What to know before you cross the Causeway
City Square is the mall most Singaporeans hit first in JB. It sits right by the customs checkpoint, connected to JB Sentral, and for years it was the default stop for a quick shop, a cheap movie and a foot rub before heading home.
What some people might now know is: City Square JB is in the middle of a major renovation that runs to the end of 2027, with whole upper floors boarded up and a few of its best-known tenants closed for the works.
It’s still open, and still worth a stop for the right reasons. But if you’re picturing the busy, full-floors mall you remember, adjust before you cross. This year, that means knowing what’s still open, what’s gone, and where to go instead if it feels too quiet.
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| In short | Mid-renovation until 2027. Still the most convenient mall by the Causeway, best now for food, a foot massage and a quick errand, not a big shopping day. |
| Location | 106-108 Jalan Wong Ah Fook, right beside JB Sentral and the JB CIQ |
| From Singapore | About a 5 to 10 minute covered walk from the JB CIQ, through JB Sentral |
| Hours | 10 AM to 10 PM daily (some floors closed for works) |
| Don’t miss | Din Tai Fung, Hock Kee kaya toast, a cheap Thai massage |
| Skip if | You came for Uniqlo or a movie, both closed for the revamp |
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Table of Contents
- What’s Happening to City Square JB?
- Is City Square JB Still Worth Visiting?
- How to Get to City Square JB
- Where to Eat at City Square JB
- What Shops Are Still Open
- Massage and Beauty
- What’s Closed at City Square JB
- Better Malls Near City Square JB
- Hours, Parking and Paying in Ringgit
- FAQs
What’s Happening to City Square JB?
Image Credits: City Developments Limited
City Square is being rebuilt around you. In November 2025, owner Allgreen Properties announced a full revamp and expansion, and the works are now well underway, with completion targeted for the end of 2027.
The scale is real. The mall is growing from 247 shops to more than 300, and the plans add a 15,000-square-foot kids’ adventure park, a 41,300-square-foot health and wellness hub, a reworked food precinct and themed floors for fashion, tech and lifestyle. A hotel-apartment tower goes up above the mall after that, around 2028.
For now, though, you’re visiting a construction site with a mall attached. Recent walkthroughs show scaffolding filling the central atrium, upper floors boarded up, and a run of shutters down where tenants have moved out or paused. The mall stays open the whole time, and the basement and ground-floor food keep trading, but the top levels are patchy.
So think of 2026 as the awkward in-between. The bones of a much better mall are going in, and until they’re done, City Square is running at half strength.
At a glance: what’s open, what’s closed (2026)
| Still open | Closed or moved for the works |
|---|---|
| Food: Din Tai Fung, Hock Kee, Korean BBQ, Empire Sushi, Penyet Express, chendol, Gong Cha | Uniqlo, Cotton On, Sushi King, Oriental Kopi (reopens ~Sept), Mixue |
| Shops: Padini, Machines, H&M, Levi’s, Adidas, Decathlon | mmCineplexes (the cinema) |
| Wellness: Thai Odyssey, Siam Oasis, Javanese massage | Laser Battle (moved to R&F), Queen Karaoke, KyoChon, most nail bars and hair salons |
📖 Related Guide: Building a full day across the border? Our 27 things to do in JB on a weekend getaway maps out where a City Square stop fits.
Is City Square JB Still Worth Visiting?
Honest answer: yes, but for food and convenience, not shopping.
What still works is the location. City Square is the closest big mall to the checkpoint, so it’s an easy first or last stop on a JB day, and the food holds up.
Image Credits: Trip.com
The basement and surviving floors have kopitiams, Korean barbecue, sushi, dessert and a full bubble-tea lineup, most of it cheaper than the same brands at home. Add a Thai foot massage, and you’ve got a solid two-hour stop without going anywhere else.
What doesn’t work anymore is a shopping day. Uniqlo and Cotton On are shut for the works, the cinema and karaoke are gone, and the upper fashion and beauty floors are where the renovation shows most, with more shutters than shops.
So it comes down to why you’re crossing:
- Here for food and a quick errand? Worth it. Eat, grab a massage, stock up on bubble tea, done.
- Passing through JB Sentral anyway? Worth it. It’s a two-minute walk, so you may as well eat here.
- Coming for a proper shop or a movie? Give it a miss for now. Komtar JBCC next door is livelier, and the bigger malls out of town have the brands.
Best for a low-effort food-and-massage stop right off the checkpoint. If you want a full mall day, this isn’t the year for it.
📖 Related Guide: Bus from Singapore to JB: Every Route, Fare & Tip
How to Get to City Square JB
City Square is one of the easiest places in JB to reach, because it’s basically attached to the checkpoint. You can walk there straight after clearing customs, no Grab or bus needed.
- After you clear the JB CIQ (the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar checkpoint on the Woodlands side), follow the signs into JB Sentral, head toward the City Square and Komtar JBCC exit, and take the escalator down.
- The whole walk is sheltered and takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and you’ll come out on one of the mall’s shopping levels.
- It’s stroller and wheelchair friendly the whole way.
- The address is 106-108 Jalan Wong Ah Fook, if you’re driving in or dropping a pin for a Grab.
One thing to watch this year: the new JB-Singapore RTS Link is targeted to open by January 2027 at Bukit Chagar station, a five-minute train hop from Woodlands North. A new 400-metre covered walkway is being built to connect that station to JB Sentral and City Square, so the mall is about to get even easier to reach, just as the renovation wraps.
📖 Related Guide: Crossing by rail? Our train to JB guide breaks down the RTS Link and Shuttle Tebrau, and where to catch them.
Where to Eat at City Square JB
Food is the reason to come now, and enough of it has held on through the works. Most of it is on Levels 2 to 4 these days, with a few holdouts like Penyet Express still going in the basement. The lot numbers below are current at the time of writing, though a few may move as the renovation shuffles tenants around, so treat them as a guide.
Hock Kee Kopitiam
Image Credits: @jellykumqu2t on Lemon8
Up on Level 4 (Lot J4-08), Hock Kee Kopitiam (福气安康) does the old-school breakfast set: kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and nasi lemak, at prices that make the walk over feel worth it. It’s a calmer, more local spot than the basement crowds, and a good landing pad if you came in hungry.
The Chicken Rice Shop
Image Credits: Noraini MN on Google Reviews
A Malaysian chain that does exactly what the name says, The Chicken Rice Shop (Level 2, Lot J2-14) is a reliable, sit-down plate of Hainanese chicken rice with sides, air-conditioned and easy on the wallet. It’s the low-drama family option when nobody can agree on what to eat.
Din Tai Fung
Image Credits: dintaifung.com.my
Yes, it’s still here, despite the rumours that Din Tai Fung left Malaysia. The City Square outlet (Level 2, Lot J2-06) is still serving the famous xiao long bao and la mian. One caveat: Level 2 is one of the floors mid-works, so it’s worth a quick check on their app or a call before you make a special trip.
Korean BBQ at BAR-B-Q Plaza and BornGa
Image Credits: @m3iiyo on Lemon8
If you want a proper sit-down meal, Level 3 has two Korean and Thai-Korean barbecue names in BAR-B-Q Plaza and BornGa, where you grill at the table. It’s the move for a group that wants to linger over lunch rather than grab and go.
Empire Sushi
Image Credits: @crashingout19 on Lemon8
For Japanese on a budget, Empire Sushi (Level 3, Lot MK3-08) does à la carte sushi, donburi and set meals at prices well under what you’d pay in Singapore. It’s an easy sit-down option on the still-trading upper floors when the group wants something familiar.
Penyet Express
Image Credits: nur rafeeza on Google Reviews
Penyet Express (Basement 1, Lot MB-03) does Indonesian ayam penyet, the smashed fried chicken with sambal and rice that’s become a JB food-court staple. It’s fast, filling and spicy, and a good shout if you want something with a bit of heat before the ride home.
Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
Image Credits: Roshan Ananda on Google Reviews
A JB dessert institution, Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul (Level 3, Lot MF-19A) serves the classic bowl of shaved ice, coconut milk, gula melaka and pandan jelly. A regular chendol is around 5 MYR (~S$1.60), and it’s exactly what you want after a hot walk across the border.
Ming Ang Confectionery
Image Credits: Chuah Boon Pin on Google Reviews
Save room, or better, take some home. Ming Ang Confectionery (Level 3, Lot M3-04) is the spot for heong peah, egg rolls and traditional pastries that travel well, so it doubles as your buy-something-for-the-office stop on the way out.
Bubble Tea at Gong Cha
Image Credits: Johor Bahru City Square
The bubble-tea bench has thinned out with the renovation, but Gong Cha (Level 3, Lot MK3-06) is still pouring, so you can grab a cup for the walk back to customs.
Other F&B Spots Still Open
- Level 2 has Arashi for Japanese, AK Noodles for a quick noodle fix and Tao Yuan for Chinese desserts.
- Level 3 adds Meng Meng Roasted Duck for Cantonese roast meats over rice.
- For something to grab on the way back to customs, Level 1 lines up Boost Juice, the Japanese cake shop Chateraise, egg-tart counter Daily Fresh, and snack stall Casswa Tidbits.
Most of these take card, so tap with your YouTrip card to lock in the wholesale MYR rate rather than paying a markup.
📖 Related Guide: Planning the eating around your whole trip? Our JB food guide covers the best of it beyond the mall.
What Shops Are Still Open
Shopping took the hardest hit from the renovation, so set expectations here. Uniqlo and Cotton On, two of the mall’s biggest draws, are both closed for the works, and the upper fashion floors are patchy. That said, a solid number of shops are still open.
Padini Concept Store
Image Credits: @padini_my on Instagram
Padini (Level 3, Lot MF-01) is Malaysia’s homegrown fashion one-stop, with clothing, shoes and accessories for the whole family under one roof, usually at a friendlier price than the international brands. It’s the most complete fashion stop left in the building right now.
Machines
Image Credits: Machines on Facebook
For tech, Machines (Level 1, Lot J1-10) is the Apple Premium Reseller, stocking iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and accessories in a clean, browsable space. Deals and bundles here sometimes beat Singapore, so it’s worth a look if you’re due an upgrade.
Other Shops Still Open
Beyond Padini, you’ll still find H&M, Levi’s, Adidas, and Decathlon among the open stores, plus a Guardian pharmacy, an Avery-Day grocery on Level 1 for snacks and drinks to take home, and the everyday shops. It’s a workable list for a top-up, just not the full directory the mall had before, so don’t cross for one specific shop without checking it’s open first.
📖 Related Guide: Want more JB shopping and eats in one spot? Our Mount Austin guide covers a busier corner of JB.
Massage and Beauty
Image Credits: Tripadvisor
The wellness floors thinned out in the renovation, so the long list of nail bars and hair salons the mall used to have is mostly gone for now. What’s held on is the Thai massage, which is the one most day-trippers come up for anyway.
Thai Odyssey (Level 3, Lot MF-20) and Siam Oasis (Level 3, Lot MF-21), plus the House of Traditional Javanese Massage (Level 1), do foot reflexology, aromatherapy and traditional body massage at a fraction of the Singapore price. A foot rub after a day on your feet in JB is a classic move, and it’s the natural wind-down before the walk back to customs.
Best for a cheap, no-appointment foot massage. For hair or nails, hold off until the beauty floors reopen, or head to a mall with more of it running.
📖 Related Guide: Chasing the best rub in town? Our best JB massage spots guide ranks where to go beyond the mall.
What’s Closed at City Square JB
This is the bit no other guide will tell you, so you don’t waste the trip. As of 2026, these are the names that have closed, moved or paused for the renovation:
- Uniqlo: temporarily closed from April 2026 for the works, with no reopening date yet. The single biggest change for shoppers.
- Cotton On: closed.
- Sushi King: the Basement 1 conveyor-belt sushi outlet has closed.
- Oriental Kopi: the popular Basement 1 kopitiam is temporarily closed for the works, due back around September 2026.
- Mixue: the Level 4 bubble-tea and ice-cream outlet has closed.
- mmCineplexes (the cinema): closed, with the operator wound up in 2025. There’s no cinema in City Square right now.
- Laser Battle (laser tag): moved out of City Square to R&F Mall.
- Queen Karaoke: closed.
- KyoChon: the Korean fried chicken outlet is temporarily closed for the works.
- Most nail bars and hair salons: the wellness and beauty floors are where the renovation shows most, and the old lineup of salons has largely dropped off.
Some of these will come back bigger once the revamp is done in 2027. Until then, cross them off your plan so the day doesn’t hinge on a closed shutter.
📖 Related Guide: Durian JB: Best Stalls, Farms & Buffets in Johor
Better Malls Near City Square JB
If City Square feels too quiet, you’re in luck: three fuller malls are minutes away, and one is literally next door.
Komtar JBCC
Image Credits: Komtar JBCC
Komtar JBCC is connected to City Square by a short sheltered bridge, under a three-minute walk, and it’s the livelier of the two right now. It’s got the Angry Birds Activity Park on Level 3 for families, a good run of restaurants and pizza, and more premium retail like Charles & Keith and Victoria’s Secret. If City Square’s floors look boarded up, just cross over.
SKS City Mall JBCC
Image Credits: SKS City Mall JBCC
Newest of the lot, SKS City Mall JBCC opened in May 2026 and sits about a five to seven minute Grab from the checkpoint, connected to the new Sheraton hotel. It leans café, food and family, with a big indoor playground, the KKV variety store and a bright, airy layout that feels a world away from a construction site. Good for a relaxed, kid-friendly afternoon.
KSL City Mall
Image Credits: KSL City Mall
For a full day out, KSL City Mall is about a 10-minute drive from the checkpoint in light traffic (longer on a busy weekend) and packs in more than 500 shops, a cinema, go-karting, a huge cluster of budget massage places and a dino-themed waterpark. It’s the one to pick when you want everything in one building and don’t mind a short ride out of the CIQ zone.
A Heritage Detour
Image Credits: Tripadvisor
If you’d rather stretch your legs, the old town is a short walk from City Square. Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Street has restored shophouses, cafés and Hiap Joo Bakery’s wood-fired banana cake, and Restoran Hua Mui on Jalan Trus does an old-school Hainanese chicken chop.
There’s history here too. The Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple, one of the city’s oldest buildings, is a five-minute stroll away, and a little further into Little India, the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam, JB’s ornate Hindu temple dating to 1911, is worth a look.
📖 Related Guide: Curious about the mall next door? Our Komtar JBCC guide covers what’s inside, and our guides to SKS City Mall JBCC and KSL City Mall cover the other two.
Hours, Parking and Paying in Ringgit
A few practical notes to smooth out the day.
- Opening hours: City Square runs 10 AM to 10 PM daily, though individual shops and restaurants keep their own times, and some are on reduced hours during the works.
- Parking: If you drive in, parking is a flat 2 MYR (~S$0.60) per hour every day, including weekends, with a 15-minute grace period. The car park runs 7 AM to 2 AM, and you can pay with Touch ‘n Go or by card. There’s no overnight parking, so don’t leave the car past closing.
- Paying in ringgit: There are ATMs and a money changer inside the mall, though a few services may have shifted during the renovation, so don’t count on finding one on a boarded-up floor. The smarter way to handle your money in JB, cheapest option first:
- Pay by card with YouTrip. Most shops and restaurants take card, and the ringgit is one of the currencies you can hold in your YouTrip wallet. Lock in the rate before you go, then tap to spend at the wholesale exchange rate with no foreign transaction fee.
- Carry some cash for small stalls and parking. For the cash you do need, withdraw ringgit from an in-country ATM rather than queuing at a money changer. With YouTrip, your first S$400 of ATM withdrawals each month is free, then it’s a flat 2% after that, which still beats most changer rates.
- Keep a Touch ‘n Go eWallet for the car park and tolls, topped up from your card.
That order saves you the money-changer queue and the markup, and keeps more ringgit in your pocket for the chendol.
📖 Related Guide: Need cash across the border? Our Malaysia ATM withdrawal guide covers fees and the best places to withdraw, and our Touch ‘n Go eWallet guide sorts out tolls and parking.
FAQs
City Square is undergoing a major renovation and expansion, announced in November 2025 by owner Allgreen Properties and due for completion at the end of 2027. It’s growing from 247 shops to more than 300, with a new kids’ adventure park, wellness hub and reworked food precinct, plus a hotel-apartment tower around 2028.
The mall stays open throughout, but upper floors are boarded up and some tenants are closed for the works.
For food and convenience, yes. It’s the closest mall to the checkpoint, and the kopitiams, Korean barbecue, sushi, dessert and bubble tea are mostly still open. For a shopping day or a movie, not really, since Uniqlo, Cotton On, the cinema and karaoke are all closed for the renovation. Komtar JBCC next door is livelier right now.
The mall is open 10 AM to 10 PM daily. Individual shops and restaurants set their own hours, and some are on reduced times during the renovation.
Car parking is a flat 2 MYR (~S$0.60) per hour, seven days a week, with a 15-minute grace period. The car park operates from 7 AM to 2 AM, and there’s no overnight parking.
Clear the JB CIQ, follow the signs through JB Sentral toward the City Square and Komtar exit, and take the escalator down. It’s a sheltered walk of about 5 to 10 minutes, no Grab or bus needed.
Yes, the mall has ATMs and a money changer, though some may have moved during the renovation. For the best rate, pay by card with a YouTrip wallet where you can, and withdraw any ringgit cash from an in-country ATM rather than a money changer.
Still the Easiest Mall by the Causeway
City Square in 2026 is a great location wrapped around a building site. Come for the food and a foot massage, keep your shopping list short, and remember Komtar’s a two-minute walk if the floors look too empty. By the end of 2027, it should be worth a full day again.
Before you cross, lock in your ringgit with YouTrip. Singapore’s go-to multi-currency wallet gets you the wholesale MYR rate with zero foreign transaction fees, so you can skip the money changer entirely. Get a free YouTrip card plus S$5 in credits with code YTBLOG5.
Then head to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive deals, and join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and Community Group (@YouTripSquad) for travel tips and event invites. Happy travels!
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