Eat, Play & Shop: Here's What You Can Do At Next Galleria Mall In Punjagutta

Themed after Finding Nemo, PVR Playhouse is where kids (and even adults) go bonkers. Teddy bears chairs and swings in the back are perfect to bring out the child in you. But it's the bright slide in a corner that steals the show. Yup, more than the movie. Towards the end of the slide, there is a teeny play area with mock lawn for children who can pick balls and blocks to play all they like. We're also loving the walls of the house where Nemo is swimming with its friends.

Comfort is the first thing we look for in ethnic wear, and if you are like us, you wouldn't stop splurging at Ethnicity. Smacked inside Next Galleria Mall in Punjagutta, Ethnicity specialises in ethnic wear (the name is a give away) for not just women and men but also kids. The first thing we've spotted as we entered the store is a wide range of ethnic maxi skirts in velvet and Benarasi silk. There are plenty of blouses and crop tops that you can pair with these skirts. Want to score a full outfit under INR 5,000 for your best friend's sangeet or wedding? You can mix and match pieces from here.

The first thing that caught our eye at the store was the oxidised metal jewellery — a specialty of Voylla — that comes in several colours and patterns. Find yourself gawking at the elegant 9-5 pieces like geometric drop earrings, minimalistic pendants, but don't forget to grab some maang tikas and bracelets on your way out. Whether you're looking for budget or luxury statement pieces, the spectrum of the collection is wide and they also have pieces that are exclusively crafted for bridal wear. In fact, the wedding collection is rather elaborate and tucked towards the end of the store.

Kick some ass like a true warrior at Busters — a gaming and bowling lounge in Next Galleria Mall. As we entered, we spotted soft toys on the walls and teddy bears hung from the ceiling. Several country flags are also suspended from the ceiling making it a pretty sight. We geared up for some bowling and dashing cars but when we reached there we found more fun things like VR, Spin & Win, box football, Pirates of Carribean, and good old Road Rash. Along with arcade gaming, there are popular mobile games like Fruit Ninja, Subway Surfers, Temple Run. 

Miniso is a compact-sized store which is made up of our dreams and we couldn't help but hoard makeup products (Such yummy fragrances and handmade soaps), soft toys, stationery and camera lens (Fisheye photographs, anyone?). We discovered minimalistic and cute wallets and coin pouches along with glittery sippers and water-bottles. Want to get more organised? Don't hold back from picking those pretty storage boxes and kitchenware. 

House Of Candy is a tiny kiosk in Next Galleria Mall, Punjagutta and it's where we go for our share of rare candies. Attracting not just kids but also elders, this kiosk has a fine stock of Gummy Bears, Raspberries (So good!), Fizzy Peaches, Cola Bottle, sour belts (perfect for late-night binge eating), M&Ms, chocolate fudge. We love a mix of sweet and sour, so we go for a handful of each variety, but if you want just one variant, take your pick and go for it. And then, your candies are packed in an adorable paper bag, and you can also buy a lollipop at the kiosk and go around window shopping.

CeX in Next Galleria Mall is full of devices and discs that'll excite any gamer. Check out unboxed or preloved iPhones, laptops at whopping prices. But if you're looking for something more interesting like a Nintendo Switch, and consoles like 3DS XL PSP Go, you will find them too. We found an unboxed version of 3DS XL Zelda at INR 8,000 and Kinect at INR 7,000.

While most stores are putting up last season's stock on display, Project Eve has the fresh stuff from Vero Moda, Only, Marks & Spencer, W for Women along with clothing from indie brands like Rose, Junarose too. At the moment, they have pretty ethnic wear by Rahul Mishra (exclusively designed for Project Eve) that'll make you outshine everyone at a shaadi. What's not to love? They are not priced to burn deep holes in your pocket. While the branded wear will sort most of your casuals and ethnic wear, we are in love with Project Eve's own collection. 

Walking into Hamley's is a lot like stepping into the islands of the blessed. Whether you're a board game hoarder or take your soft toys seriously, Hamley's — a London-based toy shop will get you hooked. For those of you who have been looking for an Ice Hockey or Foosball table (mini versions, of course), we're loving what the store has. They are available at slashed prices too. You can dig up dinosaur fossils using Nat Geo's Mega Dinosaur Dig Kit & Action Figures.

Ximi Vogue is a Korean lifestyle brand and it's located in Next Galleria Mall, Punjagutta. Full of all things quirky and cute, the first thing you'll notice as you enter the store is the wide range of hairbands. Whether you like retro, lace or floral, there's a lot for you to pick from, and every band is priced at INR 150. Walk in a little further and acquaint yourself with the home decor products like DIY wooden storage boxes, wall hangings, cloth storage, photo frames, bra storage boxes, and soft toys. 

Drunken Monkey, as the name suggests, isn't a cocktail bar but a bespoke smoothie and juice shop that whips delicious but also the most bizarre drinks. We usually ask for the Nut Case which is a smoothie made from cashew, almonds, figs, and ice-cream or Dragon Fruit Smoothie which has two variants. The magic variant has all the jazz as it comes with the goodness of nuts and strawberry. Drunken Monkey makes an amazing array of veggie drinks too and like Popeye (and us), if spinach is dear to you, Sexy Spinach is your thang. We love the tang of lemon and the right amount of sweet the green grapes add to this. 

This is Taco Bell's first outlet in Hyderabad and it's packed to the brim, even today. Along with their regular menu, they have also brought us their fantastic Wednesday deals where you can buy a taco at just INR 99. Wednesday meal deals are also fun – Naked Chicken (INR 245)/Veg Chalupa Meal (INR 199) is served with Mexican fries or nachos & salsa with unlimited Pepsi. The Weekend Taco Party stretches from Friday to Sunday where you can get 10 tacos with unlimited Pepsi that’s priced between INR 549 and INR 649. But that’s not it, there are plenty of other offers that you can score. 

Cannot get enough of home decor or kitschy accessories? Make your way to Super 99 in Next Galleria Mall. We recommend you to start with garden decor pieces like polka-dotted flower pots and tools. From throw rugs to crockery and lampshades, you can go nuts over decor. Plus, they have bags and toys too.

While we all do like Lavie's bags, have you checked out their sneakers or flipflops? Nope? One look at them and we're sure you'll add them to your wish list. From pastel-coloured backpacks to floral sneakers, it's time to cheat on your pocket limit and splurge. With no regrets, of course.

Kama Ayurveda spells opulence right from the time you step in. This luxury Ayurveda brand is known for its amazing bath and body and skincare range. Whether you are looking for stress relief and rejuvenation or brightening and tan, you can tap into a wide range of products. Do seek help from the store peeps if you are looking for products to tackle specific skin issues.

Popular UK-brand, Accessorize, always offers some of its products at slashed prices at this outlet. That's why we love it. Whether you're looking for elegant pendants or statement neckpieces, Accessorize has your back. We usually pick ear studs and wallets here. The backpacks and flip-flops are also top-notch. Looking for some furry hats? There are some lovely ones here. The price range is a little high but the quality is unquestionable. So, it's worth it.

The Body Shop store quite literally drags you in with all those sweet smelling products. Go in and treat yourself to body butters and body mists. Their products are cruelty-free and vegan, and you can pack yourself an amazing gift box or splurge on those Honey Bronze collection. They've got lip butters and makeup too.

It is not every day you score a big deal or graduate with flying colours, but when you do, you deserve a fancy watch. Get to this Fossil showroom and check out their smartwatches (that come with changeable straps). Rose gold more of your thing? You'll go nuts looking at all the pieces. Plus, they've stocked up on accessories too.

Walking into any Forest Essentials store is like aromatherapy. This is one of the first Forest Essentials stores to have opened up in Hyderabad, and whether you're looking for bath and body products or skincare range, this luxury Ayurveda brand has them all. Planning to gift someone? Their gift boxes should make any girl happy. 

Love all things Swarovski? Like us, if you are into minimalistic jewellery, this store has to be your regular haunt. From ear studs that you can wear every day to lovely pendants that'll jazz up even a plain outfit, go here and shop your heart out. A simple (yet shimmery) bracelet on your mind? From rose gold to stainless steel and rhodium to mixed plating, there are quite a few options. And can we please talk about how beautiful the store looks?

Our favourite online lingerie store — Zivame has an outlet in Next Galleria Mall. You can grab sexy and lacy lingerie, activewear, and nightwear. If you think you've been wearing a wrong-sized bra, get here and with the help of the store peeps, pick your right size.

Cannot get enough of Indian wear? Walk into Imara and you'd want to spend all your monies. From anarkalis and kurta sets to dhoti pants and footwear, this store will give you plenty of reasons to shop. The store has simple cotton kurtas and leggings for daily wear but if you are looking for something elaborate, do check out their dresses and embroidered kurtas. The price range begins at INR 499.

Are you more of a Ruby Woo or Relentlessly Red? Whatever is your choice, if MAC is your haven, get to this store. From the latest Disha Patani kits to the iconic MAC beauties, save up and shop here. The store peeps are super helpful, and while there's Nykaa right opposite, we recommend ditching it and walking up to MAC.

Fancy yourself a good watch? Kamal Watch & Co. has to be on your radar. From Fossil and Calvin Klein to Police and Longines, the store will give you a good run for your money. They've got Espirit, Victorinox, Seiko, and the entire Casio range too.

Don't we all love Max whenever we're broke? Now this one has outfits that aren't found in every other outlet (And trust us, because we explore Max almost every week). Floral spaghetti dresses in yellows and greens, ethnic maxi dresses in bright reds and blacks and casual dungarees are taking over most of the aisles, but also watch out for the kawaii nightwear.

We spotted Chennai Coffee Shop in the food court of Next Galleria Mall in Punjagutta and were excited to try their filter coffee. Served Madras style in a steel tumbler and dabara, the coffee is frothy and tastes sweet without sugar as well. The kiosk has snacks like samosa to complement the coffee. The onion samosa goes well with the coffee, and so does the mutton samosa if they are available.

When you are in the food court, for sure you'll spot a queue at Chic N Cone. These folks top up a waffle cone with chicken nuggets and it's a perfect snack for those of you who want to walk in the mall without sitting for a meal. If you love it spicy, go for the Kadapa Bomb Chicken or Peri Peri Chicken Cone. Add an extra 20 bucks for a generous helping of roasted cashews all over.