It’s the weekend and you’ve got some shopping to do. The kids are requesting for a fun day out but after the exhausting week you’ve had driving out of the city is a tad bit too tedious for you. So where can one find a place that caters to both your needs of shopping and chilling out at the same time? The answer is The Arcade Independence Square!
Where is it? Why, it’s right in the heart of the cities’ commercial and cultural hub where you can find a whole cluster of luxury apartments like Cinnamon Life Colombo, heritage sites such as the National Museum and most of the big time office space in Colombo. If you’re having trouble locating it, just remember that it’s right next to the Sri Lanka Television Corporation and within 5 minutes away from the BMICH.
What is it? The Arcade Independence Square was declared open in 2014 as a shopping complex, but what’s interesting to note is that this elegant, colonial-style white building was originally a lunatic asylum!
Today, the arcade contains a number of shopping boutiques that consist of both local and international brands. Local brands include the likes of Azarya and Linen & J; while international brands include Charles & Keith, Titan, Nike, Giordano, and FCUK, to name a few. The arcade also features a number of fine dining restaurants like Kaema Sutra, Asylum, and KIITO.
So, what are the kid-friendly attractions here? The entrance on one side has a stunning water fountain with majestic carved stone lions. This is quite a popular spot to take pictures at. Then on the other side, near the entrance that’s situated by the Bauddhaloka Mawatha, you will find a fish-tank that you can walk on top of while looking at the colourful and big orange and white Japanese koi carp fish swimming underneath.
Finish off your visit to the Arcade Independence Square with a movie. The arcade has a state of the art Cineplex called the Empire Theatre which shows all the latest blockbusters to hit the screen.
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media. Google+