Vintage Clothes, Free Books, And 6 Other Hidden Gems To Check Out In Shah Alam

Spanning 2.4km and consisting of three parallel rows of stalls, the Setia Alam night market is arguable one of the longest pasar malam in Malaysia! It's held every Saturday evening (6pm - 11pm). You'll find everything here: local delicacies, international cuisine, fresh groceries, clothes, household items, gadgets, toys, and more.

Look out for these crowd favourite treats:
- The famous Taiwanese Egg Burger consists of a muffin bottom and a freshly fried sunny side up egg top, with a filling of Taiwanese sausage, chicken ham, black pepper chicken ham or minced pork between the layers.
- The cooling Mamma-Mia Coconut Ice Cream made with real coconut flesh and water, served in a coconut shell with strips of coconut flesh, sweet corn, and ground peanuts.
- Grilled Korean Oysters paired with your choice of garlic, cheese, or chili sauce.
- Fried Durian is super sinful but utterly delicious as every bite into the crispy, flaky pastry gets you a mouthful of creamy durian flesh.

Location: Jalan Setia Prima A U13/A, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam

Ardence Labs is a 27-acre neighborhood development located at the heart of its flagship township, Eco Ardence. It has many unique attractions that provide practical services and products while also being super aesthetically on-point and making for some awesome Insta-worthy photos.

From fun colourful backgrounds, hidden graffiti art, and art installations, to pretty little restaurants serving up all kinds of yummy food, cool architecture, tons of homegrown brands and outlets, you could definitely spend all day at Ardence Labs and not get bored.

Ardence Labs also constantly hosts fun themed events and shopping bazaars so be sure to visit when there's one going on!

Location: Eco Ardence, Persiaran Setia Alam, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam

Based on the concept of 'a library in a park', this ultra-modern library is located right next to a golf course and overlooks the gorgeous Blue Mosque and Shah Alam Lake Gardens. Its six-themed floors are filled with more than just books and cosy reading corners, it also features some pretty cool facilities.

This includes two state-of-the-art theatres (3D and 6D), gaming and virtual reality services, three gyms, an open concept cafeteria, a computer area, and a special Creative Zone for children.

Location: Jalan Kelab Golf 13/6, Seksyen 13, 40100 Shah Alam

The Bandoru Store is the first and biggest pre-loved concept store in Malaysia - it's a great place to shop on a budget. Inspired by the secondhand scene in Japan, all of the pre-loved but high quality items here are imported directly from Japan.

You'll find an impressive selection of clothes, accessories, bags, and shoes for men, women, and children. The brands they carry include Zara, Disney, Uniqlo, Vans, Converse, Dr Marten, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Dior, Chanel, Nike, Adidas, Levi's, and much more!

Two unique sections you'll definitely want to check out are Rare & Vintage and Celebrity Picks.The former has cool branded items that aren't sold in stores anymore while the latter features personal items or special picks from local celebrities.

Location: Bandoru Store Shah Alam, Selangor PT7, Federal Highway Batu 3, Shah Alam

This place is perfect for extreme sports lovers who wanna try a little bit of everything all in one place. It caters to all ages and skill levels, covering the following: skate park, inline skate park, bike park, wall climbing, paintball arena, and futsal court.

It's really conveniently located too - near the Shah Alam stadium, and is easily accessible by both car and bus. And once you're done trying out all the different extreme sports, you can re-fuel at one of the nearby fast food joints.

Location: Jalan Lompat Pagar 13/37, Seksyen 13, 40100 Shah Alam

Created by readers, for readers, Buku Jalanan is essentially an informal book club gathering of sorts. It aims to make reading more accessible to all and to cultivate a reading culture in Malaysia.

It takes place at the Lake Gardens in Shah Alam on alternate Sundays. Enthusiasts get together to read, participate in book exchanges, share discussions on various themes, and catch the occasional film screening or band gig.

Location: Taman Tasik Shah Alam, Pesiaran Tasek, Seksyen 14, 40000 Shah Alam

If you're into cultural entertainment, this is the place for you. Every week, different fun performances and cultural activities are held there, from traditional dances and games, to karaoke competitions and Battle of the Bands.

Laman Budaya is also home to an art galley and a museum, as well as loads of little stalls selling various arts and crafts made by local artists, such as personalised souvenirs.

Location:  Persiaran Tasik, Seksyen 14, 40000 Shah Alam

Did you know that is is Malaysia's first agriculture park? It's been open to the public since 1986 and at 1,295 hectares, it's one of the largest agriculture parks in the world. There are many themed gardens for you to explore, such as the Animal Park, Spice Garden, Ornamental Garden, Orchid Garden, Cactus Garden, Bamboo Garden, and Mushroom Garden.

Rent a bike or take a leisurely stroll through to make sure you don't miss out on anything. Some must-see attractions include the four season house, the serene lake that's perfect for picnics or fishing, and the observation tower that offers a beautiful view.

Location: Taman Botani Negara, Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam, 40000 Shah Alam

Eco Ardence is an eco-themed, gated and guarded, mixed-development township, spanning a massive 533 acres. Lively yet serene, this is the re-imagination of Shah Alam.

It's the perfect place if you want to stay close to the city, but without the noise and pollution that comes with it.

Eco Ardence lets your home be an escape where you can enjoy tranquility and the beauty of mother nature.

Does your job let you work from home? Eco Ardence has been designed with an active and efficient work-life balance in mind, to give you the highest level of productivity whenever you need it.

The private clubhouse gives you a tranquil getaway to relax and unwind at after a long day right in your own precinct.

And don't forget about the aforementioned Ardence Labs!

Find out more about Eco Ardence at their official website or Facebook page.