKEA Tebrau from Larkin Sentral. Read: JB Bus: To IKEA, AEON Mall Tebrau City & Toppen in Taman Desa Tebrau
Eat There:
There are tons of dining option in both Toppen and AEON Mall Tebrau City. If eating at IKEA restaurants in Singapore is considered expensive, then don't miss the chance to feast at IKEA Tebrau with much cheaper prices. Read: Johor Story: On a Bargain Hunt to IKEA Tebrau
8. AEON Mall Bukit Indah
AEON Bukit Indah is in the western suburb of Johor Bahru and is easier and faster to get there via Tuas (2nd Link) than via the usually-congested Woodlands Causeway. Apart from the many retail shops, massage services and restaurants, AEON itself offers a large supermarket. Most Singapore visitors who enter Johor Bahru via Tuas will usually visit the mall.
Get There:
Via Woodlands: Take BAS.MY J33 from JB Sentral to the shopping mall.
Via Tuas: Board bus service CW3/CW4 from Jurong East Bus Interchange to Johor customs via the 2nd Link (Tuas) and then CW3L to Bukit Indah. To come back, board CW3L at the same bus stop.
9. Paradigm Mall JB
Paradigm Mall JB is a major regional shopping, leisure and entertainment hub located in Skudai district. It is one of the largest malls in Johor Bahru, featuring over 500 retail shops across seven floors, offering a diverse range of shopping, Village Grocer supermarket and dining options. For entertainment, there are Malaysia's first indoor ice-skating rink, a large climbing gym, a 16-screen cinema, an indoor adventure park, a roller skating rink, etc. The mall is also part of a larger complex that includes a hotel (Hyatt Place JB) and serviced residences.
Get There:
Paradigm Mall is serviced by a number of public buses on the Skudai Highway. Read: JB Bus: To Beletime Danga Bay / Angsana Mall / Paradigm Mall / Sutera Mall along Skudai Highway
Recommended:
Spend a whole day there with shopping, dining and participate in some adventures.
10. Sutera Mall
Sutera Mall is a large, family-focused shopping destination known for its diverse retail mix, extensive food options (including a unique Hong Kong-themed street on the lower ground floor), and vibrant atmosphere with entertainment, making it a popular spot for both locals and Singapore visitors seeking shopping, dining and leisure. It features anchor tenants like AEON supermarket, numerous specialty stores, restaurants, cafes, beauty services, and even arcades. The largest Scarlett Supermarket (思家客) in both Singapore and Malaysia is also located here.
Get There:
Eat There:
Sutera Mall offers a lot of local and international dining options. Outside the mall, in Taman Sutera Utama, is another food haven of more choices.
Recommended:
Shop at Scarlett and AEON supermarkets.
Have fun at the indoor go-karting centre.
Aside from the better-known shopping malls listed above, there may be more malls to explore and probably nearer than expected. However, the primary factor affecting their popularities with Singapore visitors is whether they can be easily accessible using public buses.