Aside from hair salons and beauty makeovers, why not check out other fun things to do at KSL City Mall and its surrounds with this guide?
Most Singaporeans who frequent Johor Bahru would know of KSL City Mall.
Housing many beauty and wellness stores, it’s a crowd favourite for affordable mani-pedis, and hair appointments. However, as someone who has accompanied many friends to KSL City Mall for makeovers, I’ve realised that there are plenty of other things to do in this mall even if those aren’t on your JB itinerary.
So, if you are looking for things to do in KSL City Mall and its surrounds (besides getting a fresh set of nail art,) let this article give you a few ideas!
Entertainment
1) Race with your friends at GoKarting KSL
Tucked away in the mall’s car park is GoKarting KSL, a fully air-conditioned, neon-lit go-kart circuit!
Equipped with electric karts that go up to 25km/hr, we had a good time racing each other around the track! We definitely felt the thrill every time we swerved around the corners. The karts were sufficiently fast for us, but if you’d like more action, the staff can increase the speed limit for you.
Cost: From RM35/pax (~S$11) for an 8-minute session
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: KSL City Mall Level 6 Carpark (Google Maps)
2) Watch the latest blockbuster at GSC Cinema
GSC Cinema boasts a great catalogue of the latest blockbusters as well as movies that we might not get to see in Singapore. And, their movie tickets and food cost a fraction of the price compared to home, so why not drop by for a show after shopping?!
Cost: From RM17/pax (~S$5.50)
How to get there: Level 2 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
3) Belt your favourite tunes at I’m a Singer Karaoke
Channel your inner Ariana Grande and sing your heart out at I’m a Singer Karaoke.
They have a range of room sizes ready for groups of all sizes. Small rooms can fit two people, while Medium rooms and Deluxe rooms fit four and six people, respectively.
There is also a mini-mart in the outlet that’s stocked with various snacks and drinks to fuel up and belt away!
Cost: From RM35/hr (~S$7) for a Small room (2 pax)
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 3AM
How to get there: Level 2 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
4) Challenge yourself to a game at Funtopia
From racing games to dance machines, ignite your competitive spirit with the array of arcade games available at Funtopia!
Purchase a reusable game card and top it up with “tokens” to play. Each game starts at three tokens, which are sold in bundles of 10, 50, or 130.
We had a lot of fun battling it out on air hockey and basketball hoops!
*Bonus: They also have a family-friendly indoor playground within the compound.
Cost: From RM10 for 10 tokens (~S$3), RM3 for Game Card (~S$1)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level 1 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
5) Test your luck at the Claw Machines at KSL’s LG floor
Don’t be surprised by the rows and rows of claw machines scattered around the LG floor of KSL City Mall.
Stocked with trending blind boxes, adorable trinkets, cuddly plushies (and more!), it’s worth browsing through these brightly-coloured cabinets of goodies. Who knows? You might find yourself bringing a new toy home.
The claw machines only accept tokens, which can be purchased with cash at the nearby token machines.
Cost: From RM1/token (~S$0.30)
How to get there: Level LG of KSL City Mall, near Watsons (Google Maps)
Shopping
6) Add new pieces to your wardrobe from Bottled Dream
To all ladies, shop for affordable & trendy wardrobe basics at Bottled Dream. They have apparel in casual and formal styles — many pieces have a pop of colour to elevate everyday outfits.
We unknowingly found ourselves grabbing some clothes for our wardrobe, such as a floral yellow skirt along with a white blouse!
Cost: From ~RM19 (~S$6) for a top (prices vary per item)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level 1 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
7) Shop for new sneakers and sports apparel at Sports Direct
Sports Direct, UK’s number one sports retailer, has a branch in KSL City Mall. It’s a one-stop shop for anything sports-related — equipment, fashion, accessories — with many big sports brands such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and more.
Watch out for their in-store sales to bag great deals!
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level GE of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
8) Get the cheapest spectacles from 68-degree Optic
Known for its affordable spectacle frames and efficient service, 68-degree Optic is our go-to eyewear shop in JB.
Once you enter, you will be greeted by a diverse assortment of frames from only RM68. After choosing your desired frame — trust us, this is the hardest and most time-consuming part 🤭 — the friendly staff will guide you through selecting the proper lens for you.
Thereafter, your glasses will be completed in an hour! The whole process might take faster than a massage next door 😂
Cost: From RM68 (~S$23) for a frame
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level GE of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
9) Find affordable lifestyle products from Daiso
We all know Daiso for its wide selection of household products, knick-knacks, and snacks for as low as RM5.90. So, it’s no surprise to see us Singaporeans flocking there to stock up on some goodies.
They even have travel-related products, like vacuum packs and travel toiletry containers, which we are loyal users of.
Cost: From RM5.90 (~S$1.80)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level 2 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
Food
10) Receive a surprise gift from Tadaa Box
Does getting a mystery gift along with your bubble tea order sound exciting to you? Tadaa Box does just that!
They offer a range of combo sets, each with a different number of drinks and surprise gifts. When your order number is called, head to the collection point to press the red button, and the mystery box will slowly open to reveal your gift and drink.
We opted for the basic Ta-Daa set (one drink and gift) and won ourselves a Kuromi plushie! The “tadaa” moment is further amplified by hype music that plays as the box unveils.
Highly recommend this experience to those who love blind boxes!
Cost: From ~RM27 for 1 drink + 1 surprise gift (~S$9)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level 2 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
11) Enjoy local delicacies from Tian Xi Kopi
Savour the best of Malaysian flavours at Tian Xi Kopi, whose menu is packed with a variety of traditional dishes, desserts, and snacks.
Start your meal with their best-selling Penang char kuey teow, nasi lemak, or curry laksa mee. Then finish off with delightful dessert options such as durian cendol, ice kacang, or mango sago with coconut milk.
If you want something lighter, try their famous cheese lava cake and egg tarts! They are made fresh daily in limited quantities.
Cost: From ~RM6.90/main (~S$2.50)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
How to get there: Level 2 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
12) Savour Cantonese roast meats at You Kee XO
Spot the snaking queues forming at You Kee XO during meal times, as it is a popular spot for both locals and Singaporeans to enjoy roast meats for as low as RM9.
Choose from their selection of roasted duck, char siu, pork, sausage, and chicken over either rice or noodles, and watch the staff prepare your food fresh behind the glass-walled kitchen.
Cost: From RM9/pax (~S$3)
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 9PM
How to get there: Level LG of KSL City Mall, outside entrance (Google Maps)
Bonus: Salon and Massage Parlour Recommendations
Enjoy an affordable hair transformation at LUXE Studio
LUXE Studio is an award-winning hair salon chain with an outlet in KSL City Mall.
They offer popular yet affordable services such as hair washing and cutting, hair colouring and bleaching, perming and straightening, and scalp treatments from RM38 (~S$12). As they can get quite busy, do book an appointment online in advance.
Cost: From RM38 (~S$12) for basic Wash, Blow & Styling
Opening hours: 10AM – 8PM
Address: KSL City Mall, L2-090 & 091, 33, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: Level 2 of KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
Do your nails and lashes at I Be Own Nail and Beauty
With eight outlets scattered around KSL City Mall, it’s hard to miss the popular I Be Own Nail and Beauty. Most customers visit them for their mani-pedi services, but they also offer a range of beauty treatments, such as eyebrow embroidery, lash lifts and extensions, ear cleaning, and facials.
They recently added the trending therapy head spa to their services too!
Cost: From RM30 (~S$10) for an express manicure
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 10PM
Address: KSL City Mall, L3-02, L1-106, L1-02, G-045, L1-112, L2-06, L2-K001, L2-115 (Google Maps)
Pamper yourself at Thong Thai Traditional Thai Massage
With five outlets located in KSL City Mall, Thong Thai offers massages to shoppers in need of a break.
Best part, they offer a buffet of free drinks and snacks to all customers after their sessions! This includes ice cream, crackers, tea, and more. We opted for a 30-minute foot massage to ease the pain we had from the whole day of shopping. It was so relaxing that we found ourselves dozing off.
Cost: From RM32 (~S$11) for a 15min Head-Shoulder Massage
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: KSL City Mall, L1-83, G-06, GE-006, L2-125, L2-89 (Google Maps)
Things To Eat and Do around KSL City Mall
13) Start your day with Dim Sum from 点心工坊 Dim Sum Empire
A few streets away from KSL City Mall is Dim Sum Empire, a highly-rated Ipoh dim sum restaurant with a diverse selection of freshly-prepared dishes. We visited the place when it just launched and were pleasantly surprised by its food quality, sleek interior, and friendly service!
We highly recommend their signature majestic shrimp dumplings and salted egg yolk buns.
The shrimp dumplings (hargao) are filled with juicy, hot, and fresh whole prawns! As for the latter, the burst of orange salted egg yolk lava wrapped in a soft fluffy bun is so addictive!
Cost: From RM6.90/dish (~S$2)
Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM
Address: 187, Jalan Harimau, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 6min walk from KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
14) Bond over board games or an art workshop at Hey Decoupage
Hey Decoupage is a cosy art studio that provides a range of workshops, such as punch-needle embroidery, DIY mahjong tiles, Jesmonite, and more. It also has a board game cafe stocked with a variety of games for you and your friends to bond over!
We attempted the DIY Mahjong Tile and Jesmonite Workshop, where we could create personalised tiles and coasters from scratch! The staff patiently guided us as we fumbled with the moulds, and eventually we could see our ideas take shape (literally).
After the workshops, we spent some time chilling at the board game cafe, where adorable cushions and plushies were keeping us comfortable as we played Monopoly for hours. What a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon!
Cost: From ~S$10/pax via Klook
Address: 54a, Jalan Serampang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 16min walk from KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Redeem 5% OFF Klook activities for use later, up to 3x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&C’s apply!
15) Relax at the aesthetically pleasing Dusk by Mok Mok Cafe
Enjoy the aesthetic Bohemian-style decor as you savour flavourful Japanese-Italian fusion dishes at Dusk by Mok Mok Cafe. Every corner of the cafe is Insta-worthy, so come with your cameras and tummies ready for a feast of photos and food!
We ordered their ebi aglio olio and various yakitori sticks to share. The ingredients tasted fresh, and the meat was so juicy and tender!
Great that we had a separate stomach for dessert because the cafe also serves a selection of beautifully-plated desserts on their menu — think souffle pancake with mascarpone cheese mousse, smoothie bowls with a chocolate mermaid tail, and more.
Cost: From RM28/dish (~S$9)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: 49, Jalan Perang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 7min drive from KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
16) Experience camping over mookata at THAMP 泰营
THAMP 泰营 brings the relaxing glamping vibes into the city with its camping-style mookata (Thai grill and hotpot) experience.
Resembling a campsite, this outdoor restaurant allows customers to recline on camping chairs while mookata ingredients such as vegetables, tofu, and meat are served in mesh tins. With popular Thai hits playing in the background and fairy lights twinkling above, this place is perfect to wind down after a long day in JB.
They have three different sets with various ingredients, and also a la carte dishes that you can add to your order. We highly recommend the signature coconut soup, as it was light and refreshing.
The restaurant is pet-friendly too! Reserve a table through WhatsApp as the place can get pretty full.
Cost: From RM68/set; good for 2-3 pax (~S$23)
Opening hours: 6PM – 12AM (Sun – Thu), 6PM – 1AM (Fri – Sat), closed on Mon
Address: 107, Jalan Serampang, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 7min drive from KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
17) Be transported to a Spirited Away Village at Bao Bei Japanese Ramen (HQ)
Is this Japan or is this JB?!
With red lanterns lining the roof of a huge wooden cottage, Bao Bei Japanese Ramen (HQ)’s exterior resembles that of the Spirited Away Village, or Jiufen in Taiwan. Not only is the restaurant’s design attractive, but they also serve a variety of Japanese dishes such as ramen, donburi, sashimi, and more.
We got their signature tonkotsu shoyu ramen and were pleasantly surprised by how savoury the broth was! The noodles were al dente and springy too. Oishi!
They also offer free ice cream, and the owner is happy to show you his adorable pet ducks, chicken, and colourful fish.
Cost: From RM11.90/pax (~S$4)
Opening hours: 12PM – 11PM
Address: 19, Jalan Kebun Teh Lama, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 5min drive from KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
18) Savour unique soy beancurd variations from Re:Pure TauFuFa
Soy beancurd is already good on its own, but have you heard of caramelised soy beancurd? Re:Pure TauFuFa’s Signature Burnt Taufufa puts a spin on this traditional dessert by adding a layer of sugar on top of their iconic beancurd and torching it till the sugar caramelises.
The texture reminded us of crème brûlée, and it was so light we slurped up the bowl easily.
This cosy cafe offers many other unique beancurd flavours and toppings, such as red bean paste, taro balls, peach gum, and more. They also provide board games for you to bond with your friends.
Cost: From RM5.50/bowl (~S$2)
Opening hours: 11AM – 12AM
Address: 348, Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 5min walk from KSL City Mall (Google Maps)
Where to stay: KSL Resort
Photo credit: Booking.com
If you plan to stay overnight (or longer) in JB, consider staying at KSL Hotel & Resort Johor Bahru, a 4-star hotel conveniently located above KSL City Mall.
They have various room types that cater to solo travellers or families, and they even have a dinosaur-themed water theme park located on Level 7 for some family-friendly fun.
Cost: From ~S$60/night (up to 2 pax)
Address: 33, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 10min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
Tips for Planning Your Trip to KSL City Mall
1) Insurance and connectivity: Purchase your travel insurance (from ~S$11/pax via Klook) and eSIM (from ~S$6 for 3 days of unlimited data via Klook) online before going abroad. It’s always good to go prepared!
*Pro-tip: Redeem 5% OFF Klook activities for use later, up to 5x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&C’s apply!
2) Getting around JB: KSL City Mall is an 11-minute drive from JB Sentral, and you can easily get there via ride-hailing options such as Grab. We found it to be the most convenient way to get around JB.
For example, our ride from JB Sentral to KSL City Mall was only RM7 (~S$2.20).
Alternatively, you can take public bus F100, which operates between JB Sentral and KSL City Mall. Bus tickets should be paid in cash to the driver when you board. Please consult the driver onboard for the exact fare.
3) Check out these articles to help you plan your JB itinerary:
– 3D2N JB Itinerary — Mount Austin, Kulai, JB Sentral
– 12 Best JB Hotels Near Sentral, Mt Austin, Other Popular Areas Best for Shopping, Cafe-hopping
– JB Cafe-hopping — 9 New Cafes to Check Out in Johor Bahru
– Here’s Everything to Know About Using E-gates at JB Customs
What are some other unique things to do in JB we should try? Let us know!
