Malls Near Twin Tower: City Square, KOMTAR JBCC, R&F Mall & KSL

If you are looking at malls near CIQ JB, the good news is that Twin Tower Residence sits in the middle of Johor Bahru’s best-connected shopping cluster. Johor Bahru City Square and KOMTAR JBCC are within walking distance, while R&F Mall and KSL City Mall are a short drive away. This guide compares all four so you know where to go for groceries, a movie, a family day out or a big weekend shop.

Which malls are near Twin Tower Residence?

Twin Tower Residence is on Jalan Tengku Azizah in Bukit Chagar, beside the RTS Link station. Four malls cover almost every need:

Johor Bahru City Square: the everyday mall on your doorstep

Johor Bahru City Square opened in 1999 at 106–108 Jalan Wong Ah Fook, close to the Causeway. It has six levels of retail and is paired with a 36-storey office tower. Since December 2008 a pedestrian bridge has linked the mall to the Southern Integrated Gateway, which includes JB Sentral and the Sultan Iskandar Building (the CIQ). That makes it the default stop for anyone crossing the border on foot.

What you’ll find

• International fashion names such as Uniqlo and H&M.
• mmCineplexes cinema.
• Popular bookstore and a wide range of food outlets.
• Indoor leisure like laser tag and massage outlets, as noted by travel guides.

Wikipedia also notes a revamp announced in November 2025 that plans to enlarge the mall to over 300 shops, targeted for completion in Q4 2027. If that goes ahead, residents next door will gain even more choice.

KOMTAR JBCC: family fun and dining next door

KOMTAR is one of Johor Bahru’s oldest shopping addresses on Jalan Wong Ah Fook. It was rebuilt and reopened as KOMTAR JBCC in 2014. When it reopened, it hosted Southeast Asia’s first Angry Birds Activity Park on Level 3 — attractions change over time, so check what is currently running before you plan a family visit.

The JBCC complex also includes Menara JLand, whose 34th floor hosts the Skyscape observation deck with a glass sky walk, a popular weekend outing. KOMTAR JBCC’s mix of fashion outlets and Japanese and local dining makes it an easy dinner option for residents.

R&F Mall: groceries, cinema and space

R&F Mall had its soft opening on 28 March 2019 as part of R&F Princess Cove, by the Causeway. It is a three-storey mall with about 800,000 sq ft of gross floor area and 532,000 sq ft of net lettable area. A link bridge, opened in May 2018, connects it to the JB CIQ side, and from Twin Tower it is a short drive.

What you’ll find

• Jaya Grocer supermarket — its first Johor Bahru outlet when the mall opened.
• MR.DIY for home items.
• Emperor Cinemas as the original anchor tenant.
• Children’s play spaces and a range of restaurants.

For Twin Tower residents, R&F Mall is the natural place for a weekly grocery run, especially if you prefer a wide imported selection.

KSL City Mall: the big weekend shop

KSL City Mall in Taman Abad opened on 12 December 2010. It has seven floors and around 500 retail outlets, plus about 2,800 car park bays, and is part of a larger development with the KSL Resort Hotel towers (904 rooms). The mall is served by Causeway Link bus route J100.

KSL is a short drive from Twin Tower and is popular with Singaporean weekend visitors for its variety, food courts and value shopping. If you want everything under one roof, this is the one.

How do the malls compare for different residents?

The Singapore commuter

City Square is on your walking route between the CIQ area and home, so quick dinners and errands fit into your commute. R&F Mall’s Jaya Grocer suits a weekly top-up.

The family

KOMTAR JBCC and the Skyscape deck work for a short outing; KSL City Mall is the full-day option with lots of choice.

The retiree

Walking to City Square and KOMTAR JBCC keeps daily life car-free. A taxi or e-hailing ride covers the bigger malls when needed.

The investor

Tenants consistently value walkable retail. Being able to tell prospective tenants that two malls and JB Sentral are within walking distance is a strong selling point in rental listings.

A sample week of shopping from Twin Tower

1. Monday–Thursday: Quick dinners and pharmacy runs at City Square on foot.
2. Friday night: A movie at City Square or a meal at KOMTAR JBCC.
3. Saturday morning: Weekly groceries at Jaya Grocer, R&F Mall.
4. Sunday: A bigger shop and lunch at KSL City Mall, or the Skyscape deck with visiting family.

What does walkable retail mean for value?

Walkability to malls is one reason city-centre units command strong rents. As of October 2026, public Mudah listings for Twin Tower showed asking rents of RM2,300–3,000 a month for a 599 sq ft studio and RM3,000–3,500 for an 882 sq ft 2-bedroom (indicative asking figures). For example, a studio asking RM2,600 a month gives RM2,600 × 12 = RM31,200 a year; against an asking price of RM750,000, that is an indicative gross yield of 31,200 ÷ 750,000 ≈ 4.2%. See our rent guide and yield calculation guide for details.

Beyond the malls

A short walk from the malls takes you into JB’s old town, with heritage streets, temples and food areas — see our old town guide. For the wider picture of the area, read our Bukit Chagar neighbourhood guide.

How do you get to each mall from Twin Tower?

On foot: City Square and KOMTAR JBCC

Both malls sit along Jalan Wong Ah Fook in the city centre, within walking distance of Twin Tower Residence. City Square’s bridge link to JB Sentral and the Sultan Iskandar Building means that, once you reach the transport hub, much of the onward route can be done under cover. Pedestrian overhead bridges planned around Bukit Chagar station — most targeted by end-2026 and the rest in 2027 — should make these walks even smoother.

By car or e-hailing: R&F Mall and KSL City Mall

R&F Mall is near the Causeway in Tanjung Puteri, and KSL City Mall is in Taman Abad; both are a short drive. E-hailing is the simplest option if you do not keep a car, and KSL is also served by Causeway Link bus route J100. Weekend traffic in the city centre can be heavy, especially when Singapore visitors arrive, so morning trips are usually the quickest.

Smart shopping tips for residents

• Shop weekday evenings at City Square and KOMTAR JBCC to avoid weekend crowds from across the Causeway.
• Do your bulk grocery run early on Saturday at R&F Mall before traffic builds.
• Carry some ringgit cash for small stalls, even though malls widely accept cards and e-wallets.
• Use the malls as rainy-day walkways: linked bridges between City Square, JB Sentral and the CIQ keep you dry for part of the route.
• Follow mall announcements: tenant line-ups and attractions change, and City Square has an expansion planned.
• Plan around RTS crowds: once the RTS Link opens, expect more weekend visitors arriving straight into Bukit Chagar and heading to the nearby malls.

Choosing a unit with shopping in mind: a quick checklist

1. Walk from the lobby to City Square and time it yourself at the hour you would usually go.
2. Decide whether you need a car bay; if your big shops are monthly, e-hailing may be enough.
3. Pick a layout with enough storage for bulk groceries — a 2-bedroom (882 sq ft) or 2+1 (1,054 sq ft) gives more room than a studio.
4. If you are buying to rent, note walkable malls and JB Sentral in your listing; it is one of the first things tenants ask about.

Conclusion

Twin Tower Residence gives you an unusually complete retail life without needing a car: City Square and KOMTAR JBCC on foot, R&F Mall and KSL City Mall a short drive away, and the RTS Link next door for Singapore trips. If that sounds like the lifestyle you want, WhatsApp Darren for the latest available units and floor plans, or browse our listings.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Johor Bahru City Square (shopping mall)
• Wikipedia: Johor Bahru landmarks (KOMTAR JBCC)
• The Star: Angry Birds park opens at Komtar JBCC (31 Oct 2014)
• EdgeProp: R&F Mall Johor Bahru opens March 28 (2019)
• Wikipedia: R&F Mall
• Wikipedia: KSL City
• TheSmartLocal: Things to do near Bukit Chagar RTS station
• Sinar Harian: RTS Link–Komtar JBCC pedestrian bridge plan (17 Jul 2023)