Being the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo enjoys rich heritage and all the facilities of a proper metropolitan. Located in the western province of the country, Colombo is a microcosm of the entire country. Be it the architecture that Colombo hosts or the contemporary city life that Colombo lives - everything about Colombo is happening, colorful and vibrant. The shopping malls in Colombo exhibit a similar spirit. These shopping outlets have diverse fabrics, accessories and a multitudinous range of any visitors’ requirements.
1) Colombo City Centre
If one is in a hurry and running short of time but needs to go for a prolific shopping experience of luxury products, this shopping mall in Colombo is the place to look for. Lots of outlets of every kind of brands starting from Apple, Swarovski, Titan, Raymond, Clarks, Insoles and so on and at the same time shops having collections of indigenous products can be found here under a single roof. Also, if one feels hungry in between picking up the best of products, there are food joints in each and every corner of the mall like Tokyo Shukudo, Punch Island Bar, Oporto, China Street Food, Grub, Shiok and a few others. It's a place one can either visit solo or with friends and family; all kinds of company is great here. All in all, a good place to visit, the Colombo City centre.
Timings: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PMAddress : 137 Sir James Pieris Mawatha, ColomboAttractions: Multiplex cinema by Scope cinemas with 6 screen and 700 seating capacities, offering 25 movies each day.
2) Marino Mall
As the name suggests, it is located by the sea beach with an amazing view over an area of 150,000 sq. ft.. This mall aims at providing a small homely surrounding with a minimalistic approach towards electronics outlet. An ideal place to spend good time with family, Marino has separate sections for furniture, clothing and accessories, gaming and amusement and foods. This shopping mall in Sri Lanka displays best quality jewellery stores like Jewel Court, Sayonara Jewellers, Topaz Gem Pit and Treasure Chest and also quality fabrics along with collectable accessories to look out for. Lastly, it makes up as a good place to hang out with one’s family, do some quality shopping and have a fine dining experience.
Timings: 9.00 AM - 10:00 PMAddress : 590 Galle Rd, ColomboAttractions: Food Emporium catering food from different regions of the world like Curry Stop (Sri Lankan Cuisine), Bharat Bhojan (Indian Cuisine), Western Bay (Wesstern Cuisine), Middle Eastern (Arabic Cuisine) and others. Marino has its own VR section and amusement section with games for kids and adults.
3) Majestic City
It is one of the oldest shopping malls in Colombo. It has the simplest of attractions that any shopping mall provides and it continues to be Colombo's one of the top rated visiting places. It promises a very decent parking lot with wheelchair access. Cleanliness is one of its top priorities. People mainly visit this mall to purchase electronics from AZ Electronics, Nasters, Leeds, i-Max, Micro-Centre, chamathka and wonderful toys from Chelsey and Playhouse. Adults are also drawn towards the temptation of the fashion and footwear accessories of the mall. The ground floor has numerous food joints which serve good food at reasonable prices. There are The Fab, thai Express, Mongolian seafood, the Hub, Peppers, Roots, KFC and so on. There are movie theatres which adds to the fun of shopping experience. One must visit this mall in the evening to have a festive experience as its bursting with people and life.
Timings: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PMAddress : 10 Station Rd, ColomboAttractions: Major brands like Spa Ceylon, LG, Charles and Keith, Mango, Fossil are present. Also Majestic City is famous for its wide collection of watches in stores like The Watch House, City chain, The Watch Centre, Best Buy, Pic N save and few others.
4) Lakarcade
Want to think out of the box and beyond regular? Well, Lakarcade is one of the best options for a shopping mall in Colombo. An enjoyable place with a great collection of traditional Sri Lankan arts and crafts like metal items in brass, sterling silver, oxidised and silver plated items and exotic collection of gems in jewellery showcasing some of the best art and craft that Sri Lanka has in store. The place specialises in souvenirs of all kind and type with the best quality and numerous variations. Be it the famous tea varieties, the spices, wooden decors or the batik of Sri Lanka. One will find the friendliest of staff around to help out with detailed information and guidance about what a customer is seeking. The charming ambiance with contemporary lights and decoration of the place might even lure a person to visit the store even if not for shopping. Along with souvenirs, jewellery and home decor are also its major charms. If someone is looking for an authentic shopping retreat then Lakarcade is a must visit.
Timings: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PMAddress : 33 Staple St, ColomboAttractions: Eco friendly products available. Letaher, Ceramic products available. Batik, Handloom textile products available, too. Textile section has diverse products on handloom and Batik.
5) The Dutch Hospital - Shopping Precinct
One of the must visit places of not only Sri Lanka but of Asia is the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct. It is a very unique concept where an old Dutch Hospital has been renovated to a shopping-eating-art destination. It carries an air of nostalgia and history and if this place is to be truly experienced, visitors need to keep aside an entire day for this. They have the finest quality of fabrics, accessories, home decor items and all kinds of handicrafts like wooden carved items, famous Sri Lankan pottery and metal items in offering. The delicious seafood, a speciality of Sri Lankan tradition, served here, are best in its class. The Ministry of Crabs has an outlet in this precinct. One can also try some of the great options of crab and prawn delicacies available at this shopping mall in Colombo.
Timings: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PMAddress : Hospital St, ColomboAttractions: Authentic Colombo Jewellery Store, Spa Ceylon, Harpo’s Colombo Fort Cafe, Ikoi Tei by WIP
6) Pettah Floating Market
The Pettah floating market is a unique place and one of its kinds that can be visited at Colombo. It offers a serene ambiance and an escape from the city hustles. It is known for its small shops offering ‘out of the box’ and trendy clothes at an affordable price to visitors. If one is looking for a place to purchase gifts for friends within a limited budget, this is the place one should stop by.
There are small food outlets preparing delicacies like one can taste hot Kottu or fruit juice from Hot Cabin or snacks of Testa Bake House, which are good for a change. All together - the cool breeze over the lake, the gentle lull of the place, the small talks over food and picking up of trendy clothes - make the Pettah floating market a unique shopping mall in Colombo.
Timings: 8:00 AM - 10:30 PMAddress: W E Bastian Mawatha, ColomboAttractions: Good place for mobile, camera and radio equipment shops. Lotus pond and occasional bird watching in pettah is quite famous
Shopping and Colombo are synonymous to each other. So travellers and visitors coming to the country's capital can spend unique time in these shopping malls of Colombo. The diversity it offers and the luxury it claims, make Colombo one of the best shopping destinations of Sri Lanka in itself.