Four must-visit bookstores in Kuala Lumpur for all the bibliophiles out there

From hot-off-the-press titles to hard-to-find reads, KL’s bookshops has it all—and more.

Reading and traveling are two of my favorite things to do. That’s why when I’m abroad or in a local destination outside Manila, bookstore hopping always has a spot in my itinerary and I buy at least one book as a keepsake.

When in Tokyo, for instance, I try my best to swing by Jimbocho, the city’s mecca for book lovers. Any Kinokuniya branch in Japan is always a good idea as well. Shakespeare and Company in Paris’ Quartier Latin is a must visit, whether for first time or repeat visitors. Make sure to buy yourself a tote bag!

The quaint bookstores on Pub Street in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, meanwhile, pack in some surprises. I remember buying what looked like a self-published collection of essays which gave me an intimate peek into life in the country post-Khmer Rouge regime (note to self: find missing copy after writing this story).

I was recently in Kuala Lumpur and I did what I always do when traveling—check out the destination’s bookstores. While I hoped I had more time (and better weather, too) to scour KL’s districts for its best bookshops, I flew home happy with a few new books and with new bookish memories.

Here are four bookstores I visited in the Malaysian capital and why I think you must visit them, too.

Bookxcess at Rex KL

What I loved best about this establishment is how its building was repurposed from a once-iconic cinema to what is now arguably Kuala Lumpur’s hippest bookstore. Bookxcess on the topmost floor of Rex KL is not your regular bookshop by a mile. It has a labyrinthine layout with towering bookshelves that make the store so picture-perfect—no wonder tourists come in droves. I suspect some of them aren’t really into books because they leave after taking photos, which is really a pity because it has a collection that’s just as impressive.

This bookshop is also known for its Instagrammable bookshelves.

Bookxcess at Rex KL has an extensive collection of fiction, young adult, and children’s picture books, most of which are in English. It also has a nice corner dedicated to board and card games.

Once done shopping for books, you can enjoy a cup of coffee at Stellar Café by the entrance and support local artists by buying stationery, stickers, and knick-knacks at the popups just outside.

Address: Second floor RexKL, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Malaysia. Store hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday to Sunday.

Kinokuniya at Suria KLCC

The Kinokuniya branch in KLCC’s Suria mall is *massive*.

Any Kinokuniya branch is bibliophile heaven. Sure we have one here that’s in partnership with Fully Booked, but the collection, sadly, is still a bit limited. That’s why I make sure to make a beeline to a Kinokuniya store every time I’m in a different country that carries the brand.

The KL branch is ginormous, perhaps as large as the one in Takashimaya along Orchard Road in Singapore, and carries a collection that is mind-boggling in range that I had to visit twice on two separate days. This branch also rivals the one in Singapore and is probably the best one I’ve visited outside Japan (the one in Bangkok’s Siam Paragon is much smaller). As a bonus, the Suria mall where Kino is located is at the base of the iconic Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur’s enduring symbol of growth and resilience.

The sections on geopolitics, fiction, cooking, languages, and Asian literature contain a dizzying number of titles. I made a video call to my son to show him the manga section and he was dumbfounded for a couple of seconds as the collection is massive. It took me over 25 photos just to show him all the bookshelves so he can choose the titles he wanted me to bring home for him!

One of over 25 bookshelves devoted to manga titles

Kinokuniya at Suria KLCC has it all and more, specifically a lovely stationery section that reminds me of Japan’s Loft and Tokyu Hands with its specialty papers, stickers, special Donguri Republic corner for official Studio Ghibli merchandise, and a Hobonichi Techo shelf for all you journaling fans out there. Kino’s Malaysia souvenir items are also pretty, quite affordable, and would make for excellent pasalubong for loved ones back home. I recommend the wooden bookmarks and tote bags.

I can live there—but I have to earn more money first!

Address: KLCC, 406-408 & 429-430, Level 4 Suria, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Malaysia. Store hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday to Sunday.

Eslite Bookstore at The Starhill

The branch is as huge as the ones I visited in the brand’s home base of Taiwan.

Located inside the elegant The Starhill mall, Eslite is another giant among Asian bookstores. Originating in Taiwan, the KL branch is just as wonderful and immense as the ones I’ve visited in Taipei.

The bookstore takes up a whole floor, though a bit smaller than Kinokuniya I reckon, and carries a collection that is no less impressive. Loved how a table with stacks of books by Southeast Asian authors greets visitors and more SEA titles can be found inside.

Eslite has a lovely stationery section that reminds me of Loft and Tokyu Hands in Japan.

This lionhearted couple started as dreamers and became hospitality innovators

A manga title my son wanted me to buy as pasalubong was out of stock at Kinokuniya so I thought I would try my luck here and yep, lucky me, they have one last copy left. The staff members were so accommodating and didn’t mind my asking them for a few more titles (Perusing the hundreds of shelves can take time, which sadly, I don’t have the luxury of) and even gave me a free bookmark!

Make sure to spend some time at Eslite’s stationery section. It has some of the prettiest backpacks, purses, tumblers, origami papers, and lunchboxes I’ve ever laid my eyes on, much like the ones they have over at Kino’s only with what seemed like more varieties. Also, don’t miss the chance to enjoy a cup of coffee at Eslite Bookstore’s café which overlooks the posh atrium of The Starhill.

Level 1, Starhill Gallery, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Store hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday to Sunday.

The Junk Bookstore

Some say this hidden gem of a bookstore has as much as 3 million books in its collection! Photos from Places Malaysia

Tucked away on a nondescript backpacker street in KL’s Chinatown is The Junk Bookstore, the longest-running and one of the largest secondhand bookstores in Malaysia. It gives off a Recto segunda mano bookshop vibe with its musty, old book smell and heaps upon heaps of pre-loved reads (some say as much as 3 million!)—and also some really cool vinyl records.

Located in an old shophouse, the three-story bookstore has been in operation for over 30 years and is popular among locals and tourists who come looking for titles no longer available elsewhere. I swear, I could spend hours rooting through the stacks of books but alas, I had to scurry back to my hotel and pack my bags for my morning flight the following day.

The three-story bookstore has been in operation for over 30 years and is popular among locals and tourists who come looking for rare books.

The Junk Bookstore is one of those shops where you visit with no title in mind and leave with several crammed in your bag and wishing you had more money to buy even more books. Don’t do what I did and make sure you spend more time inside its cramped yet comfy spaces (only bookworms will understand this).

Pro-tip: When shopping in Kuala Lumpur make sure you bring your own tote or eco bag as the city has a plastic ban being strictly enforced.

Address: 78, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Store hours: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm from Monday to Saturday.

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