Everything You Need to Know about NEXTGEN Theme Park at Petaling Jaya
The NEXTGEN Theme Park is one of the newest additions to our favourite mall in Petaling Jaya, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, and quite frankly, we’re crazy about it! My family and I are always looking for family-friendly activities around Malaysia, so this was such a great find.
It’s basically education and entertainment balled into one, and it does a pretty great job of nailing that combination! Personally, I love the entertainment part, but hey, this is geared towards the kids anyway so any sort of educational material is more than welcome.
With that being said, here’s we’ve been there enough times to know everything you can expect. From where you can stay and eat nearby to the things you can see and do, here’s what you need to know to enjoy a fun-filled day in NEXTGEN Theme Park:
Where is NEXTGEN Theme Park?
NEXTGEN Theme Park can be found inside 1 Utama Shopping Mall. It’s located in the residential township of Bandar Utama and it sits right before reaching the Damansara–Puchong Expressway if you’re coming from Lebuh Bandar Utama.
Things to Know
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Rates:
- Weekday Ticket:
- Family Pass (2 adults, 1 kid): RM102
- Adult (13 to 59 years old): RM39
- Kid (3 to 12 years old): RM29
- Weekend Ticket:
- Family Pass (2 adults, 1 kid): RM148
- Adult (13 to 59 years old): RM56
- Kid (3 to 12 years old): RM46
- Night Owl Ticket:
- Adult (13 to 59 years old): RM19.50
- Kid (3 to 12 years old): RM14.50
How to Get to NEXTGEN Theme Park
Closest subway stop: The closest subway stop to NEXTGEN Theme Park is Bandar Utama, which is only a four-minute walk away from 1 Utama Shopping Centre.
Closest bus stop: If you want a cheaper method of getting to the theme park, you can also opt for the bus. The two nearest bus stops to NEXTGEN Theme Park are 1 Utama LDP and First Avenue.
What to Do and See in NEXTGEN Theme Park
Get groovy at the music and lighting dance zone
One of the most wholesome things you can do inside this theme park is to showcase your sickest moves on the dance floor. Not just any dance floor, however, but their music and lighting dance zone!
As you may have gleaned from its name, this zone accompanies its upbeat music with various strobing lights. Think of it as having your own light show while you follow the steps projected on the wall.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a world-class dancer or if you have two left feet, you’re guaranteed to have a blast while dancing to your favourite tunes in this zone!
Refuel your energy at the NEXTGEN Cafe
With all the fun activities you can do in this indoor theme park, it won’t be long until you start to grow hungry and look for a place to wind down. Fortunately, you don’t have to go far, as the theme park features its very own NEXTGEN Cafe!
This cafe serves a wide variety of local delicacies that you’ll surely love from curries to sweet and sour fish and more! Plus, they also offer kid-friendly dishes like spaghetti, french fries, chicken nuggets and several others so that even the pickiest eaters will have something to eat.
Furthermore, this cafe serves a wide variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks, so if you’re looking to wind down and enjoy some afternoon tea time, consider stopping by!
Play the best video games in the entertainment area
What’s great about NEXTGEN Theme Park is that it’s inclusive because let’s face it, not anyone has the same endurance or even the same idea of fun. One of the best ways they showcase this is in their entertainment area, where people can have just as much fun with minimal effort.
This area is filled to the brim with arcade machines that will test your hand and eye coordination to the max. If you’re feeling competitive, you can try your hand at one of the fighting games to see who among your friends is the best at gaming.
Aside from arcade machines, they also feature gaming consoles, most notably, Sony’s PlayStation 5. You can play the latest titles on this console alone or with friends!
Let your kids role-play at Imagination Playland I
Imagination Playland I is where your kids can discover their future careers. In this zone, you can let your younglings live out their dreams of becoming a restaurant owner by giving them toy versions of ovens, utensils, ingredients and more.
There’s also a police and fire station, both of which are just as immersive. They can even dress the part by wearing a cute little chef costume, a police uniform or a fireman’s outfit—don’t forget to snap a pic!
Let your kids run wild at Imagination Playland II
After taking cute photos and getting a taste of being a professional baker, firefighter or policeman/woman, your kids can enjoy running around at Imagination Playland II. It’s the kiddy version of the ninja playground found in the adult zone, so expect to see wild slides here.
Speaking of slides, the main attraction of this zone is arguably the massive twisty slide in the middle. Your kids may not walk straight after this ride, but hey, at least they had a fun and memorable time!
Reach great heights in their rock climbing wall
If you want to test your upper body strength and hand-eye coordination skills, you should challenge yourself at the theme park’s rock climbing wall! This station is called PEAK-IT and it’s designed to help you conquer your fear of heights!
Meanwhile, if you find the rocks way too difficult for your hands and feet, you can opt for the wall with ladders. It’s a much easier challenge, but the height you’ll get to reach and the equipment you’ll be provided with will be the same.
You can skip this attraction altogether but personally, we think that it’s something that you have to conquer during your visit here! Whether you’re old, young or young at heart, this is an activity that you should definitely try.
Race your friends through the Ninja Challenge
The ninja challenge is the ultimate playground for adults. It’s here where you can run through a challenging obstacle course that only the fastest and quick-witted ninja aspirants can conquer—think you’re one of them?
Consisting of ramps, climbable walls and other obstacles, this attraction will test both your athleticism and speed. If you want to take it up a notch, you can also create a tournament between you and your friends to see who can complete the course the fastest!
Bounce to your heart’s content at the Engagement Zone
Of course, you can’t leave without stopping by the engagement zone, where you’ll find a series of connected trampolines, measuring over 166 square metres. It’s guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again, as you bounce around with your friends and family!
There’s even a basketball hoop you can use to pull off some spectacular dunks that are otherwise impossible to do on a regular court. If you’re the competitive type, you can put your friends on a poster with your nastiest dunk!
Where to Eat and Drink in NEXTGEN Theme Park
Z Botanica
Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Lot G315a
Phone: +60 13-359 0443
Pricing: $$-$$$
Website
Z Botanica is the perfect spot to eat for those times when you’re craving Western dishes—plus, it’s in the same building as the theme park! We want to add that it’s a fancy restaurant so do expect to pay more than you typically would by Malaysia’s standards.
It’s money well-spent, however, as the dishes here use high-quality ingredients and are prepared by their talented chefs. This rings true with just about any item from their menu from their lamb shanks to their pizzas, pastas and everything in between.
We also want to highlight just how impressive their selection of booze is. From classy red/white wines to draught beer and cocktails, this place has everything you need for a memorable nightlife with your friends.
Fei Fan Hotpot
Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, S122, Second Floor, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama
Phone: +60 3-7731 7928
Pricing: $$
Website
You can never go wrong with trying a new hotpot restaurant, and luckily for you, one of the best hotpot restaurants is located in the same building as the theme park. The restaurant in question is Fei Fan Hotpot, which has several branches across the country because it’s that beloved.
What we love about this restaurant in particular is the selection of premium quality meats that they serve their diners. Usually, restaurants that offer unlimited portions of something compromise the quality, but not with this restaurant!
The broths themselves are worth highlighting as well, as they offer different ones for different kinds of preferences. For instance, you can order a tom yum soup if you’re looking for a kick in your broth, while a good old chicken soup is perfect for people who want a richer flavour.
Lax Lax Restaurant and Bar
Address: LG612, Lower Ground Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre
Phone: +60 17-353 8169
Pricing: $$
Website
For those times when you want to be immersed in Malaysia’s rich cuisine, you should check out Lax Lax Restaurant and Bar. The main reason why we love this spot so much is that they put their own spin on a dish that’s been proven and tested for countless years now.
One perfect example of this is the nasi lemak, where instead of the usual fried chicken, they’ll serve it with massive pork ribs. Another dish that you need to try from their menu is their satay, which is one of Malaysia’s best street foods.
It’s not hard to see why each of their offerings feels masterfully made though, as they’re created by a Melaka Peranakan who’s been in the industry for 8+ years! This, plus the fact that they use fresh ingredients makes this restaurant one of the best spots to get authentic Malay food in PJ.
Robataya Izakaya One Utama
Address: G202 & G203 1 Utama Shopping Centre 1
Phone: +60 3-7628 1395
Pricing: $$
Website
Robataya Izakaya is a great spot to check out if you’re craving authentic Japanese dishes—at a relatively reasonable price! We say relatively because dishes with this kind of premium quality usually cost more, but not in this restaurant.
We’re not exaggerating when we say that it’s impossible to order the wrong thing in this restaurant. But if you don’t know what to get, we recommend sticking to the classics like chicken karaage, ebi tempura, chicken teriyaki and their chicken katsu set.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with their sushi as well, which by the way is as fresh as they come. Every ingredient they use is carefully sourced and flown from Japan—talk about dedication to the craft!
Lala Chong Kayu Ara Seafood Restaurant
Address: Lot 13556, Jalan Cempaka, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara
Phone: +60 3-7728 1906
Pricing: $$
Website
You can’t go wrong with eating seafood when visiting Petaling Jaya, which is why you have to check out Lala Chong Kayu Ara Seafood Restaurant while you’re here. It’s a no-frills eatery that will treat you to an authentic dining experience, featuring the freshest seafood.
Their menu features a wide variety of well-known seafood dishes like sweet and sour crab, butter prawns, clam soup and more. If you’re looking for something local, however, we recommend ordering their Nyonya steamed fish!
If you don’t want your order to entirely consist of seafood, don’t worry! They also serve dishes like lemon chicken and our personal favourite, satay.
Where to Stay near NEXTGEN Theme Park
One World Hotel
Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, City Centre, First Avenue
Phone: +60 3-7681 1111
Pricing: $$$
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Personally, I think that One World Hotel is the best place to stay when visiting NEXTGEN Theme Park in Petaling Jaya. For starters, it sits at a prime location, where it’s a stone’s throw away from the theme park as well as other establishments like restaurants, malls and cafes!
Furthermore, the hotel boasts five stars and they sure live up to it as seen with their premium suites. Regardless of which type of suite you book, you can expect well-maintained rooms, stunning views of the city and of course, complete sets of amenities.
Lastly, the hotel comes with its fair share of facilities as well, one of which is the massive outdoor swimming pool. Meanwhile, if you feel like pigging out on delicious dishes, you can head to their in-house restaurant!
AVANTÉ Hotel
Address: 1, Persiaran Bandar Utama
Phone: +60 3-7681 7777
Pricing: $$$
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AVANTÉ Hotel is another solid option if you’re looking to stay within walking distance from NEXTGEN Theme Park and other points of interest. It’s located smack-dab in the city centre of Petaling Jaya so expect to be in the middle of all the famous restaurants, cafes and stores.
Location aside, this hotel is a great option because of its beautiful rooms. These rooms feature huge comfy beds, flat-screen TVs, dining areas, en-suite toilets and baths, and every modern luxurious amenity you can think of.
We also have to hand it to them when it comes to facilities, as they feature something for every member of the family. These facilities include a saltwater infinity roof deck pool, a wellness centre, a 24/7 gym, and a cool indoor playground for the kids.
One Avenue Hotel – PJ
Address: 1-13, One Avenue, Dataran Pelangi Utama
Phone: +60 3-7725 3375
Pricing: $
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If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in Petaling Jaya that doesn’t compromise its quality, then One Avenue Hotel should be on your radar. It’s a 2-star hotel and we must say they feature some rooms that will give you the best value for your money.
These rooms are well-maintained, and spacious and feature all the modern amenities you need for a comfortable stay. You have your standard air-conditioning units, en-suite toilets and baths, hot water, free Wi-Fi and more!
The location isn’t too bad as well as it’s minutes away from various points of interest in PJ, including NEXTGEN Theme Park. Overall, it’s the perfect option for frugal travellers who’ll be spending most of their time exploring the city.
Royale Chulan Damansara
Address: 2A, Jln PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara
Phone: +60 3-7959 9000
Pricing: $$$
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Royale Chulan Damansara is another 5-star hotel that’s perfect for those times when you want to live like royalty, even for just a day or two. It’s equipped with all the facilities you can expect from a lavish place like this, from its outdoor pool to its royale spa and more.
The hotel also features an in-house restaurant called the Royal Coffee House where a myriad of local and international dishes are served constantly. It’s the best place to grab your breakfast or your afternoon tea, as they also offer an impressive selection of homebrewed coffee.
As for the rooms themselves, you’ll see why this hotel boasts five stars. Aside from being spacious, these suites come with all the amenities you need to make you feel at home during your stay while providing you with unmatched views of the city.
O’Boutique Suites
Address: B2-01, Casa Utama,, PJU 6A, Lorong Lebuh Bandar Utama
Phone: +60 3-7726 8888
Pricing: $
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O’Boutique Suites is one of the best options for those travellers who are looking to save money on accommodation. Don’t be fooled by its extremely affordable prices, however, as the rooms here are anything but cheap!
Of course, you can’t expect these rooms to have premium designs and all the lavish amenities, but they offer enough to help you enjoy a comfortable stay. For starters, each room features air-conditioning and comfy beds with soft linens for a good night’s sleep.
They don’t have any fancy facilities as well, which can be a dealbreaker for some. But if you’re someone who’s not looking to spend hundreds on accommodation, this will be more than enough!