There is no shortage of malls in Pretoria and we have taken the effort to list what we think are the 5 best shopping malls in the capital city. If you are a visitor to Pretoria and want to get your dose of retail therapy, this list will be a quick guide to let you know where you should go.
Related Article: 9 Things To Do In Pretoria
Table of Contents
Our List Of Best Malls In Pretoria
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre is the biggest mall in South Africa, measuring 177,000 square meters. It has gone many revamps over the years and is now a world-class shopping destination with everything you could want in shopping. There is something for the shopper of every inclination, with regular department stores for the regular working folk, all the way up to designer fashion stores for the well-heeled. The mall has as many as 3 different phases inside it. The best place to take it all in is from the food court arena area where you can see all three floors at any time. You can walk along the reinforced glass walkway to see its depth.
Menlyn also has some accolades and was the first South African mall to have an IMAX screen. Menlyn is such a significant part of Pretoria that a whole district is developing around it, like the nearby Menlyn Main precinct and the Summit Place Lifestyle Centre right across the road. The mall is so large and consists of so many phases that it is easy to get lost in it. While it can get busy on Saturdays, a stroll through the mall on a casual weekday is enough to keep you occupied for the entire day.
Menlyn Maine
Yes, Menlyn Park and Menlyn Maine had to be listed separately. Each are their own distinct destination and to not list them as so would be a disservice. Menlyn Maine is the new blossoming commercial precinct of choice in Pretoria. It is a 32 hectare mixed use development that has boasts the most desirable entertainments in the capital city. Menlyn Main is also South Africa’s first “Green City”, with all of its buildings achieving a Four Star Green Star rating through the Green Building Council of South Africa. The ethos of the whole development is built with sustainability in mind. Roof spaces are covered with plants that add an aesthetic and an environmental benefit. 
When it comes to entertainment, you will not be left wanting. The Menlyn Main Central Square offers visitors boutique shopping and a host of trendy restaurants and cafes. If you want to let loose, Time Square is right across the road, with world-class entertainment amenities that go beyond retail. There is the sun casino if you are feeling lucky. On the roof level is a row of the trendiest restaurants and lounges in Pretoria. You can have a sumptuous meal at Something’s Cooking by J Something, or enjoy a cocktail at Altitude Rooftop Bar, with a birds eye view over Menlyn.
Brooklyn Mall
Brooklyn is the original home of boutique shopping in Pretoria and remains a mainstay retail destination in the city. The complex is divided into two main spaces, Brooklyn Mall and Brooklyn Square. The mall is designated as the retail space and is located indoors. Brooklyn Square is an outside area that is populated by restaurants and cafes. Brooklyn Mall is also home to one of the best restaurants in Pretoria and arguably the best Indian cuisine restaurant in all of Gauteng, Geet Indian restaurant.
Brooklyn Mall is also the nearest full-service mall to the city centre. It is located in the embassy suburb of Pretoria. So if you are not staying in the city centre for business or diplomatic affairs, Brooklyn mall would be the easy alternative for proximity.
Woodlands Boulevard
Woodlands Boulevard is a neat little escape away from the bustle of the busier malls. The mall is situated in Pretorius Park, across the road from Woodhill Golf Estate. It is the ideal place to get a catch a movie or have a light meal at one of the cafes that are located near the entrance. The eastern entrance to the mall is adorned by restaurants and cafes in a courtyard layout that sucks you in. Inside the mall, you have access to all the major retail outlets that you re used to in Pretoria, with a few boutique shops and unique stores like the antique store.
Irene Village mall
Irene Village Mall is a lifestyle mall in the same class as the aforementioned Woodlands Mall. While the mall is not necessarily large, it has upmarket restaurants and select boutique stores, designed to accommodate the more well-heeled. The mall is surrounded by affluent neighborhoods like Irene Estate and Cornwall Hill so the stores are of a more exclusive nature. That does not mean it is unaffordable at all. A midweek lunch special meal at the popular restaurant chain, Mythos, will set you back less than R100 while you take a break from your busy day.
On weekends you will often find entertainment attractions like jumping castles or miniature train rides for the kids. There is also a permanent water fountain feature that will keep the little ones occupied while you enjoy a divine meal at any of the great restaurants in the courtyard area.
The Grove Mall
The Grove Mall is strategically placed and serves the areas between the Willows, Wapadrand and Silver lakes. In term of a full-service mall, the Grove is the closest one to Silver Lakes, the affluent suburb which grew from the very first gated community in Pretoria, Silver Lakes Golf Estate. As the leading regional mall in Pretoria East, The Grove Mall spoils shoppers for choice with more than 120 stores.
The name the grove is not without purpose wither. The mall has an inside out-out section with 14 olive tries that make for an ideal atmosphere socializing, with your pick of well-known eateries. There is entertainment for the hole family, with the mall boasting an eco-friendly ice rink, Ten-pin bowling, and a cinema with an IMAX theatre. For the kids, there are fun rides like bumper cars and a water play park to name a few.
Parkview
Parkview centre is a contemporary retail destination with a selection of prime quality retail stores. The shopping centre is located in the affluent part of Pretoria East, right opposite from Woodhill Golf Estate and Pretoria East Hospital. It is an ideal mall for an afternoon respite, with a good mix of fast food staples and restaurants. It is home to the first branch of Summit Bar Grill and Skybar, which serves top-notch food at a surprisingly affordable prices, with most meals coming in at under R100. It is also home to the only Virgin Active gym near the Mooikloof/Woodlands area. The mall has relatively low foot traffic so if you like your shopping with more space, you will find that here.