Headed down to JB for the weekend? Ranging from cafes to escape rooms, here’s our list of the best things to be doing in Malaysia’s Southern Jewel.
Psyched for your JB getaway during the Diwali weekend? We’ve all seen and heard the shopping spiel that JB is known for, but this time, we want to try something new! Last week, our very own YouTrip Community Executive headed down the causeway to bring you some authentic recommendations of how to perfectly adventure around JB in two days. So here’s a list of our favourite things to do in JB for an exciting weekend getaway!
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1. Shi-ba Cafe
Image Credits: Shi-ba Cafe
Fellow dog-people, here’s a little heaven for you. Malaysia’s first Shiba-Inu cafe, Shi-ba Cafe is located in Mount Austin, half-hour ahead of the causeway. These sweet-natured Shibas roam freely around the cafe. You can choose to play with them or savour some finger food and free soft drinks in their company. Spend an hour or two with these adorable doggos, and Hugo, the resident cat. We only hope they stay still enough for that precious Instagram picture!
Address: No 01, Mount Austin, 12, Jalan Austin Heights 8/4, Taman Mount Austin, 81100, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 3 PM, 4 PM – 10 PM (Mondays to Sundays)
Entry Fee: 10 RM (~S$3.03)
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more on Shi-ba Cafe here
2. RUD Karting and Cafe
Image Credits: RUD Karting (Facebook)
If you’re looking for some adrenaline on your weekend trip or want to live out your Mario Kart fantasy, head down to RUD Karting and Cafe. RUD Karting is a new go-kart centre opened in Iskandar Puteri, running 840 meters long with 16 challenging turns. It also stays open until 2 AM for some night-time racing (who even needs F1 anymore?).
It’s alright if you don’t meet the ranks of Lewis Hamilton just yet; the track offers Basic Karts that require neither license nor experience. The go-karting gets progressively harder for advanced drivers with carts such as B Super Stage Kart or Advance+. In the meantime, you can also catch some treats at the RUD cafe to fuel up your race. Delicacies such as Grapefruit Nasi Goreng and myriad cakes can keep you company as you watch the races from your cafe window.
Address: PTD 200284, Persiaran Medini Sentral 6, Bandar Medini Iskandar, 79250 Iskandar Puteri Johor
Opening Hours: 11 AM – 2 AM (Mondays to Sundays)
Entry Fee: Starting 55 RM (~S$17.20)
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Check out more on RUD Karting here
3. Century Street Food Court
Image Credits: Trip.com
Century Street Food Court reminds us of the hawker centres back home — open-air and with those HUGE fans that ascertain you’re well-ventilated. A ten-minute walk from KSL Mall, try Century Street Food Court for a delicious and affordable break from shopping. You are spoilt for choice with cuisines ranging from Western to Eastern (great for those who prefer Halal, too). A wide variety of local food like Satay, Laksa, and Lok Lok is also readily available. Our Community Executive recommends the Chicken Chop Spaghetti and Penang Kway Teow with duck egg!
Address: No. 221, Jalan Dato Sulaiman Century Garden, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 4 PM – 2 AM (Mondays to Sundays)
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more about Century Street Food Court here.
4. Avery-Day Convenience Store
Image Credits: Avery-Day
Next, we have Avery-Day situated right across the beloved KSL City Mall. Avery-Day is a Santorini-inspired “konbini” style convenience store (talk about multi-cultural) that specialises in Japanese goods. 7-11 fans might be converted! While its blue and white-themed decor reminisces Grecian waves, sandy beaches, and open blue skies, Avery-Day provides all your convenience store needs without fail. It also has an open rooftop as an alfresco dining deck!
Image Credits: Avery-Day
The store is embellished with neon signs all around, presenting the perfect photo op for those looking to amp up their ‘gram. Surprisingly enough, it’s not only the convenience store goods you’ll find but also the freshest and most mouth-watering cakes and baked goods that’ll satisfy your sweet tooth.
Take them upstairs to the open rooftop, sit among the blue and white seats, and enjoy the cafe vibes that Avery-Day (reminder: a convenience store) offers!
Address: No 2, Jalan Rusa 6, Taman Abad 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Daily, 9 AM – 12 AM
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more about Avery-Day here.
5. Bam Cafe
A slice of Korea to go with your latte? We’ve got Bam Cafe for you! Located in Mount Austin, the cafe boasts a metropolitan and industrial look with the soft yet unmissable touches of bright orange. Perfectly fitting the urban aesthetic! If you’re looking for delicious and generously served Korean food such as Bibimbap or Kimbap, you’ll definitely get a bang for your buck. We recommend a cup of their iced chocolate on a sunny day in JB for a refresher!
Address: 01-20, Menara Hartamas, Block B, Jalan Austin Heights 8/4, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Daily, 9 AM – 12 AM
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more about Bam Cafe here.
6. The Escaper
Image Credits: The Escaper
Pump up the excitement for Halloween by adventuring in the Escaper! A haunted house-escape room hybrid, this stop will give your brain a workout full of jump scares! Made immersive with backstories and themes that run across different escape rooms, the Escaper is thrilling and affordable. While the puzzles are many and intricate, they don’t require more than primary school maths and science to crack. However, the narration is mostly in Chinese so do have your designated translator friend around, just in case!
Address: Level 2, No. 79, Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 1 PM – 12 AM (Fridays to Sundays), 2 PM – 10 PM (Mondays to Wednesdays). Closed on Thursdays.
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more about The Escaper here.
7. Chun K Music Karaoke
Image Credits: Chun K Music Karaoke
After being chased down by scary actors in the Escaper, reunite with your friends for a jamming session at Chun K Music Karaoke — one of the most advanced karaoke spots in Malaysia! With aesthetic and spacious rooms, Chun K gives you a large stage to belt out your favourites, new and old, English or Chinese. Not forgetting to mention the endless supply of free-flow drinks by your side. You can also use your WeChat app to seamlessly navigate the karaoke playlist and upload your own photos on the screens for a more personalised experience.
Address: 37, Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 2 PM – 3 AM, Tuesdays to Sundays. 2 PM – 2 AM on Mondays.
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more about Chun K Music Karaoke here.
8. Kacang Pool Haji
Image Credits: Atlas Obscura
Last on our list, we have Kacang Pool Haji, a local staple for Malaysian breakfast food, both cheap and delectable. Literally “a pool of beans”, kacang pool is beans cooked with spices, with a sunny side up on the top. After cafe-hopping and fancy restaurants, Kacang Pool Haji brings back the comfort food that keeps us happy and humbled. The Mee Goreng, Mee Rebus, and Nasi Lemak Rice were also one of our favourites. A must-try, if you want to get the literal taste of the local culture!
Address: Plaza Larkin, 14, Jalan Garuda, Larkin, Johor Bahru, 80350, Malaysia
Here’s What To Do On Your JB Weekend Getaway: Find out more about Kacang Pool Haji here.
All Packed For Your Trip To JB?
So that’s what we’ve got planned for our weekend getaways at JB! From go-karting to comfort food, the list is diverse. Which ones are you looking forward to the most? Let us know! And while paying for your Escape Room or getting one of those scrumptious cakes, don’t forget to make use of your YouTrip Card to lock in those wholesale exchange rates and skip those pesky bank fees.
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Stay safe and happy travels!
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