Have you heard? There is a new shopping mall open in Putrajaya and it is massive. Some people might have its name – IOI City Mall – confused with IOI Mall that’s located in Puchong, but the two are indeed very different. Plenty of KL-lites have been flocking over to the new mall to check it out, so we did the same! If you haven’t visited IOI City Mall and you’re wondering what it’s really like, here are five things you can do while you’re there.
1. Eat your heart out
We, Malaysians, love food and the more choices, the better! There are so many restaurants to choose from at IOI City Mall and we were spoilt for choice when deciding what to have for lunch. We reckon there’s probably something for even the pickiest of eaters.
Besides chain restaurants you see at every mall such as McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Sakae Sushi, The Manhattan Fish Market, Morganfield’s, Pizza Hut and Wendy’s, there are also plenty of eateries we’ve never seen before – Buddies, TOKYO Don, Fatburger, Sushi Tsen, just to name a few.
A few highlights are Dal.Komm Coffee, Las Vacas (opening soon), Magnum Cafe (opening soon), Namoo Grey, dip n dip and 1 Market by Chef Wan (opening soon). For small eats, there are also tons to choose from such as Aunty Anne’s, Japan Boat Takoyaki, Beard Papa’s, Hot & Roll (opening soon), Nelson’s and Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, just to name a few.
2. Shop like there is no tomorrow
This is the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping! THEY. HAVE. EVERYTHING. With Parkson as an anchor departmental store and Tesco as the anchor supermarket, there is something new – HomePro – that is sort of similar to IKEA, except they don’t sell a lot of furniture. You can get tons of home stuff in there like paints, home organization stuff, bathtubs, piping fixtures, gardening tools and many more.
Be prepared to go crazy! There is MONKI, H&M, Uniqlo, Padini, GUESS, Timberland, Brands Outlet, Playboy, Cotton On (opening soon), Levi’s, G2000, Dorothy Perkins, Kitschen, adidas and Dockers, just to name some. Whether you’re looking for more high-end goods or those of a more affordable price range, there is surely something for everyone.
Beauty junkies, there IS a Sephora outlet in IOI City Mall. YEAY!
For healthcare and wellness, there is Watsons, Guardian and Caring all at one location. There is also a pet store if you need pet supplies!
3. Learn to ice skate from a professional
There is an Olympic-sized ice skating rink in the vicinity of the mall, which is the first of its kind in Malaysia. We gave it a whirl ourselves and it was really fun! Compared to the one in Sunway Pyramid, this one is much bigger and the quality of the ice is way better. It doesn’t water down as quickly even though there were loads of people in the rink. This means less resurfacing required! We ice skated for four hours straight and they didn’t resurface the ice at all.
The ice skates are obviously new and they come with snaps instead of shoe laces. There are also sizes for little children and an adorable penguin ice skate aid that can be rented, also for little children. Below would be the pricing:
If you want to learn how to ice skate properly, you can also hire a professional to guide and teach you in the rink. There is a washroom and lockers available inside the compound, but there is no food at all. If you’re planning to spend hours in the ice skating rink, do grab a bite beforehand. Here is Icescape’s Facebook page.
4. Chill by the outdoor area
The outdoor area of IOI City Mall is pretty neat and it’s a good place to chill or catch a breather when you’re tired of being indoors. There is a pretty water fountain just outside and there is also a fair amount of greenery around. With tons of benches everywhere and plenty of shaded areas, it’s a nice place to take a walk around too.
Facing the outdoor area, there are more restaurants for those who prefer al-fresco dining. Don’t worry, the area is nicely shaded.
5. Have adventurous fun at the District21 themed action park
For those of you who are adventurous and athletic, District21 is not to be missed. Themed around a post-apocalyptic world, this mini theme park consists of more than 10 attractions to suit all ages and ability. For RM75 per pax (same price for adults and children), you can spend the whole day in there and visit the attractions for an unlimited amount of times.
We took photos of the LCD screen which was displaying some of the attractions available at District21, so we’ll try to break it down for you:
Power Station – Interactive climbing wall equipped with auto belays.
Roller Glider – A mix of zip line and roller coaster.
GoPedal – Human-powered go karts.
Pump Track – Undulating course of bumps, jumps and berms designed to allow you to ride continuously without pedalling. Riders can choose a bike, scooter or skateboard.
Low Ropes – 7-element rope course designed for younger kids.
Launch Pad – Large trampoline field.
The Maze – A vertical labyrinth of tunnels, cages and funky challenges, at more than 10 metres above the ground. There is a scaled version for children.
Free Fall – Free fall to simulate an experience comparable to a parachute jump out of an airplane.
Sky Trail – The largest indoor rope challenge course in Malaysia with 23 elements.
Tubby Ride – Slide down a special surface on a tube.
Carousel – Pretty much self-explanatory.
Here is District21’s Facebook page.
You can visit IOI City Mall’s website or Facebook page for more information!
