November 3, 2011

Phoenix Market City, Bangalore

The run up to the opening of Phoenix Market City saw them putting up hoardings on the Outer Ring Road and Whitefield Road. The hoardings actually put me off slightly cause they seemed to hint that the place was meant for the elite only. Here is a sample:

There was another memorable one with a chic lady in ultra high heels which said - "Corridors by day, runways by night; Get your glamor quotient right!"
I was apprehensive about going to the mall in my normal non-designer clothing. But then, what the hell! When a mall that claims itself to be Market City has opened at walking distance to my workplace, am I crazy to not check it out?!
So well, G and I went there yesterday after we wrapped up at office. Armed with our laptop bags and lunch bag, we certainly did not seem to emerge from luxury! To top it, it had just rained and the road was covered in slush. Not a pretty start to our evening.
But the facade of Phoenix Market City made up for it. Rain washed clean roads around it, and a mall that seemed to stretch endlessly. It was flanked by bill boards of svelte models endorsing brands that we had only read about but not seen much around.
Soon as we made our way inside, we saw that most of the outlets were yet to open. That meant that there were only few people strolling about the mall. In the center of the ground floor was a guy playing the piano. That is when i realized that i had never seen an actual piano so up close till date!
The mall is not geometric in structure and tends to go on and on in different directions. We really did not go store by store or explore all the places that the mall stretched. However, we did not miss out on much since there were only a few stores open. Zara takes up most of one half of the ground floor. I saw opening soon posters of Mango, Promod, Timberland, California Pizza Kitchen, Pantaloons, Bossini, Avirate and loads of other stores. The place is probably spread over 5 floors. I did not even count the number of floors in the maze of all the escalators.

The place has something called the "open door policy". They say that the doors are not for the customers to open, but will be opened for them. :) True to their words, at most stores, there were people to open doors and assist us graciously. And assistance is probably given to the right measure. Not like the not so friendly staff at many malls at one extreme or the kind that at supermarkets keeps badgering you to buy products to get rid of skin problems (They say it on the face and make you feel that your face needs to be worked on!).

Most other stores were repeats of those that are in Garuda and Mantri. There were stores selling clothes- branded clothes, designer clothes, more clothes and accessories, leather stuff, shoes. I peeped into the Crocs store and saw like a hundred colors of footwear! The food court was serving mostly non vegetarian fare. Rajdhani and Kalmane Koffees were yet to open.

I dunno about purchase, but the mall makes a place where you can do loads of window shopping. The entire market city is sprawling and has plenty of benches and cute colorful seating to rest your heels that are tired after walking the whole area.
After a short break it would be time for the well heeled to indulge in a Tissot or Tag and adorn their manicured hands with a solitaire or two. ;) And then maybe go to the foot spa for a fish therapy. I had to make do with clicking the mural at the entrance of the spa.
Does not mean one cannot shop there at all. But most of the stuff that is not common to the existing malls is all luxury stuff.
Nevertheless, us common janta can do our regular shopping, can always have a scoop of ice cream in Polar Bear and a cuppa and dine in Rajdhani. And make up our minds that some day, some day i will reward myself with that 2.5 L Tag watch. For now, am happy looking at it on the storefront!

P.S.
It has been quite some time since i wrote the above post. those were my first impressions. I must say that I have visited Phoenix many times over since i wrote the post. and its a fab place to while away time. If you get used to this place, most other malls in Bangalore will induce claustrophobia, it is that big and spread out. My verdict - do visit in if you have a whole day to spend and loads of patience to check all the stores. With places like Copper Chimney, Trader's Vic, Noodle Bar, Chilly's opening here, there are plenty of fine dining options. You could go bowling at Amoeba, or simply catch a movie at the upcoming PVR. Perfect weekend hangout.

19 comments:

  1. From the description, it looks like another UB City :P So, I need be really careful about brands 'pick-pocketing' my wallet :D
    And to be really frank, I dint quite get that second poster: "Perhaps ur butler cud use a break .... " !!! What was that of?

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  2. It is a lot like UB city, only that, there are normal brands too and a whole mall like feel.
    And i guess, the poster meant that you would have people to carry your load of shopping bags when you are there and serve you stuff to eat and in general make sure that all that you do is make purchases and swipe your card.

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  3. Oops !! I couldn't get the poster itself! That thing is not for me ;)

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  4. Very nice description,Was desperately looking to see some info on this mall before visiting it.Thank you so much for describing it so exhaustively.

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  5. Check out
    http://www.phoenixmarketcitybangalore.com/

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  6. great review! Was looking out for some info on this place before hitch-hiking across town:)

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  7. Hey Aparna!
    I can't thank you enough for this post. I am out of town for past 2 months and ever since I heard about the new market city from phoenix coming up in bangalore...and with the much waited brand ZARA!!! i could not wait to get a view of the mall and a review on it. I have been asking my frnds to do the favor to me....pleading a visit from them..and asking for pictures. Now , that I just got a descriptive review...together with the pictures..i hve nothing to complaint now :) :), take my words...I am gonna be your first follower now on ;)

    Thanks thanks thanks...THANKS A TON!!!:D

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  8. Hey Nia,

    You're welcome! Hope you had a good shopping outing at Phoenix!

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  9. It is an excellent shopping mall for anything.I like it very much. Now they have kept Christmas tree which was awesome(it is three store building height). Very nice one.
    Regards,
    Venu

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  10. Thanks .planning to visit soon.Ur info gives an idea.

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  11. What about Movies? What cinemas does it have?

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  12. Yep. There is a PVR cinemas coming up. A standalone building beside the mall.

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  13. I was searching online for some information on what kind of shops are there in Phoenix Marketcity, and your blog was the first search result which offered meaningful information. Thanks :)

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  14. Loved ur post, hoping d mall may get some love out of me for itself..!
    s7

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  15. Hi, I visited the Phoenix mall few days back and was really excited. For a guy like me who likes weekend shopping and hanging out with friends this could be the best one in B'lore. Currently they have all major brands under their roof, discounts and offers seems to be running all time! They also host very interesting events. So I feel this has to be the best mall in B'lore.

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  16. I can't agree more. They even had a bungee jumping arena set up for two weeks. There is some or the other event happening all the time!

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  17. Really your post was really helpfull to me ,When we saw br hills forest,we scared so much..while journey .....But it was very different and interesting experience of life.Its feel me like i m the member of the village...Food ...were very tasty Br hills Resorts

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