Vacation energy peaks at city malls in Kolkata

As Kolkata battles relentless heat and punishing humidity, malls in the city are transforming into summer survival zones. From families seeking an alternative to exhausting travel plans and college students looking for affordable places to hang out, to office-goers escaping the mid-day heat between meetings, malls are witnessing a sharp rise in footfall across the city.The new summer getaway. Summers vacations are on, and many parents are opting for malls rather than out-of-town destinations when it comes to day-long outings. Mall food courts are the new hotspots this summerAcross malls, food courts are functioning like social hubs where people linger for hours over iced drinks and cold coffees. “At the food court, Teenagers are meeting friends after tuition, families are extending lunch outings into evening snacks, and many visitors are simply ordering one drink and sitting for long stretches to escape the heat outside,” says Subhadip Basu of Acropolis Mall. According to Ramesh Pandey of City Centre 1 and 2, the food court is currently drawing the maximum crowd, followed by the gaming zones, kiosks and finally the multiplexes. “To enhance the summer experience, we are curating a series of seasonal attractions and cultural events – to give visitors more reasons to spend time at the mall,” he adds.Even thinking about travelling with kids feels exhausting in this heat. Malls are the safest option; the kids stay busy at the gaming zones, we can eat comfortably, and spend the entire day indoors– Soni Mehta, a parent46oC ...is what the temperature inKolkata is set to feel like this afternoon, though the recorded maximum temperature will be 37oC. In the evening, the humidity could soar past 80% owing to cloudy skies*‘One mall outing solves multiple problems’“One mall outing solves multiple problems – keeps kids occupied, offers comfortable seating, provides food options, and allows families to spend quality time indoors without battling the heat,” says Priyanka Murarka, who we met at South City Mall, having lunch with her son. According to Amit Kumar, the executive director of South City Mall, people are spending significantly more time within the property, especially families with children. “This extended dwell time is translating into strong consumption across categories,” he adds. There is also a growing convenience factor attached to these visits. “One family member shops, another catches a movie, kids spend time gaming, and everyone reunites over food,” says Sanya Mehta, another parent we met at the mall with her kids. Cooling down between meetings For Kolkata’s office-goers, mall food courts are becoming the new mid-day refuge. “Office-goers like me are increasingly choosing nearby malls not just for meals, but for the comfort they offer – air-conditioning, cold beverages and a chance to disconnect from the heat outside,” said Anindya Sarkar, a professional we met at Lake Mall.Many admit that after finishing lunch, they linger over iced coffees or desserts. “In a season where even short outdoor movement can feel draining, these food courts are functioning less like dining spaces and more like cooling stations for the city’s workforce. The footfall has gone up quite a bit in the past week,” says a staffer at a fried chicken franchise.Food courts work perfectly for us in this heat. They are economical, and you can sit there for hours without spending too much. We usually share the food bill and just hang out– Meghna Krishan, a college student What are people eating> Chaat favourites like pani puri, papdi chaat and dahi bhalla are seeing brisk sales as people look for quick, flavour-packed comfort food > South Indian staples such as dosas, idlis and cold buttermilk combos are drawing crowds looking for lighter meal options> Burgers, fries and quick-service fast food remain a go-to choice for teenagers and families spending long hours at malls > Iced beverages including cold coffees, bubble teas, mojitos, milkshakes and faloodas are among the biggest summer crowd-pullers People are sitting longer at food courts, ordering cold drinks and basically cooling off before diving back into work– Arnab Mukherjee, a working professional