Locals usually refer to Pakuwon Mall And Trade Center as Pakuwon Trace Center (PTC) even though it has two other areas—Pakuwon Mall (the most modernized and crowded area) and Pakuwon Mall HomePRO. The latter opened in 2020, three years after the massive Pakuwon Mall expansion. In 2003, there were only a few stores in the old PTC. Today, the expansion has brought many local and international tourists to the shopping mall.
To help you differentiate, PTC areas are full of stores with budget products. It is great for tourists who want to save money. Meanwhile, Pakuwon Mall has many premium international stores. Additionally, some of the stores at Pakuwon Mall only receive cashless payments. Access to public transportation is quite simple, because “halte PTC” or “PTC bus stop” is all you need to say when you hop on Wirawiri, Suroboyo Bus, or Trans Semanggi.
I love hunting for unique dine-in experiences when I go to luxurious mega-malls like this one! Sometimes, I join the crowds in playing the most interactive and immersive board games. If you’d like to know more about the activities you can do in Pakuwon Mall and Trade Center, continue reading!
1. Take nice selfies in the Instagrammable areas
Pakuwon Mall has many Instagrammable spots where you can take photos alone or with friends. One of the highlights is the ball-shaped orange car.
Lush greenery will also greet you when you enter Pakuwon Mall. The trees are green and lifelike and make for great backgrounds in photos.
Sumos, a horse-riding samurai in all-black attire, the red-kimono Kimmidoll, aesthetic cafes, and others are just some of the Instagrammable areas I’ve visited in PTC. Photographing yourself in any of these areas will make your journey to West Surabaya unforgettable!
2. Test your endurance on Decathlon's running track
Other than its massive size, Surabaya’s Pakuwon Mall is also famous for being the first launching pad for many local and international brands. Thus, Decathlon’s first Surabaya store is also here.
Decathlon doesn’t only sell exercise clothes and equipment. It also provides customers with a long fitness track.
If you’d like to test yourself, you can use the track to go back and forth between Pakuwon Mall, PTC, and HomePro. I have tried running around the mall from 12pm to 7pm, and it was a fun, healthy, and challenging experience!
3. Watch a 3D live screen by the elevator
So far, PTC’s 3D live screen is the only one in Surabaya. Even Tunjungan Plaza, which is another shopping mall under the same developer, doesn’t have it.
The live screen primarily shows luxurious apartments that connect to PTC along with Pakuwon Group’s plans to expand the shopping mall areas. Sometimes, it features monthly themes too. For instance, April is all about Ramadan. So, the live screen displayed Middle Eastern designs and ornaments in a beautiful flash animation the last time I went there.
4. Hang out with friends on Pakuwon Mall's second floor
In my opinion, Pancious is the most artistic hang-out place on Pakuwon Mall’s second floor. It even has a pretty pond, where I always thought I would see artificial koi fish. Instead, I found lotus flowers and a sluice. Still, the view is lovely!
Pancious itself is a place to eat sweet and savory pancakes. However, the prices are not for everyone. Thankfully, you can still stroll around Pancious while hanging out and enjoying the pond view.
P.S.: Live music shows and other activities are almost always happening on the benches near Pancious’ pond. People love sitting here while enjoying cheap takeaways or merely chatting with friends.
5. Pamper yourself with cosmetics and hair treatments
Unlike Tunjungan Plaza, which focuses on culinary experiences, Pakuwon Mall or PTC features the beauty and fashion industries.
You will see a huge sign for Fashion Atrium upon entering the lobby. Then, continue walking straight to the left until you find local beauty brands such as Luxcrime and Sensatia Botanicals on the LG floor.
I tried Sensatia Botanicals when I stayed in a Jakarta homestay, and the liquid soap’s natural woody fragrance was wonderful! May May Salon is also here on level 1, along with other beauty and nail salons.
6. Play board games with friends at The Vault or Three Frogs
The Vault on level 1 has many mystery and detective-based board games. The Vault didn’t allow me to enter on my own, saying I had to bring at least one other friend to play. When I looked at the groups of players, I saw they had brought three to four people. What a pity! Their snack bundles seemed mouthwatering to me. So instead, I headed to PTC’s hidden gem: Three Frogs. This is another board game center with much cheaper snacks to accompany the fun.
Unlike The Vault, you can play solo with the game master in Three Frogs. Or, you can join tables with other players. They might not always have snacks ready, but once they are ready, the snacks are much more economical.
7. Appreciate Ciputra University students' creations at HomePro lobby
HomePro’s launch during the pandemic caused it to have the least visitors in PTC. Unless there are pop-up markets in which Surabaya’s top private universities often become the hosts, people don’t pay much attention to the HomePro lobby. But this doesn’t mean there are no pleasant things to see at HomePro. The expertise of Ciputra University’s students in creating out-of-the-box but elegant fashion and interior design is evident throughout the store.
When I visited the shop, I wondered if I would be comfortable sitting on one of the ergonomic basket-weaved chairs. I’ve also always wanted to wear some of their long dresses.
Universitas Ciputra - Citraland Surabaya
8. Enjoy American-style meals around Pakuwon Mall
Pakuwon Mall’s Truffle Belly doesn’t only stop at becoming the first Surabaya store to provide US-like diner experiences. It also guarantees quick service and Goliath-size meals while not forgetting Indonesians’ staple food—rice. Truffle Belly provides rice dishes from ten different countries, and I love it so much!
E&W Burger and Sandwiches, on the same floor as Truffle Belly, will also satisfy your cravings through unique offerings from West Surabaya’s SMEs if you are not in the mood to eat rice.
Fan Fries, selling huge french fries where you can choose your own sauces and condiments, is also available on the second floor—one floor below the burger, sandwich, and diner restaurants.
9. Have fun with dogs in PTC's pet-friendly area
Do you wish to buy clothes and accessories for your dogs? If your answer is yes, you might want to buy a carrier too. Almost all visitors bring their furry friends inside a carrier and ensure the dogs don’t climb out, as it is a part of the shopping mall’s rules.
Even though the sign in PTC reads “pet-friendly area,” I would replace it with “dog-friendly area,” as no pets other than dogs are present in the area. Sometimes, dogs can enjoy soup dishes with their owners or even greet and dance with other dogs in the area.
Kids and teens love the sight, and I’ve seen many excited visitors attempting to take photos of rare moments featuring only dogs!
10. Offer up your daily prayers
I’ve seen that Gereja Mawar Sharon (GMS) draws significant traffic in PTC. Its move from the original Marvel City HQ to PTC before the pandemic caused people to follow suit. This also means that on Saturdays and Sundays, the mall is extra crowded. GMS has at least five prayer sessions on Sundays.
But wait! PTC also has St. John Paul II Chapel for Catholics and a mosque next to ATM BCA for Muslims. So far, it is the most inclusive prayer area I’ve ever witnessed in Surabaya!
11. Fulfill your printing and stationery needs at Paperclip
Paperclip on the B1 floor has helped me and other visitors print receipts or important documents with. I even tried printing my ID card and passport in this store. They offer to trim the paper without additional charges!
Like Ataru, its neighbor, Paperclip also sells stationery products, such as A4 or A5 papers, stickers, pens and pencils, folders, and other items.
Paperclip’s location on B1, aka the basement, might make it a hidden heaven. Yet, the vast variety of stationery products and printing services will fulfill all your stationery needs, making it a must-visit!
12. Stroll around the Little Tokyo area and Tirta Lie's Pork Station
Little Tokyo was one of the first attractions of Pakuwon Mall’s first establishment in 2017. This area on Pakuwon Mall’s 2M floor still has lovely Japanese lantern decorations.
Yamagoya Ramen and Hanaichi Teppan are two eateries you can find while you stroll around Little Tokyo. I have tried eating at Zenbu, and its Mozaru, aka mozzarella, creations are wonderful while also being mindful of Indonesian’s hearty meal preferences compared to the real Japanese.
Recently, Tirta Lie’s Pork Station has also gained popularity. Even though the name contains a non-halal ingredient, you can still enjoy pastries at stalls around it.
13. Eat healthy meals
I’ve always struggled to find decent vegan food in Surabaya. Fortunately, PTC’s Salad Bar by Hadikitchen has Viva La Vegan—a salad wrapped in a tortilla. Somehow, it reminds me of another cafe owned by a West-Surabaya-based-SME named Crunchaus in Pakuwon Mall’s basement (B1).
At first, these two healthy stands were the only food stalls I knew. But recently, I also tried some low-calorie meals at Klean Bowl. It’s a non-vegan restaurant, but the calorie count mentioned for all of the items (including the fruit drinks) is interesting.
14. Visit the nostalgic Amazone game center
Dance Dance Revolution (or DDR) has been something I’ve been interested in since I was eight years old. DDR’s pads might not be as intuitive as other games, but the fun and thrill of finishing the three stages are unmatchable.
PTC’s Amazone is one of the rare game centers in Indonesia that still has this old and legendary dancing machine. Mind you, they also have the old version of Percussion Freaks!
When I went here last month, I only spent around 3,000 IDR (0.19 USD) for one game of DDR Extreme. Your inner child will be satisfied when you visit this game center!
15. Satisfy cravings at Union or Kopi Se-Indonesia
Both Union and Kopi Se-Indonesia are open until late at night. Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days. While waiting for surge prices on Grab to go down, why don’t you spend your time at any of the cafes here?
Donuts and cakes are Union’s best products. Their cocktails are also wonderful! Speaking of alcoholic beverages, Kopi Se-Indonesia serves Baileys cocktails.
My recommendation would be to eat some pasta or rice dishes first at Union, then head to Kopi Se-Indonesia and drink hot tea or coffee or Bailey’s coffee. That way, you can avoid the expensive prices of Grab or Gojek.
Have the time of your life at Pakuwon Mall and Trade Center!
Pakuwon Mall is spread across almost 200,000 sq m (2,152,780 sq. ft.), so there are unlimited fun activities for everyone to try possibilities of exploring fun activities are boundless.
Try any of these activities above, and I’m sure you won’t regret your experience!
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