10 Shopping Picks At Phoenix Market City, Kurla

The Boardriders store at Phoenix Market City.

In just six months, Phoenix Market City, which opened in Kurla in November 2011, has become a neighbourhood landmark. Kurla residents, and taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers frequently cite the mall when explaining or locating addresses within the central suburb. The place, after all, is not easy to miss. The mammoth glass-walled structure, with retail area of 16,15,000 square feet and parking space for about 3,500 cars, will eventually house over 350 Indian and international brands. However, this means that despite the escalators and elevators, a visit here involves long walks between stores.

That’s a minor inconvenience for residents in the central suburbs who no longer have to travel to malls such as Atria in Worli and Palladium and Phoenix Mills in Lower Parel to shop for popular high-street and luxury brands. Currently, however, only half the stores are operational, out of which the obscure brands sadly outnumber the well-known ones. Diesel, Vero Moda, Promod, L’Occitane, Hidesign, Hush Puppies, Charles & Keith, FCUK, United Colours of Benetton, and Forest Essentials are some of the brands you will find here. Among those that are slated to launch soon are Zara, Lush, Sephora, Lancome, and MAC. Even now, it’s near impossible to cover the entire mall in a day, but you can make some headway with our picks of the ten best stores:

Converse
Ground Floor, Shop No.9. Tel: 6180 1228.
Converse fans will find plenty of pairs of Chuck Taylor All Stars, the US shoe company’s signature basketball sneakers, with a rubber sole and canvas upper, that are endorsed by American basketball player Chuck Taylor. In addition to Chucks and other vibrantly coloured sneakers for men and women, the Converse store stocks flip flops, shirts, T-shirts, caps, socks, and gym shorts.

Kiehl’s
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No.3. Tel: 6180 1254.
When Kiehl’s launched in Mumbai, loyalists of the American cosmetics brand living south of Malad were not too happy about the frequent treks they would have to make to the company’s flagship store at Inorbit Mall. Bandra residents and people living south of the Sea Link will find this second outpost of Kiehl’s relatively easier to access. The boutique stocks the label’s signature skin care and hair care product lines including its creme de corps, lip balm, amino acid shampoo, and ultra facial moisturiser.

Crabtree & Evelyn
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No.8. Tel: 6180 1498.
The second India store (the first is in Delhi) of this American retailer of fragrant bath, body and home products boasts the same elegant white and lavender décor as its outposts across the world. Its floral, herb and fruit-scented luxury products are available in options such as rosewater, wisteria, lily, jojoba, avocado, pomegranate and citron. You will also find their bestselling gift boxes, travel kits, hampers, and a special edition of body products created in collaboration with former British model and TV show presenter India Hicks.

Gant
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No.24. Tel: 6180 1409.
Men will be spoilt for choice at this elegantly appointed outlet of the American chain that sells chinos and trousers, polo shirts, Bermuda shorts, rugby shirts, denims, T-shirts, loafers and flip flops.

Debenhams
Upper Ground Floor, Shops No.27, 28 and 29. Tel: 6180 1491, 6180 1492.
Anglophiles will take a shine to this outpost of the multi-brand British department store, which sells lingerie, swimwear, perfumes, and clothing for men, women and kids. We found churidar-style pants made with soft denim, and crushed silk tops and scarves by Rajesh Pratap Singh; linen trousers and elegant tunics by Spanish designer Adolfo Dominguez; and charming coats, jackets and party dresses for infants and teens under the age of 16 by the store’s in-house label Bluezoo.

Aldo Accessories
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No.49. Tel: 6180 1334, 6180 1335.
At this outlet of the Canadian accessories store, you can shop for floral print fedoras, and cotton and mal scarves and stoles with summer-appropriate prints such as flowers and tangerines. You will also find envelope clutches in bold prints; pop-coloured, geometric-shaped studs; chunky block-coloured bangles; and iPad cases.

Choko La
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No.52. Tel: 6180 1242.
The mall’s partially operational food court is mostly packed with an unexciting array of outlets of coffee shops and fast food chains such as KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Mad Over Donuts, Costa Coffee, Smokin’ Joes, Maroosh, Wraps & Rolls, Pizza Hut, Di Bella Coffee, and Natural’s Ice Cream. We were lured instead into Choko La by the shop’s dark chocolate brown walls and attractive window display stacked with boxes of sugar-dusted and nut-studded pralines, truffles, and chocolate tuiles. The Delhi-based chain, which also has stores inside Mumbai’s international and domestic airports, uses Belgian chocolate for their artisanal chocolates, cookies, brownies, and teacakes.

Steve Madden
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No.68. Tel: 6180 1403.
Women with a shoe fetish will find footwear for practically every occasion at this second outpost of Steve Madden, which in terms of décor and collections is identical to the Palladium mall flagship. On offer are stilettos, platform pumps, suede booties, leather boots, espadrilles, Mary Janes, sandals, gladiators, brogues and moccasins. Oxfords, sandals, and loafers make up the styles for men.

Boardriders
Upper Ground Floor, Shop No. 69 and 70. Tel: 6180 1393.
People with a penchant for boardsports such as skateboarding, longboarding and surfing, will find all the necessary equipment at this first Asian outpost of the concept store launched by American sportswear brand Quiksilver. The store has a lounge area for sports enthusiasts, a 3 feet by 6 feet skate ramp, and an impressive selection of sportswear and accessories such as sneakers, backpacks, sling bags, swimwear, watches, wallets, and T-shirts by Roxy, DC and Quiksilver.

Mango
Upper Ground Floor, Shops No.102, 103 and 104. Tel: 6180 1440.
If you’re in need of a new summer wardrobe, head to Mango, where the current collections include a number of printed, pastel-coloured summer dresses, floaty tops, linen drawstring pants, and block coloured trousers in red, yellow, and peach. This branch of the Spanish high-street label is bigger and better stocked than the Palladium outpost, where a section of the store is still retailing discounted winter clothing.

Phoenix Market City

LocationLBS Marg
Kurla West

Phone6180 1011 and 6180 1022

HoursDaily, 11am to 9.30pm

Websitewww.phoenixmarketcity.in