Malaysia is one of the popular holiday destinations for people all around the world. Ranging from city sightseeing and nature parks to scuba diving, this country has a lot to offer. However, did you know that Malaysia is also a shopper’s paradise? Malaysia has huge shopping malls with luxurious and indoor amusement parks and open markets that promise a great street shopping experience. From international fashion labels to handmade glass jewelry, one can find everything here. You can also shop here for the most beautifully crafted silk and batik, handicrafts, the latest electronic items, and more. We suggest you to grab your Malaysia tourist visa and explore this shopping paradise.
Best Shopping Places In Malaysia
Pavilion KL
One of the best places for shopping in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur is the city center’s trendiest shopping mall, Pavilion mall. Located in the hip and happening area of Bukit Bintang, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is a great place for some luxurious shopping. The shopping area is spread across seven floors where you can shop for many international brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Ralph Lauren. There is also a cinema hall, supermarket, plus dozens of restaurants and cafes. You can also pamper yourselves in spas and salons in the mall.
- Address: 168, Bukit Bintang Street, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o Designer fashion and accessories
o Cosmetics and skincare products
o Home decor and furniture
o Electronics and gadgets
Suria KLCC
Surya KLCC, a six-story shopping complex, is located on the ground floor of the most iconic landmark of Malaysia, the Petronas Towers. This shopping mall comprises Ampang Mall, Ramlee Mall, and Park Mall. The complex has many attractions like Aquaria KLCC, Petrosains (a science discovery center), a 12 screen cinema theatre, and Petronas Art Gallery. The architecture of this mall is of European style with green spaces, exposed glass panels, and impressive columns. Suria KLCC has many famous stores like Chanel, Ed hardy, Harley Davidson, etc.
- Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o High-end fashion and luxury brands
o Souvenirs and local handicrafts
o Jewelry and watches
o Books and stationery
Berjaya Times Square
This iconic landmark of Kuala Lumpur, Berjaya Times Square, is the world’s largest building with 48 floors full of stores, restaurants, and an indoor theme park. It is the best place for shopping in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. Kids can enjoy a ride on the roller coaster, go bowling, or watch a movie at the IMAX 3D Cineplex, while adults can shop from the stores having the best luxury brand, jewelry store, or relax at a spa. Berjaya is a place to shop for the best silk and leather items.
- Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o High-end fashion and luxury brands
o Souvenirs and local handicrafts
o Jewelry and watches
o Books and stationery
1 Utama Shopping Centre
1 Utama Shopping Centre is the biggest shopping mall in Malaysia. It is located in Bandar Utama and has a whopping 1000 shops full of designer clothes, accessories, sportswear, shoes, bags, home decor, and many more. The complex has an eco-zone, with a fully functioning rainforest area, a fish tank, and a colorful rainbow bridge that both children and adults can enjoy. The complex is massive and has many eateries and entertainment outlets. The mall consists of budget options for economical shoppers.
- Address: 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
- What to buy:
o Fashion and apparel
o Cosmetics and skincare products
o Home furnishings and decor
o Toys and games
Sunway Pyramid
The Sunway Pyramid is one of Malaysia’s largest retail outlets covering an area of 1.7 million square feet. This mall has an Egyptian-themed architecture Pyramid with a lion standing guard at the entrance joined by two domes – the orange Atrium and the blue Atrium. This mall is adjacent to the Sunway Lagoon theme park in Bandar Sunway. This mall includes some of the best brands like Mango, Coach, and Timberland. You can take a break from shopping by catching a movie at its top-floor cinema theatre or enjoy ice skating on the ground-floor rink.
- Address: 3 Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
- What to buy:
o Fashion and apparel
o Cosmetics and skincare products
o Electronics and gadgets
o Souvenirs and local handicrafts
Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall
Due to its duty-free shopping experience, Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s cheapest shopping destinations. There are over 100 store outlets in this two-story shopping mall, ranging from souvenirs to handicrafts to clothes. One of the major attractions of this shopping mall is its duty-free supermarket, where you can buy a wide range of products. There are money changers and an information counter for travelers in Kuah. This mall is a heaven for lovers of shopping, as here you can shop to your heart’s content at cheap rates.
- Address: Jalan Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah
- What to buy:
o Duty-free goods (alcohol, chocolates, cosmetics)
o Local handicrafts and souvenirs
o Beachwear and accessories
o Jewelry and watches
Indian Quarter
Indian Quarter is the best place to have an authentic Indian experience outside the country. You can shop for traditional Indian clothing like saris, embroidered scarves, shawls, spices, handbags, and handicrafts. The cafes and food stalls have delightful flavors and are perfect for a quick mid-shopping break. A large fountain marks the focal point, and the three-storied Indian Bazaar is a favorite place to find a bargain.
- Address: Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o Indian textiles and sarees
o Spices and herbs
o Jewelry and accessories
o Traditional Indian sweets and snacks
Petaling Street
One of the popular landmarks in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Street, is also known as Chinatown. This marketplace is bustling with people – both locals and tourists. Petaling Street has numerous stalls serving authentic Malaysian dishes like Malaysian noodles, Asam laksa, Ikan Bakar, and Hokkien mee. Many shops are selling Chinese tea, and they will demonstrate the correct way of preparing tea and let you sample some of their brews. Petaling Street lights up at night with bright neon lights, and the whole place is full of energy and life.
- Address: Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o Counterfeit goods (watches, bags, clothing)
o Local street food and snacks
o Souvenirs and handicrafts
o Accessories and home decor
Lot 10
Lot 10 is perhaps the most centrally located mall in Kuala Lumpur, along Jalan Bukit Bintang. It has many shops selling good brands and also a National Geographer Flagship Store. In the basement, you can find Hutong, a wonderful food court with mainly Chinese hawkers. This mall is a place you can shop for luxurious brands. The mall houses the Isetan Japan store, a place outside Japan where you can shop for all Japanese products. There are also a number of small vendors selling electronic goods and jewelry here.
- Address: 50 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o Fashion and apparel
o Cosmetics and skincare products
o Accessories and jewelry
o Electronics and gadgets
Central Market or Pasar Seni
An iconic landmark located in the heart of the city center is Central Market. This market came into existence in 1888 and is a paradise for art lovers and shopaholics. Hundreds of stalls line the streets selling authentic handicrafts, fabulous boutiques, traditional Malaysian Batik items, and numerous souvenirs. Along with shopping, you can enjoy a fish spa, Illusion 3D art museum, and DIY Batik painting. Central Market is a place where you can shop for Indian and Chinese art pieces and accessories.
- Address: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
- What to buy:
o Local handicrafts and souvenirs
o Batik clothing and textiles
o Artwork and paintings
o Antiques and collectibles
Best Things to Buy in Malaysia
While shopping in Malaysia, you would come across the need to figure out what the best things to buy are. Here is a list of few such things that you can buy.
Batik Items
Batik is a traditional Malaysian craft that uses wax resistant dyeing on fabrics to produce colorful and intricately designed patterns. Head to stalls and shops in busy areas like Little India and Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur or Kuching in Borneo to pick up authentic batik items like sarongs, shirts, dresses, scarves and handicrafts. Batik outfits also make great gifts. Opt for hand-made batik over industrial mass printed types for better quality.
Malaysian Coffee and Tea
Malaysia produces some premium quality artisanal coffees and teas. Coffee beans grown in the Cameron Highlands and teas like Boh Cameronian Green Tea, Boh White Coffee and Teh Tarik are very popular buys. Pick up some unique flavors like coconut tea or brands like OldTown White Coffee to enjoy a taste of Malaysian drinks back home.
Tropical Fruits
Due to the tropical climate, Malaysia produces a wide variety of juicy tropical fruits year round. Visit local markets and superstores to buy exotic local fruits like rambutan, mangosteen, durian (known as the ‘king of fruits'), jackfruit, langsat, guava, dragon fruit and more to try. These also make for offbeat gifts.
Malaysian Chocolates
Malaysia offers some sinfully good gourmet chocolates from domestic brands like Patricks Abalone Choclate, Gardens and Signature Gold to imported Swiss and Belgian chocolates. Head to outlets in KLCC mall or supermarkets to buy chocolate gift hampers wrapped in ornate packaging. Must try options are creamy milk chocolate truffles infused with native ingredients.
Handicrafts
Each Malaysian state has its own traditional handicrafts culture. Look for specialties like Royal Selangor pewterware, Labuan pearl items, Sarawak pottery and more. Wood carvings, woven baskets, batik paintings, ethnic jewelry etc also make great decorative souvenirs. Don’t forget to bargain when shopping at flea markets or cultural villages.
Electronics
Malaysia manufactures technology and electronics competitively from audio equipment to camera accessories. Visit stores in Penang and Kuala Lumpur to browse smartphones, laptops, computer parts, cameras, home appliances etc. Malaysia also sells authentic software disc sets spanning design, gaming, security tools and more at lower prices.
Fabrics and Textiles
Kuala Lumpur is a fabric lover's paradise with textile outlets spread across China Town, Petaling Street, Bukit Bintang etc. Shop for high quality Malaysian fabrics like batik, ikat, songket and mengkuang weaves. Indian sarees, Indonesian Sasirangan fabrics, soft Pashminas and ornate lacework fabrics are other great buys for fashion or home décor.
Tips for Shopping in Malaysia
- Know your prices – Always try to haggle, especially at street markets and small shops. Prices are rarely fixed in Malaysia. However, don’t try to bargain too much at fixed-price stores in malls. Start your negotiation from around 30-40% below asking price.
- Cash is king – Some small shops may not accept card payments. Carry enough cash, especially smaller denominations for ease of transactions.
- Learn sizing – Malaysian sizes tend to run smaller than US/UK sizes. Try on clothes before buying.
- Visit during sales – Major sales happen during festival periods like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, and Deepavali when stores offer big discounts. Sign up for store emails for sale alerts.
- Buy local crafts – Pick up authentic Malaysian handicrafts and souvenirs like batik, pewter, wood carvings, traditional fabrics etc. These make for great gifts and mementos.
- Explore flea markets – Check out lively night markets and flea markets to find quirky antiques, collectibles, and knick-knacks at bargain prices after negotiating.
- Watch for duty free – If you are a tourist, shop at duty free stores at the airports when arriving or departing to save money. Some malls also have duty free shops.
- Beware of scams – Only shop at reputable stores and be cautious of tactics like bait and switch. Check products carefully before purchase.
- Research must-buys – Some unique Malaysian items to buy are chocolates, coffee, tea, tropical fruits, electronics, batik prints, wood carvings and more.
Remember that you need to bargain in Malaysia as the vendors often say a price double the actual rate or higher. The Chinese merchants who engage in negotiations expect to make a sale in the end. So remember to bargain ‘only’ if you want to buy the product. The Malaysian year-end sale starts from October till New Years’ Eve. It is the best time to shop for a wide range of products at discounted prices.