Living World Mall Denpasar

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Living World Mall is, as of Friday 24th March 2023, the largest mall in Bali.



It has just opened along Jalan Gatut Subroto (Gatsu), in North Denpasar. This location has made it an immediate hit with the locals, but being quite a trek from the most popular tourist and ex-pat areas, you might be wondering if it's worth making the journey.

My short answer is: probably not yet. Unless you particularly want to visit a large Uniqlo, Ace Hardware or Informa, that is.



One week into the launch of Living World Denpasar, these three flagship stores are open, as well as a handful of smaller ones and a large marketplace area selling locally produced clothes, homewares and more.



There is also an extensive food court where you can visit traditional warung-style stalls, have a sit-down restaurant meal, pick up some Asian fast food, or indulge in sweet treats.





However, I would estimate that 60-70% of the units across this 4-storey mall are still closed, including the XXI cinema and the Kidzlandia play area. I would be keen to return in 2-3 months' time and see how it has developed from here.

Despite the lack of things to do there, Living World Mall was completely packed when we visited on a Saturday evening. The traffic on the main road was terrible, and there were long queues for both cars and bikes to enter the parking area, let alone find a space to park.



No doubt it will become quieter as the novelty wears off, but I would recommend visiting on a weekday and during the day, if you can, for a more pleasant experience.

The building certainly is impressive, though. From the front through to the parking area at the back, there are fun and interesting design touches to spot as you explore.



Although it's a big, modern mall, it has enough 'Bali' in it to make it feel special. Even the bathrooms are elaborately decorated, each one with its own theme.

There is also a large outdoor stage at the back, spanning the gap between the mall and the motorbike parking area, with a tiered seating area large enough to accommodate several hundred spectators.



As we left there was a fashion show in full swing, but I imagine it will be used for all kinds of performances and competitions.

For now, visitors to Bali may want to stick to the more established malls like Beachwalk and Galeria in Kuta. Even once Living World Mall is fully open, it's unlikely to get a lot of international visitors because of the location.

However, it will be interesting to see how it takes shape over the coming months and whether it offers anything unique over the other malls available in South Bali.



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