When it comes to spending a day/weekend in Johor, it’s always the case of “the earlier the better”. Not because we are kiasu but because no one likes to spend hours stuck in a human or traffic jam. So, if you are like me, who takes the 8.30am train into JB or drives in at 7am to beat the traffic jam, here are 5 things you can do or eat in Johor Bahru in the morning!
#1. Have a plate of the delicious Ah Piaw wanton mee
Need we say more? Just look at the glorious plates of wanton noodles and fried wantons. The noodles that are made of duck eggs doesn’t get soggy and I don’t know what sauce did they toss the noodles in but it’s SO GOOD. Even better than my favorite Tanjong Rhu / Old Airport wanton noodles! If noodles are too filling for a breakfast, you can also order their baos or dimsum while you wait for the popular cafes to be open!
Address: 20, 12, Jalan Kelewang, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru
Hours: 24 hours
#2. Start queuing for the famous Hiap Joo Banana Cake
Known for their heavenly banana cake (zero preservatives) that’s baked to perfection with a charcoal oven, this traditional bakery is less than 10-minute drive away from the customs. Don’t worry about missing the queue because I’m 100% sure that you’ll definitely see a queue. If you don’t, either you are too early or the shop’s closed for the day.
Address: 13 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee Johor Bahru
Hours: Mon (12nn-5:30pm), Tue – Sat (7:30am-5:30pm), Sun (8:30am-stock last)
#3. Go for a well-deserved massage at Thai Odyssey
While Thai Odyssey may not be the cheapest, it is still WAY cheaper than Singapore. A 60-min massage will only cost RM125 and their standard of massage is really good! Another plus point is that their locations are really convenient (think KSL, City Square and Komtar) so you can shop immediately after your massage. Their outlets open at 10am, which is way earlier than the other massages we have tried. Do make reservations at least a week in advance because we always have to wait when we do walk-ins.
Address: Various outlets including KSL and City Square
Hours: 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
#4. Warm up your voice with cheap Karaoke
It’s expensive to sing in Singapore but it’s really not so in JB! A 3-hour package over the weekend costs around RM30 so that’s just about RM10 per hour – we can’t think of a lot of entertainment you can get at that price 🙂 As most karaoke places only open from 11AM onwards, we’ll recommend Neway if you are early! They open at 10AM and have an outlet at the good ol’ City Square – a short walk away from customs!
Address: Various outlets including City Square (Level 5)
Hours: 10.00 am to 3.00 am
#5. Get an adrenaline rush with Go-Kart
Go-karting is one of those things that’s just too expensive (and inaccessible) in Singapore. A 10-minute bloc in Singapore over the weekend would set you back by about SGD35 at least. A 10-minute block here would set you back by just RM55. See the price difference? But of course, it is a distance away from JB immigration (approx 20km away). Most importantly, they open at 8AM – which is perfect for you early birds!
Address: Lot 1195, Jalan Bunga Matahari, Taman Plentong Baru, 81750 Johor Bahru
Hours: 8.30am – 6.30pm (Sat-Sun), 10am – 6.30pm (Mon-Fri)
Website: Facebook page
If you are not just looking at things to do or eat in Johor Bahru in the morning, why don’t you take a look at our 3D2N Johor Bahru itinerary?
