5 Great Finds at Starmall Edsa-Shaw (Plus Tips!)

While nearby malls have stores that offer the latest cameras and photography equipment, Starmall is home to Japan Selections. This thrift store located on the mall’s 2nd floor distinguishes itself by selling old film cameras. From camera bodies, lenses, to flashes, get a hold of these film cameras and equipment that people use in the old days. Although some of them are not in good condition and are not guaranteed to be working, they can still be the perfect gift for your photography buff or collector friend.

Inside Lavina, a newly opened lifestyle store from Hong Kong, is something new for stationery addicts and an answer for people who don’t have the time and patience to wrap gifts—a sticker gift wrapping paper! Obviously, you won’t need a scotch tape to wrap your gifts with this sticky wrapper. All you need to do is peel off the paper and stick it onto your gift’s box or basically on any surface you want. Go ahead and decorate your desk, walls, or even your gadgets!

Still prefer the traditional way of wrapping gifts? Don’t worry. The store also has gift wrappers of the same designs but minus the sticky side. You can buy these sparkly sticker gift wrapping papers for PhP49 each and PhP29 each for the regular ones. Lavina is located on the 3rd floor of Starmall.

One of the things you won’t see in big glitzy malls is the presence of direct selling businesses’ stores. Walk along the 2nd floor and you’ll find Boardwalk and MSE (Marikina Shoe Exchange) outlets. Go up to the 3rd floor and you’ll see Sophie Martin and Natasha ’s direct selling stores and contrary to having just counters in other malls, Ever Bilena has its own store in Starmall which is also one of the direct selling offices of the brand.

Haven’t tried playing bowling yet and want to experience it for the first time? Head on to the mall’s 4th floor and play two games of bowling for PhP159 at Coronado Lanes Bowling and Billiard Center. It is typically a place where bowling and billiard enthusiasts or even millennials who just want to try the sports gather and play.

Before you end your day and make your way out of the mall and into the MRT, you’ll be stopped by the delicious smell coming from the newly opened Baker Studio on the 3rd floor. With baked goods at just PhP20 a piece, you can already complete your merienda with one of their signature breads. Partner it with coffee on the side after a day of shopping.

Most people visit Starmall during the weekends, but expect the fast food chains and restaurants to be packed even on weekdays when office workers drop by the place to grab lunch. It is best advised to visit the mall before or after lunch time and within office hours if you want to avoid the crowd.

For bargain shopping, you can find clothing bazaars on the ground floor and gadget stalls on the 3rd floor where haggling is allowed. On the other hand, in case you’re not a great haggler but are still looking for bargain pieces, you can visit the 2nd and 3rd floors where stores have sale promos every first quarter, summer season, and last quarter of the year.

The mall’s parking space becomes full during the latter part of the day so it is also best to drop by the place at an early time if you want to pay a visit with a car. If you are going to commute, different modes of transportation are available outside the mall. There are jeepney and UV Express terminals going to and from Mandaluyong and Rizal, jeepneys passing by Pasig and Manila, and city buses going to the north and south of the metro. The MRT Shaw station is located just at the front of the mall.

Lastly, always pay attention to your belongings as you haggle and shop around to make your visit at Starmall a good experience.