Joanna James
Colombo would be a wonderful place for the avid shopper as it offers many outstanding shopping attractions such as Independence Square Arcade, Majestic City, One Galle Face, Odel and more.
The popular Independence Square Arcade would be a great choice with which to commence your tour of Colombo's shopping highlights. You will see that this arcade is a boutique-style precinct housed within a former colonial building. Here, you will find several boutique stores featuring upscale clothing created by Sri Lankan designers as well as global high street brand names such as Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Nike and so on. You could also enjoy some tea at the pleasant Dilmah Tea Lounge.
Majestic City happens to be counted amongst the older malls in Colombo but still offers a captivating shopping experience for the visitor. You will find a wide range of merchandise here including a good selection of electronics, clothes and mobile phones. Majestic City is well-known for its outstanding collection of watches as well which you will find at several retailers. This mall is also renowned for its outstanding food court serving a fine selection of mouth-watering culinary options, while it has several cinemas too.
A rather different kind of shopping attraction would be the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct where you will find many entrancing goods on sale. You will see that this former colonial hospital is now filled with retailers offering a range of goods; these include fabrics, home décor items, accessories and various handicrafts such as wooden carvings, metal ware and locally made pottery. You will also find great dining options here including an outlet of the Ministry of Crab.
The massive One Galle Face would also be a not-to-be-missed shopping attraction in Colombo where you will encounter a fine selection of stores, dining venues and a collection of entertainment choices. If you seek international brand names you will not be disappointed as you will find options like Calvin Klein, Armani, Diesel, Parker, Rolex, Omega, Tissot and so on. However, there are local clothing stores like Hameedia and Odel too. You will also find great restaurants and a lavish cinema complex here. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit this mall would be Mandarina Colombo which also offers attractive Colombo hotel rates.
On the other hand, the Pettah Floating Market would be a rather simple and laidback shopping feature where visitors on a budget could buy goods at affordable prices. Here, you will find unpretentious shops that offer fashionable clothing and accessories that would appeal to budget-conscious shoppers. You will also have the chance to enjoy a hearty meal such as freshly prepared kottu or baked goods accompanied by some delicious fruit juice. Interestingly, the entire Pettah area is a great place to wander around since it's home to countless shops, markets and street-side vendors offering all manner of items.
The well-known Odel happens to be a stylish department store where you will encounter many desirable goods with a special focus on clothing. While it has many branches, the main store at Alexandra Place in Colombo 7 is not to be missed. It offers many shopping attractions, but make sure to check out its Sri Lankan collection which includes t-shirts, toys, bags, stationery, mugs and so on which would make great souvenirs as well. Another highlight would be the Backstage collection of jewellery which features stylish, modern and affordable creations. Many of the well-known Sri Lankan high street brand names are also available at Odel.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
