Lalaport is one of the newest shopping centers in the city. As always, it drew huge crowds immediately after opening. You might wonder why another shopping center was added when there are already so many in KL. But in Malaysia, people often prefer something new rather than renovating existing buildings. Only the top shopping centers have survived over the years — because everyone ends up going there anyway. Lalaport might only stand out for so long because of its Japanese theme. It’s also in a convenient location — just outside Bukit Bintang, but strategically connected to both the metro and monorail stations.
Lalaport is located on the former site of the infamous Pudu Prison, and its construction was surrounded by controversy for years. Despite protests — some even claiming the site is cursed and haunted — the plans couldn’t be reversed. The old, dilapidated prison was demolished, and a luxurious shopping center from the Japanese Lalaport chain was built in its place.
Fast forward to 2024, and Lalaport has been open for almost a year. It’s usually pleasantly busy. With a number of unique, mostly Japanese shops, it’ll probably stay relevant for quite some time — even though it wasn’t completely packed during our visit. The criticism hasn’t entirely disappeared either. I even read a Tripadvisor review where a woman claimed she saw a ghost in the mirror after using the toilet (ghost stories are taken seriously in Malaysia!). That said, it’s still a great place — especially for shopping and food lovers.
Nice shopping options
From what we saw, Lalaport mainly caters to the masses, especially local shoppers. You’ll find most of the same shops you’d expect in any major shopping center — just with a few more Japanese stores than usual.
There are also standard shops like F.O.S., Mr. DIY, Adidas, Dockers, Vans, Crocs, and various electronics stores. Metrojaya is the main department store in Lalaport, and we’ve always found it a great place to shop — especially during sales, when prices can be surprisingly competitive.
On the lower ground floor, there’s a large Jaya Grocer with plenty of imported products. The only slight disappointment was the limited selection of fresh bread — but otherwise, it has everything you’d need.
We thought it was a great shopping center overall. But if we had limited time and could only visit one, we’d probably choose Pavilion or The Exchange TRX. That said, Lalaport has everything: a large supermarket, hundreds of brand-name shops, great restaurants, cafés, fast food options, ATMs, telecom stores, several bakeries, and more.
Food & drinks
Besides a food court, there are dozens of great restaurants — especially along the semi-covered outer area. Most are Japanese: sushi places, wagyu restaurants, udon, and other popular Japanese chains.
We had some delicious meals at various restaurants on Gourmet Street (ground floor). Unlike many malls, a large part of Lalaport is open-air. The restaurants on Gourmet Street are all al fresco — in other words, outdoor seating under a partially open glass roof. It’s cozy and pleasant.
From Lalaport, it’s about a 10-minute walk to ICC Pudu, a large and very popular food court in the local Pudu neighborhood (mostly Chinese-Malaysian).
Activities
Inside Lalaport, there’s a large GSC cinema — perfect for a regular movie experience. (For something more luxurious, you’re better off going to one of the two Aurum Theatres.) What’s nice about this GSC is the 1950s-style décor — very Instagrammable.
Another cool attraction is the Rollerwa+ roller skating rink from Korea. You can skate for two hours for RM60 (children: RM50). Rental skates are included in the price.
Also fun is the Lalaspeed E-kart track, where you can race electric go-karts. There’s a kid-friendly version that goes up to 10 km/h, a 20 km/h version for older kids, and a 30 km/h version for adults (requires a driver’s license).
Coo&RIKU is a pet supply shop. It’s not particularly exciting — but the Cat Café inside is worth a visit.
Next to Lalaport is ZEPP, a concert hall where big (mainly Asian) acts regularly perform.
Rooftop Garden
The Rooftop Garden at Lalaport is massive — almost like a full park on top of the shopping center. There are benches, lounge areas, and often food stalls or small events. A huge staircase leads all the way from the ground floor to the rooftop. The view is great, and it tends to cool down nicely in the evenings.
Accommodations
Right next to Lalaport are several apartment complexes. Lucentia Residences is the most popular, with many units available on Airbnb and Booking.com. We stayed here for a week once, and the location was perfect. It’s an ideal base for exploring KL — just a few minutes’ walk to Hang Tuah metro station, and the monorail station is right at the entrance.
The location is technically just outside Bukit Bintang — or right on its edge. Grab rides are convenient and quick, without the traffic hassles of staying deep in the city center.
That’s actually one of the main reasons we’d recommend Lalaport — not necessarily because the mall is super unique, but because Lucentia Residences offers such a great base, with the bonus of having a full-featured mall right downstairs.
There are also plenty of budget options nearby — from popular backpacker B&Bs to well-rated mid-range hotels for under €40 a night.
Opening hours
The mall is open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Jaya Grocer (lower ground floor) opens at 9:30 AM.
Tip: It can be hard to find a Grab around closing time since many people head home at once (other malls also close around then). Sometimes it’s easier to take the metro partway, then grab a ride from a quieter area.
How to get there?
Lalaport is within walking distance of Bukit Bintang. From Berjaya Times Square, just cross the road — it’s a 5–10-minute walk to the main entrance.
The monorail is a great option if you’re staying near Bukit Bintang or KL Sentral. There’s a monorail station right next to the mall.
The Hang Tuah metro station is directly below the mall. It connects to the Ampang Line (north KL) and Sri Petaling Line (southern suburbs). With one transfer, you can reach almost anywhere in the city.
Of course, Grab is always a convenient way to get there — just ask your driver to drop you at one of the entrances to save yourself some walking.
Tips
- We personally prefer Pavilion, The Exchange TRX, and The Gardens — they’re more beautiful and, in our opinion, better overall. But Lalaport is still a great shopping center with a wide selection of stores and several nice restaurants.
- It’s also a really ideal base if you book an apartment at Lucentia Residences, for example, since it’s right next to both a metro and monorail station. You’ve got a full shopping center, a big supermarket, and lots of great food options right under your accommodation.
- At the top, there’s also a small playground for little kids, and you can check out JungleGym, which is like a MonkeyTown-style play area where kids can climb, slide, and have fun.
- Although the roads around the shopping center are often quite busy, it’s still a lot quieter compared to the constant traffic jams around Bukit Bintang. One of the nice things about Lalaport is that it’s easy to leave the city center if you want to.
- You can also walk from Bukit Bintang to Lalaport quite easily — most of the route is covered. From the big intersection at Lot 10, you can walk through Sungei Wang to Berjaya Times Square (just exit Sungei Wang from the back). You’ll already see Lalaport from Berjaya Times Square, and from there it’s less than a 5-minute walk.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Kuala Lumpur, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below or join our private Facebook Group Friends of Malaysia.
