Luxurious malls exude a charm of their own, and will always attract many visitors. More than just your typical shopping mall, they provide a luxury of comfort and ease in a luxury home or luxury condo. Some luxurious malls have establishments like movie theaters, ice skating rinks, roller coasters, water parks, live entertainment, and ski slopes. Others are more popular because of the grand architectural features. Some are like mini-cities that have everything you need to spend a day in it.
We list down the top luxurious malls all over the world, and why they are considered the best by many fans.
We shed light on 12 of the most luxurious malls in the world, and why people are willing to travel to experience luxury these malls offer.
These Luxury Malls are Located in These Top Countries You Need To Visit
Bluewater, England
Located in Stone, Kent, this shopping center is the fifth largest in all of United Kingdom. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Bluewater Shopping Centre, which is commonly referred to as Bluewater, is an out-of-town shopping center that occupies a whopping 97 hectares of shopping plus parking space. The main facility is three levels, with each level consisting of 154,000 square meters of sales floor area. Bluewater features 330 stores, including 3 anchors, 40 cafés and restaurants, and a 17-screen cinema, serving over 27 million visitors per year. There is also a fitness center that can cater to those who are serious about getting their exercise. The triangular shape of Bluewater ensures that no shopper will miss out anything inside this luxurious shopping mall.
Mall of the Emirates, UAE
Mall of the Emirates is one of the two luxurious shopping malls in the United Arab Emirates. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Even though it is not the biggest in Dubai, Mall of the Emirates is a favorite luxury shopping destination thanks to the over 630 retail outlets, 80 luxury stores and 250 flagship stores. It also houses 7,900 parking spaces, and over a hundred restaurants and cafés.
The three-story Mall of the Emirates complex feature architecture that combines Arabic and Mediterranean elements, with each level connected to a car park. Aside from attracting architecture aficionados, it also attracts sports fans and even curious tourists who are in the country thanks to Ski Dubai, the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort and snow park. Families of all sizes also appreciate the 500-seat capacity Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre and Magic planet, which is one of the largest indoor family entertainment centers in all of Dubai.
Grand Canal Shoppes, USA
The Grand Canal Shoppes is a popular luxury shopping destination in Las Vegas, Nevada. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Las Vegas is one of the popular places to visit by tourists. Most of these tourists will either head either to a luxury hotel, casino, theater for a concert, or hit at any of the luxurious shopping malls in the city. One of them is the Grand Canal Shoppes.
Grand Canal Shoppes is an upscale mall located inside the famed The Venetian Hotel & Casino and The Palazoo on the Las Vegas Strip. Opened in 1999, its architectural features are the indoor canals where people can ride gondolas from one point to another in the mall, and the many designer and upscale boutiques. Visitors can also enjoy the valet parking service and expect plenty of street performances.
Canal City Hakata, Japan
Located in Fukuoka, Japan, Canal City Hakata is a popular luxurious destination for both locals and tourists. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
If you happen to be in Fukuoka and wanted to be where the action is, Canal City Hakata is the bet destination for you. Canal City Hakata is called “city within the city” thanks to the number of attractions in the complex. It has retail shops, cafes, restaurants, a theater, game center, cinemas, two hotels, and a canal, which runs through the luxurious shopping mall.
It is located adjacent to the entertainment district and between the commercial and retail core of Fukuoka. Moreover, it is a 10-15 minute walk from either Hakata Station or Tenjin Station, which makes it easier for tourists to visit the shopping mall. Moreover, the distinctive fanciful style of the mall, featuring many curving sculptures and fountains create an atmosphere as if guests are in an oasis away from the rest of Fukuoka.
K11 Musea, Hong Kong
Opened to the public in late 2019, K11 Musea is the latest addition to the expanding Victoria Dockside development in Hong Kong. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
K11 Musea is a retail complex located in the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade front in Victoria Dockside. Developed by the K11 Group, K11 Musea consists of ten floors and an outdoor plaza, which is a 2,000 square-foot sunken plaza that is modeled like an amphitheater. The architecture also includes 50,000 square feet of green walls, making it an eco-compliant and sustainable infrastructure. The ground floor features glittering metallic orbs and wood-paneled walls and parquet floors. A gold cube-shaped coffee bar called the “Kube” serves beverages from a cult Kyoto roaster. A restored Avenue of the Stars, a harbor-front walkway with panoramic views of Hong Kong Island’s skyline, is delighting both locals and tourists who visit the luxurious mall. A 30-foot-tall slide in the shape of a peacock presides over the mall, alongside an urban farm and a butterfly garden.
K11 Musea features 250 retailers, 70 destination restaurants, and 40 artist installations, making it a formidable space where people of all interests can gather. K11 Musea is home to luxury retail brands and L’École School of Jewelry Arts, which is sponsored by luxury jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is a spacious high-end shopping complex inside the integrated resort. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands may not have as many stores as the other luxurious malls in this list, but they have an impressive row of luxury fashion and retail brands and flagship stores including Valentino, Patek Philippe, and the iconic Louis Vuitton Maison ‘island.’ Moreover, it has not one, but five celebrity chef-led restaurants, making it a preferred destination for guests who have check-in the hotel or is living nearby in the luxury condo for sale developments nearby.
The 500,000 square foot luxurious mall features Venetian architecture, including an intricate canal system for visitors to visit between shops. It also is home to a virtual reality experience called The Void and even a sweet little chocolate factory called Dandelion Chocolate.
Okhotny Ryad Center, Russia
The Okhotny Ryad Center is an underground mall located in the famed train station in Moscow. Image from TripAdvisor.com.
The Okhotny Ryad Center is a Russian shopping mall located inside the Okhotny Ryad station, which is on the Sokolnicheskaya Line of the Moscow Metro. Okhotny Ryad Center’s location is in the very center of Moscow in the Tverskoy District and is near the Kremlin, Manezhnaya Square, and State Duma.
The Okhotny Ryad Center has a complete mixture of local ancient designs and modern architecture from the west. Visitors need to check out the discolored glass domes, which are used to introduce more natural light in the underground mall.
The Shops at Columbus Circle is centrally located in Manhattan, New York. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Located at the Columbus Circle, which is next to the southwestern corner of Central Park is The Shops, a luxurious shopping mall featuring luxury brands and fine-dining restaurants. The shopping mall is perfect for those who work or visit or consider Columbus Circle their home or work.
Aside from the luxury and retail stores, The Shops is also home to Equinox Fitness Club, one of the top luxury gyms in the US.
DLF Emporio, India
If India is one of your countries to visit, definitely head to DLF Emporio for a day of luxury shopping and dining.
DLF Emporio is a luxurious mall located in New Delhi, India. Featuring a total of 90 high-end shops that showcase a plethora of designer and luxury merchandise, lifestyle products, and services. The architecture itself feels like a luxury resort, with plush seating, tropical trees, marble flooring, and choice embellishments.
The 300,000 square foot of the mall sits in the luxurious Vasant Kunk, a posh neighborhood of luxury homes and luxury apartments. Vasant Kunt is home to several prominent personalities, one of which is the former prime minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy
Frequently featured in countless travel shows, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a great luxury shopping destination you shouldn’t definitely miss in Italy.
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest active shopping gallery in Italy and the oldest shopping mall in the world. It is also a major landmark of the city of Milan, where it is located. Named after the first king of Italy, the shopping gallery is housed within a four-story double arcade in the center of the town.
The shopping center is a true testament to Italy’s esteemed fashion and design culture, thanks to the number of luxury brands in the mall including Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. The state-of-the-art Italian architecture that houses the luxury shops is something to look forward to. Simply look up once inside and check out the two intersecting arcades shaped like a Latin cross covered by a glass and iron dome. Under the central dome, you can see a mosaic with the Savoy coat of arms and various animals that represent some of Italy’s most important cities.
Harrods, London, England
When we talk about luxurious shopping malls, Harrods should definitely be on the list. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Harrods is a department store located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. It has everything you need as expected of a department store that this London classic is considered the largest department store in all of England.
Aside from the breathtaking architecture, high-end interiors, plus quality, bespoke products, and services, Harrods offers a luxurious mall experience. The store spans five acres of retail space and features 330 departments. Some of the well-known departments include the Seasonal Christmas department and the Food Halls. It also has a spa and wellness clinic.
Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand
Siam Paragon is one of the largest malls in the whole of Thailand. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall located in Bangkok, Thailand. It features a range of specialty stores, luxury to lifestyle brands, and restaurants. It also houses a multiplex with 15 large screen cinemas, the infamous Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium, Thai Art Gallery, and an opera concert hall. Visitors love this luxurious mall for having fun facilities such as a bowling alley and karaoke center. At the indoor gourmet market, guests can buy virtually any type of food, from freshly imported seafood to gelato to fine wines sourced from all over the world.
But What Makes a Shopping Mall Luxurious?
A luxury mall isn’t just a shopping mall that sells luxury brands.
The Vista Mall Outdoor space in every Vista Mall chain are artfully designed and set up to exude the charms of rustic gardens, the allure of spacious parks, and even an inviting backyard commune. This is perfect for folks who wanted to physically experience the luxury of going out after weeks or months of staying in place at home.
The Evia Lifestyle Center, for example, is a shopping center that features 1.3 million square feet of retail space and has a number of high-end retail stores including Rustan’s Supermarket, AllDay Supermarket, AllHome, and a number of high-end brands, including H&M, and Uniqlo. Dubbed as the “crown jewel of the South,” Evia not only offers the luxurious mall shopping experience to residential communities in Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Laguna, and Cavite, but also safe lifestyle spaces they are willing to invest.