SM Aura, Southmall set up outdoor dining areas
This is their way of making sure that customers are safe from COVID-19
Editor’s note: Experts note that open-air locations decrease the chances of the COVID-19 virus spreading. So, SM Supermalls set up these outdoor dining areas to cater to foodie customers while ensuring their safety. Below is their story.
The pandemic has certainly reshaped the way we live today – wearing masks everywhere, temperature checks anytime we enter an establishment, toting a spray bottle of alcohol on our purse. Making safety the priority in serving their customers, the food industry placed focus on providing safe outdoor dining spaces. You’ve probably seen restaurants convert even their parking areas into makeshift alfresco areas.
But why this sudden shift to making sure there’s outdoor dining? Health experts, like those from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), explain that adequate ventilation and the ability for proper social distancing greatly decrease the spread of airborne transmission of diseases and infections like COVID-19. When you take off your mask to eat, wouldn’t it be perfect to do it in a space that’s uncrowded and open-air? Let’s make it even more perfect by creating outdoor dining spaces that put safety first but are also picture-worthy.
SM Aura Premier transforms Sky Park
Supporting the many food establishments located inside this upscale mall in BGC, SM Aura Premier transformed sections of its Skypark at the 5th Level into safe outdoor dining areas. There, customers have the opportunity to keep enjoying the food they missed during strict lockdowns while feeling secure that the mall has their best interest in mind.
The Skypark Lawn, a section nearer restaurants such as Barcino, Prego, and Hummus Elijah, was reinvented from an outdoor event place into a space that has LED-lit polygonal structures. These “dining pods” don’t just provide diners with proper open-air dining but also creates futuristic and Insta-worthy pictures to boast of.
The Skypark Courtyard, a section on the other end of the Skypark which is nearer Ramen Nagi, Mesa, Yabu, and the like, takes a more minimalist chic approach. Fully open-air rectangular gazebos are dressed up for that stylish, LA-feel.
Apart from providing picture-perfect spaces, SM Aura Premier also encouraged restaurants to have their own outdoor dining set-ups. Prego, Barcino, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf all have alfresco tables for their dining customers.
Down at the Upper Ground Level, SM Aura Premier did not forget their walking and biking community. They have set up the Pocket Park which is conveniently located just outside Starbucks, Providore, and Cibo. This open-air area allows the walking community to quickly grab a coffee or a meal and sit comfortably without walking going inside the mall. The biking community has even more reasons to make use of the Pocket Park as it already has bike racks for bike-riding customers to park and dine right next to their beloved ride.
For more information on SM Aura Premier’s safe dining options, visit @SMAuraPremier on Facebook and Instagram and www.sm-aura.com.
SM Southmall turns unused spaces into ‘The South Yard’
Repurposing unused spaces in the mall, SM Southmall teamed up with local entrepreneurs to convert the Food Street canopy and parts of the mall’s parking area into an outdoor dining space where customers can safely dine and chill.
The South Yard boasts of a wide selection of food options ranging from favorite Filipino staples like Liyab’s chicken inasal to Mr. Lee’s authentic Korean bibimbap meal. It also has personalized gift ideas, homemade cleaning agents, plants for your home, and even cruelty-free products from Mermaid Island MNL. Southies eventually welcomed this alternative dining venue which led to more small businesses being given the opportunity to be a merchant at The South Yard.
To accommodate the growing number of alfresco diners, the mall expanded to The Strip. This area is where customers can have themed backdrops to their dining experience like the young and hip Korea vibes of South Itaewon and the laid-back, beach feels of Surfers’ Shack.
The Strip is conveniently located at the Food Street Al Fresco area of the mall where popular stores like Café Mary Grace, Conti’s, Starbucks, Burgoo, Almon Marina, and Tetsu are.
Visit @smsouthmall on Facebook and Instagram for more information on SM Southmall’s outdoor dining areas and merchants. – Rappler.com
Source: Rappler