While imageability and place attachment are two important terms in urban design, they have rarely been explored together. Imageability designates the visual clarity and memorability of a place, whereas place attachment illustrates the emotional and functional bonds that individuals create with their surrounding environment. The two concepts are crucial to how people experience public space, but their intersection, particularly through a gendered lens, is rarely explored. The present research investigates the correlation between imageability and place attachment, specifically in the context of urban alley regeneration. Therefore, a quantitative survey approach was utilized to evaluate user perceptions of five upgraded alleys in Bukit Bintang. A total of 190 female participants were assessed with a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and regression analysis were performed to examine the impact of perceived imageability on two dimensions of place attachment, namely place identity and place dependence. Results reveal that imageability plays an essential role in helping women form place attachments through strengthening legible urban form, emotional safety, and sense of belonging. Respondents who viewed the alleys as visually different, unique, and memorable, felt more emotionally and functionally attached to space. This study advances the theoretical debate in urban planning and design related to the quality of public spaces from physical and emotional perspectives. Also, it supports policymakers in developing inclusive and gender sensitive urban regeneration policies that transcend the physical aspect of place within the dense urban context of the Global South.