Nestled in the heart of Johor Bahru, Zoo Johor sits just a quick 10-minute drive from the JB customs checkpoint, a gritty little escape for anyone crossing over from Singapore or wandering out from the city center. It’s Malaysia’s oldest zoo, kicking off in 1928, and after a three-year spruce-up, it reopened in 2024 with 275 animals across 53 species. This isn’t some polished tourist trap - it’s raw, real, a piece of history stitched into the urban sprawl, close enough to the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque and Royal Museum for a full day’s ramble. The location’s a practical win: easy to hit, tough to miss.

Food here isn’t a culinary revelation - concession stands sling snacks and drinks, the kind of quick fuel you grab between gawking at a tiger or a python. It’s no fine dining scene, but it keeps you moving. The ambience leans into a laid-back vibe, all green pockets and shaded nooks, with bird calls cutting through the air and the odd lion’s rumble shaking things up. It feels like a zoo from another era - unpretentious, almost personal. The crowd’s a mix: families towing wide-eyed kids, locals killing a weekend, tourists ticking off a cheap thrill. It buzzes during school breaks and Saturdays, so if you crave quiet, dodge the rush.