Shopping Malls in Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley.

Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the Klang Valley are home to some of Southeast Asia's biggest shopping malls. This is a testament to Kuala Lumpur's popularity as a shopping destination among locals and international visitors alike. Below are some of the most prominent modern shopping spots in the Klang Valley.

Lot 10 and Starhill

Located in Bukit Bintang, the Lot 10 shopping centre is a popular haunt for mid-market shoppers. The main tenant is Isetan, a Japanese department store that stocks a good range of goods from groceries to electronic appliances and clothes to tools, many of them being Japanese brands. However, there are many other retail shops selling things from gifts to books inside.

Next door is the Starhill Plaza, an upmarket shopping centre that's run by the same management of Lot 10. The plaza has a distinct level of luxury and class in its trimmings, décor and choice of shops which include famous designer brands in watches, jewellery, fashion and leather good. A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling, overlooking the many levels of shops below giving this place the feel of richness.

Mid Valley Megamall

The Mid Valley Megamall is an extremely popular mall that's also one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. Located near Bangsar facing the Federal Highway, the mall has an area that is 4.5 million square feet in total, which consists of the mall, office blocks, a boulevard and two hotels. Since opening in 1999, it has attracted droves of visitors and shoppers for its wide variety of shopping outlets, entertainment features and dining opportunities.

Its anchor tenants include big department stores and hypermarkets such as Jusco, Metrojaya and Carrefour. There also two large food courts while the boulevard area has some nice international restaurants. Retail outlets inside Mid Valley cover a wide scope which includes but is not limited to; fashion, electronics, computers, gifts, souvenirs, groceries, appliances and much more. Many famous designer brands have shops here, as well as popular names in watches and diamonds. Mid Valley truly offers a great shopping experience to both locals and visitors.

Suria KLCC

The Suria KLCC shopping mall is nestled between the world's second tallest structures, the Petronas Twin Towers. An upmarket shopping mall, the choice and standard of shops here reflect its classy atmosphere but the mall still attracts many locals, wealthy or not. The mall has six levels of retail outlets that include big names in categories fashion and accessories. These include Marks & Spencer, Tiffany & Co, DKNY, Calvin Klein and Polo. The famous Japanese department store Isetan has a branch here along with a Japanese book store called Kinokuniya.

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra Theatre is also located inside, along with a nice range of cafes, dining establishments and Cineplex theatres. Besides shopping, visitors can also visit a nice, landscaped park that fronts the mall from the back which is complete with fountains, jogging trails and mini pool. The mall is connected via a tunnel to Aquaria KLCC and a LRT station.

Berjaya Times Square

Times Square in Bukit Bintang is one of the latest shopping malls to hit the Klang Valley. With a massive 3.4 million square feet in total build-up area, the mall is stacked with shops galore. However its sheer size is not so evident from outside, as most of the space comes from having many floors, making into a tower-like mall. An adjoining hotel and office block completes its architecture, giving the appearance of a modern, European-like twin tower block.

The mall accommodates up to 1,000 retail outlets with 65 of them being restaurants. In addition, there is an indoor theme park called the 'Cosmo's World Theme Park' and a massive 2D and 3D cinema theatre dubbed the 'Imax Experience'. Stores within the building range from fashion to toys and books to musical instruments. Avid bookworms will be delighted with the Borders bookstore, the largest in Southeast Asia.

Bukit Bintang Plaza and Sungai Wang Plaza

These two plazas located in Bukit Bintang have a long history in Kuala Lumpur. They are both connected and housed within the same structure, though the administration is different. Today, it remains one of KL's most popular shopping malls for its sheer number of establishments and trendy shops with a culture for bargaining.

These two malls are the place to look for wild and unorthodox fashion with a distinct Chinese flavour. You can also get a good number of electronics, especially cell phones and other mobile accessories.

In addition, there are a large number of Chinese restaurants and avant-garde cafes where you can feast on some delicious food. Otherwise, you can binge in fast food outlets such as McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken. As the space is tight, weekend visits can get pretty claustrophobic with the sheer amount of local shoppers.

Pavilion

The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is the latest shopping mall to open in the Bukit Bintang area. This posh and trendy shopping mall has a European design and contemporary environment, with classic grey hues to the walls. At seven storeys-high, the Pavilion has over 1.37 million sq ft of shopping space with an exciting array of designer brands and fashion goods among the retail outlets.

The luxurious surroundings are evident in the fine marble floors, stone pillars and columns that permeate the building. The bottom floor has a wide range of dining outlets that include local food and international cuisine housed in fancy restaurants and posh food courts. In addition, the mall has a wide-open public space fronting its entrance, complete with al-fresco cafes and modern landscapes lining the surroundings, providing a feel of walking in a street of 20th century Europe.

One Utama

The One Utama shopping centre in Bandar Utama, is one of Petaling Jaya's largest and popular malls. It consists of two wings connected directly to each other over a wide road. With a total build-up area of over 5 million sq feet, One Utama has over 600 shops that cater to a wide range of shoppers retailing fashion accessories, electrical appliances, pets, knick-knacks and other merchandise.

The mall has several prominent sections meant to entertain visitors, including a Rainforest House, which is a zone planted with over 100 species of flora and dotted with al-fresco cafes and restaurants. The entertainment section on the other hand, has cinemas, a bowling alley, karaoke lounge and indoor rock climbing gym. As the mall is extremely wide, be prepared to walk quite a distance to cover all the shops!

Sunway Pyramid

Sunway Pyramid, located in Sunway of Petaling Jaya, has a distinct Egyptian architecture in its outlook. When it was first built, it was one of the biggest and most popular shopping centres in the Klang Valley, but it has been superseded by more recent mega-malls. With a total build-up area of over 2.5 million sq feet, the mall houses more than 350 outlets that retail fashion clothing, accessories, shoes, jewellery, timepieces, music, videos, gifts, souvenirs, leathers, books and electrical products.

For entertainment, Sunway Pyramid was the first mall to incorporate an ice-skating rink which is still popular today. In addition, the mall has a 48-lane bowling alley and cinema halls. The boulevard outside the mall entrance has some fine restaurants, cafés and pubs, some of which are al-fresco. During the night, many young people flock to this area to enjoy the entertainment opportunities.