6 Things I Discovered about SM Lanang Premier in Davao |

SM Lanang Premier

When in Davao, I zip, I roll, and I raft. I never thought that going to an SM Mall would be in my itinerary, until a few weeks ago when I visited SM Lanang Premier in Davao with a group of friends.

Origami-inspired Mall Design

With about 85,000 sqm of leasable area, SM Lanang Premier opened September of last year as the first premier SM mall in Mindanao. By premier, we mean it primarily caters to the upscale community which surrounds the northern area of Davao City. Here’s a trivia: there’s no foodcourt. 😛

The premier mall itself is distinctively designed and inspired from the traditional Japanese art of paper folding – Origami. You would see this in the installed louvers at the Fountain Court area (see more below) which are used to deflect sunlight but still allow wind and light to permeate through. Moreover, the Origami folds are manifested on the flooring of the ground floor and the ceiling which enhances the effect of depth and dimension.

Here are 6 things I discovered about SM Lanang Premier which merits a visit whenever you are in the largest city in the world – Davao City!

SM Lanang Premier Atrium

The Fountain Court

The Fountain Court is a two-level spacious area lined with fine dining restaurants offering an awesome view of the greener part of Davao and overlooking Samal Island. Another highlight of the Fountain Court is the 122-meter Musical Fountain which is best viewed at night. The huge “DAVAO” standee is a hit with photographers and smartphone-clad tourists alike.

The Fountain Court

The Fountain Court with fine dining restaurants such as Bistro Selera (2nd level) and Hog’s Breath (1st level)

Waterworks Show

The Musical Fountain mentioned above is no ordinary fountain. It is the longest musical fountain in the country and is alighted at regular intervals at night. Its water and light show has already become a regular attraction frequented by visitors and children.

Nightly Waterworks Show @ Fountain Court

Skygarden

If you are familiar with the pioneering SM Skygarden at SM North Edsa in Metro Manila, then SM Lanang’s has it’s own version with a row of casual dining restaurants and refreshing pockets of water features for the more laid-back diner and shopper.

SM Lanang Skygarden @ Night

Flat Cafe

If you think you’ve seen it all in malls, SM Supermalls continue to innovate and heighten the crowd’s expectations a notch higher with the first-ever ‘Flat Cafe.’ aside from the fact that it’s flat and it’s a cafe, it is also a free-standing slab of concrete that appears to be floating right at the center of SM Lanang Premier Atrium offering a 360 degree view of the mall architecture. It houses a Starbucks Coffee branch above, and Frenchbaker and Krispy Kreme below.

The ‘Floating’ Flat Cafe

SM Bowling Center opening on May/June 2013

Entertainment

With 5 movie cinemas and a huge IMAX theater, SM Lanang Premier will not be found lacking in entertainment.

In fact, one of the cinema is convertible into a theater with stage and complete with dressing rooms. A Science Discovery Center, the first and most advanced technology-based science center in Mindanao, with a Digital Planetarium for interactive educational experience is also set to launch in a few months time.

To complete the list is a brand new fully-automated 16-lane SM Bowling Center with 4 karaoke stations opening May or June 2013.

IMAX Theater

5 SM Cinemas with one convertible to a theater

Soon to open Science Discovery Center

Shopping & Convenience

SMX Convention Center

A mall is not a mall without shopping. As a premier SM mall, SM Lanang is intentionally filled with international brands such as Forever 21 – the first in Mindanao. You would also find the rest of SM brands including SM Supermarket. Kultura, Ace Hardware, Our Home, and the reformatted SM Department Store – the SM Store.

Parking is also not a problem with more than 1,700 parking slots. SM Lanang is also house to SM Cyberzone, the largest chain of IT retail stores in the country. Lastly, SM Lanang houses an SMX Convention Center which can hold as much as 4,000 people in 4 adjoined halls. Guests and attendees need not worry about accommodation with the newest hotel in town – Park Inn by Radisson Davao, just adjacent to the mall.