If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel in Johor Bahru, Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel is a fantastic choice! Located just 15 minutes from Toppen Shopping Centre, Aeon Tebrau, and IKEA Tebrau, it’s perfect for a shopping and food getaway. Plus, there’s a night market right at the doorstep on certain days, adding to the vibrant experience. During our stay, we enjoyed spacious rooms, direct pool access, and Club Lounge perks—here’s our full review!
Our Stay at Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel
We recently revisited Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel to celebrate Hengboi’s 6th birthday, and this time we were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary upgrade to the One-Bedroom Suite, thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. The suite was spacious and perfect for a family stay, giving us extra room to unwind during the birthday getaway.
During our previous stay, we were also upgraded to a Pool Facing Room which offered direct access to the pool and was a hit with the kids. Both room types had their own charm, but the suite certainly added a touch of luxury to our return visit.
The room was spacious, modern, and clean, making it a comfortable retreat after a long day out.
We love the spacious bathroom and the kids loved the bathtub. That is usually one of the must have our hotel stays if the room rate is not too expensive! They just love throwing bath bombs (ouch my wallet) and toy cars into the bathtub.
Types of Rooms
Renaissance JB offers various room categories including:
- Deluxe Rooms – Elegant and functional with modern amenities.
- Pool View Rooms – Perfect for families wanting quick access to the swimming pool. We got the room which opens out to the pool.
- Executive Rooms – Includes Club Lounge access.
- Suites – More spacious for longer stays or those needing extra room.
Hotel Facilities & Kid-Friendly Features
👶 Swimming Pool – The outdoor pool consist of a small lap pool (deeper) and a small round kids pool, which is great for kids to splash around.
Fitness Center – Fully equipped gym available for guests.
Meeting Rooms & Business Services – Ideal for business travelers.
Club Lounge – Guests staying in Executive Rooms or Suites enjoy:
- Complimentary breakfast! Our breakfast here was delightful with a wide selection from local dishes to Western favourites. I love the prata and wraps!
- All-day refreshments
- Evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
- Cozy and quiet environment for relaxing or catching up on work.
High Tea at the Lounge
Breakfast at the Lounge
Dining Options at the Hotel
🥐 Café BLD – The main restaurant offering international buffet spreads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We arrived on a Friday evening and headed straight to Café BLD for their buffet dinner. The spread was impressive with a good variety of local and international dishes, including live cooking stations and a grand dessert corner that the kids were especially excited about. What we appreciated most was the small kids’ play area located near the hotel lobby—it was perfect for letting the boys burn off some energy while we enjoyed our dinner at a more relaxed pace. We were informed that the seafood themed buffet that we had will be replaced by Malaysia local delights but I believe it will still be worth it.
Outdoor Live Stations
Indoor selections
Dessert Section
🍸 R-Bar – A stylish bar located in the lobby, great for evening drinks and snacks.
☕ The Chocolate Cake Company – For a quick coffee or sweet treat, this bakery-style spot in the hotel is convenient and delicious.
Shopping, Entertainment and Massage Nearby
One of the biggest perks of staying at Renaissance JB is its proximity to major malls and massage parlor without the heavy traffic of central JB:
🛍 Toppen Shopping Centre & IKEA Tebrau – Just 15 minutes away, Toppen offers great retail shopping, a cinema, and family-friendly activities like The Parenthood Playground. Read our Guide on what to do at Toppen here!
🛍 Aeon Tebrau City – Another huge shopping mall nearby, great for picking up essentials at Daiso, Uniqlo, and Mr. DIY, plus plenty of dining options. Dont forget to visit Fanpekkaa Indoor Playground! Check out the family friendly activities we did at this post!
💄 Aeon Mall Permas – A smaller Aeon compared to Tebrau but is sufficient for us to do a quick grocery run as its just opposite the hotel!
🛍 Bangkok Family Spa is just right at the doorstep of the hotel and was significantly cheaper than the parlour at upscale Mid Valley Southkey. The environment is quite alright too.
- Bangkok Family Spa
- Address: 69, Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
- Contact Number: +60 7-336 6888
Food & Night Market at the Hotel’s Doorstep
🍜 Local Eateries Nearby – There are plenty of food options within walking distance, including kopitiams for traditional breakfast, seafood spots, and modern cafes. Leave me a comment if you would like my recommendation on what to eat around here!
Street full of eateries
🌙 Permas Jaya Night Market (Sunday evenings) – One of JB’s most vibrant night markets, right outside the hotel! Expect:
- Local street food (grilled skewers, bubble tea, pancakes, etc.)
- Fresh fruits and snacks
- Fashion and bargain shopping
Nearby Attractions & Dining
🦞 Senibong Bay Seafood – Just 5 minutes away by Grab, this seaside stretch of seafood restaurants is famous for its fresh catch and affordable prices. We ordered lobster at a fraction of Singapore’s prices!
- Address: 30, Jalan Permas 4, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
- Contact Number: +60 7-388 1189
We ordered a salted egg crab, two lobsters, noodles, sotong, and juice, which cost us about RM825 (approximately SGD230). While not exactly cheap, the crab and lobster meat were really big and juicy, and it would have cost more elsewhere. After dinner, we took a taxi back to the hotel.
🛣 Desaru Stopover – If you’re headed to Desaru, Renaissance JB makes a perfect overnight stop. Located just off the highway, you can avoid the town’s congestion and get a restful stay before continuing your journey.
Check out our stay at Westin Desaru
How Does It Compare to Other JB Hotels?
🏨 Renaissance JB vs. Other Hotels Near Malls
- Mid Valley Southkey (St. Giles & Hilton) – Closer to Mid Valley but traffic can be an issue, especially in the car park! We once got stuck for ages exiting the mall.
- Holiday Inn City Square – Right next to City Square, great for those wanting to explore JB Sentral, but parking can be a hassle.
- Renaissance JB – Free parking, less traffic, and a more relaxing atmosphere, making it a great stopover if you’re heading to Desaru!
Final Thoughts – Is Renaissance Johor Bahru Worth It?
✅ Spacious, modern rooms with great comfort
✅ Pool-facing room was a great choice for convenience
✅ Club Lounge access added value with great service
✅ Excellent location near Toppen, Aeon Tebrau & IKEA
✅ Night market adds a local touch to the stay
✅ Great facilities for both leisure and business guests
❌ Further away from malls compared to hotels situated next to mall
If you’re planning a relaxing shopping & food trip in JB, Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel is a great option! Free parking, a quieter location, and easy access to major malls make it a hidden gem for family getaways.
Drop a comment below if you want more details, or check out my full itinerary on the blog! 😊
