Shopping in Colombo: the best shopping malls, where and what to buy

What kind of shopping in Colombo and what can I buy here

This is not to say that shopping in Colombo is beyond praise, but it is the only place in Sri Lanka where you can really do useful and enjoyable shopping. There are simply no other such places in the country, because you won't even be able to find more or less large and clean shopping centers outside Colombo, and many beach resorts don't even have supermarkets. More or less acceptable shopping can still be done in Kandy and Negombo, but with the possibilities of Colombo they are not even close.

Local stores have all the brands and brands that left Russia because of the sanctions. No problem here you will find Nike, Zara, Reebok, H&M, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and everything else you want. There are also official electronics stores of LG, Samsung, Apple and so on. In short, there is everything you want, and it's probably easier to list what's not here.

If you wish, you can buy things of pretty decent quality at really low prices in Colombo. But you need to be able to find such stores, because in ordinary shops at resorts they are sometimes sold at prices even higher than in Russia. But if you find the right places, you can buy brand-quality items at unrealistically low prices without branded labels. In huge quantities, you can find consumer goods at absolutely bargain prices, wholesale souvenir shops, supermarkets, and, of course, branded tea shops. Regarding the latter, it is best to look for them in the center on York Street.

There are not very many electronics stores in Colombo, but you can find them. Go to Liberty Plaza, Majestic City or One Galle Face Mall. There are also separate branded salons of Apple, Samsung and the like, you can find them using Google maps with appropriate requests. But the prices here may not please you when compared with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, not to mention China. Moreover, we compared prices at the moment for some smartphone models with Russian marketplaces, it turned out to be cheaper for us.

Simple electronics and fakes can be bought from street stalls in the Pettah area, but you need to check the quality very carefully, because sometimes just a Chinese marriage is sold on the cheap there.

The best places to shop and shopping malls in Colombo

• Pettah District

  The whole area of Pettah or Petta is the largest and most colorful market in Colombo. This place is not aimed at tourists, but it will undoubtedly be interesting to them. The goods here are diverse and you can buy absolutely anything. They trade here on every square centimeter, so it's impossible to even pass through places. The quality of the goods leaves much to be desired, but the prices are very low (they become even lower after the auction). Some stores only work in bulk, so don't be surprised that they may refuse to serve you.

  Address: Pettah is one of the central districts, located in the same place as the Colombo railway station and bus station (Pettah on the map).

• One Galle Face Mall

  A new modern shopping center, very conveniently located in the city center next to the Galle Face Green promenade. Inside there are a lot of shops of all kinds of brands, on the 1st floor there is a Keels supermarket and an area with cafes and food courts. In our opinion, if you stay in the center, you can buy everything here.

  Address: 1A Centre Road, Colombo

• Colombo City Centre Mall

  One of the oldest shopping centers in Colombo, in a good sense of the word. It is quite modern, large, there are all brands and you can even buy a real car in one of the departments. There is a large supermarket on the 1st floor.

  Address: 137 Sir James Pieris Mawatha, Colombo

• Liberty Plaza

  Another major shopping center in the capital, conveniently located almost in the center. In numerous departments you can buy clothes and shoes, sportswear, photographic equipment, electronics, jewelry and tea products, souvenirs, accessories. Goods of different quality, but at prices sometimes not inferior to Russian boutiques. There is also a grocery supermarket and a food court.

  Address: 250/1/22, R A De Mel Mawatha, Kollupitiya, Colombo.

• Majestic City

  A large shopping center, but it is far from the center, but it is convenient on Galle Rd, so it is easy to get there by bus, train or taxi. It offers a wide range of products from clothing to electronics and household items, children's goods, jewelry. There are many departments with branded and locally produced clothing of different quality. The building has a grocery supermarket, a department with alcoholic beverages, a food court, a cinema, a playground with children's attractions, departments with local tea.

  Address: 10 Station Galle Rd, Colombo 04

• Odel

  This chain of well-known stores is widespread in Sri Lanka. Here you can buy men's, women's, children's clothing of local brands, shoes, accessories, sportswear, toys, household goods. There is a small selection of souvenirs and tea. The choice of goods is not huge, but the quality is acceptable, and the prices are moderate.

  Address: there is a branch of Odel at Colombo Airport, and look for the store closest to you on Google map on request Odel.

• House of Fashion

  A large shopping center for clothes and shoes. It has changed its former location and is now located in the Borella area (Colombo 8). Quite a successful concentration in one place of clothes, shoes for everyone, household items, toys, bags, souvenirs, cosmetics. Six floors with spacious halls and a large assortment of different goods at low prices.

  Keep in mind that this store used to be located elsewhere, and many sources indicate its former address. We have indicated the current location of the store.

  Address: 101, D S Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8

• Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Center is a very popular store among locals, where, as stated, inexpensive clothes are sold only by local manufacturers, and no Chinese goods. Whether this is really the case, we (the authors of the site) had doubts after visiting it. Anyway, there are always sales of clothes and shoes at incredibly low prices. It's hard to find something really fashionable here, real local consumer goods are usually sold. But sometimes there are very interesting thematic exhibitions and sales, for example, jewelry, electronics, musical instruments, etc., although the entrance in this case is paid – 50 rupees.

  Address: 12 McCallum Rd, Colombo 01

• NoLimit

  A local chain store with a large selection of clothes for men, women and children, shoes. The quality is average, but the prices are low.

  Address: there are branches all over Sri Lanka, in Colombo, look for the store closest to you on Google map on request NoLimit.

• Supermarkets

  In Colombo, and throughout Sri Lanka, there are many local chain supermarkets. There are small ones with a simple set of products that tourists are unlikely to be very interested in. But there are also large ones where you can buy local tea or coffee, exotic fruits, drinks, and even souvenirs at bargain prices.

  • Food City is a widespread retail chain in Sri Lanka offering a huge selection of food products. Food City branches can be found in all cities of the country.
  • Keells Super is a Sri Lankan food chain that competes with Food City and offers a similar range of food and basic necessities.
  • Arpico is a chain of supermarkets of food products and basic necessities in Sri Lanka.
  • Cargills is the oldest supermarket chain of food products and basic necessities in Sri Lanka.

Where to buy souvenirs in Colombo

Souvenirs in Colombo are not so easy to find. There are no such ruins of souvenirs at every turn, as, for example, in Bangkok. Realistically, to buy a run-down magnet, you may have to go around half the city. Therefore, in order not to waste time, it is best to go straight to one of the large souvenir shops for souvenirs.

• Lakpahana Handicrafts is a small shop focused on the sale of souvenirs. A large selection of various handmade products made of wood, textiles, straw, porcelain, jewelry, etc., fancy shapes and sizes. High-quality and inexpensive.

  Address: 14 Philip Gunewardena Mawatha, Colombo

• Laksala is a chain store packed with a variety of souvenirs and items reflecting traditional Lankan crafts. The choice is striking in its diversity and ingenuity. Everything looks very high quality and pleasantly surprises with low prices.

  Address: there are several such shops in Colombo, look for the one closest to you on Google map by request Laksala.

• Lankahands (DOES NOT EXIST!!!) Some guidebooks recommend this store as a great place to buy souvenirs, but in fact it has been gone for a long time, only a wasteland remained in its place.

Where to buy alcohol in Colombo

You can buy alcohol in Sri Lanka only in special stores under the signs "Wine Store", "Wine Shop", "Beer Shop", etc., and Colombo is no exception. That is, you can't just go to the first supermarket you find and buy a bottle of beer or wine there.

There are enough such alcohol stores in Colombo, but they are not found at every turn, you will have to look for them. The easiest way is to use Google Maps search to find the one closest to you.

For more information about alcohol in Sri Lanka, read the separate instructions here...