10 Best Places to Shop in Nairobi


 

Whether you are visiting Nairobi for the first time, are a regular visitor, or if you are a Kenyan, then you will want to shop at some point or the other. Most tourists visiting Kenya and Nairobi in particular will often go for souvenirs, while the Kenyan locals will be spotted shopping for everything from clothes to toys to artifacts. Whatever the case, you will almost always find everything you want in this city where people literally do not sleep, and everyone is a hustler of sorts.

So let’s see which places are the best to shop in Nairobi for both the tourist and the local.

MaasaiMrkt

The Maasai Market

If you are looking for colorful, beautiful and affordable souvenirs, then the Maasai Market is the place to shop.

There are many Maasai markets all over Nairobi, so you can plan to visit one that is either not too congested, or that is closer to where you are.

The most popular one is the Maasai market in the Central Business District located behind the Hilton Hotel at the High Court parking lot. This market operates on Saturdays till late evening. It is the most convenient to shop from if you are sleeping anywhere in the hotels in town.

Other Maasai markets include one located at the Prestige Plaza along Ngong road that operates on Saturdays, one located at the Yaya Centre that operates on Sundays, and another at the Kijabe Street Park that is opposite the Norfolk Hotel and next to the Nairobi River. This one opens on Tuesdays. Then there is another located at the Prestige Plaza along Ngong Road that is also open on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, you visit the Maasai Market at the Capital Centre on Mombasa Road. On Thursdays, go to the Junction Shopping Mall along Ngong Road, and visit the Village Market in Gigiri and the Lavington Mall on Fridays.

Some of the items you expect to find at the Maasai Markets include but are not limited to African paintings, African materials for making all manner of clothing, African pots and pans, curios, jewellery, bags, shoes, utensils, etc.

Tourists and locals alike flock these markets.

TwoRivers

The Two Rivers Mall

Two Rivers Mall is the largest shopping centre in East Africa, and now the largest mall in sub-Saharan Africa except South Africa. It was officially opened on 14th February, 2017, and has since seen a huge number of people visiting it every day.

The Mall is located along Limuru Road, which is a convenient location as it is close to many residential places in the city hosting the young middle class and upper classes of Nairobi. It is also close to many Embassies in Nairobi, and also the United Nations.

Why is it a great place for shopping in Nairobi? Well, let’s see….the Mall is home to French retailer Carrefour, a global hyper mat that operates more than 12,000 outlets globally. It is also home to Turkish luxury fashion line “LC Waikiki”, Woolworths, Nike, and Hugo Boss.

Not only that, you will find many cafes, banks, restaurants, children’s fashion and accessories, home furnishings, electrical retailers, sporting equipment, games and toys…. the list is endless! There are over 200 international and local retail stores in the Mall, so you name it, and I can almost guarantee you that you will find it at the Two Rivers.

What’s more, the Mall has an app that aids shoppers in paying for parking and accessing other information on the complex. Most of its stores also have apps that can help in making orders and accessing any relevant information.

VillageMarket

The Village Market

This is another shopping area for many tourists visiting Kenya. It is one of East Africa’s shopping, recreation, and entertainment centers. Like the Two Rivers Mall, it is also located along Limuru Road, within affluent neighborhoods, many Embassies, and the United Nations.

The complex houses over 150 outlets which cover 210,000 square feet of retail space.

You will almost always find local traders displaying unique African artifacts.

We also have the “new Village Market”, an extension of the older complex that has many retails stores, a diverse mix of eateries, and a trendy food market among others.

SpinnersWeb

Spinners Web

Spinners is an art and crafts showroom that is located in Kitisuru, one of the wealthy neighborhoods in Nairobi.

It was initially created to provide a showplace for Kenya’s talented spinners and weavers.

At any one time, the shop over 500 vendors selling their merchandise – handicrafts which are arranged to mimic different spaces in the house, like the living room.

The shop works hand in hand with workshops and self-help groups around the country.

Expect to find things like wall hangings, hand woven goods, soft leather goods, ceramics, baskets, wooden bowls, bold, patterned clothing, carpets, curtains, home decor, jewellery, .

The quality of the items is exceptional and very high quality, and you get value for your money.

There is also a cafe downstairs where one can enjoy a cup of tea.

CityMarket

The City Market

Located between Koinange Street and Muindi Mbingu Street, this is another popular souvenir shopping place especially for those in town who wouldn’t be bothered to go out of the city centre.

It is best for those looking to have a real Kenyan market experience, and the prices are affordable plus you can also bargain.

The market has dozens of stalls that sell woodcarvings, spears, drums, shields, soapstone, Maasai jewellery, flowers, and clothing.

Utamaduni

Utamaduni Craft Centre

Utamaduni is another popular African artisan market in Nairobi. Located in Langata, not far from some of the unmissable tourist attractions in Nairobi including the David Sheldrick’s Wildlife Trust, the Giraffe Centre, and the Nairobi National Park, it is a must visit if looking for souvenirs.

Staff are very helpful and friendly, and will help you shop and ship if necessary.

Prices are high for most of the items, but you are guaranteed to get unique pieces.

It’s also important to note that a portion of the proceeds goes to local charities and conservation projects.

They also have a restaurant where you can stop for a bite, and a playground for kids to hang out.

Biashara_Street

Biashara Street

This is one of the popular streets in Nairobi.

Some people have referred to it as the “Baby Avenue”. Why? Because the Street is known for selling a wide variety of baby items, from new born to teenagers. From clothes, to toys, to diapers, to chairs, bags, etc.

The Street is sandwiched between Moktar Daddah Street and Tubman Road and was for a long time run by a majority Indian business community, but is now seeing the influx of the Chinese who are giving the Indians a run for their money.

If you are in Nairobi and looking to get something for your baby or a friend’s baby on short notice, head over to Biashara Street.

kazuribeadsfactory

Photo credit: AfroTourism

Kazuri Bead Factory

This is another popular stop for tourists looking for places to shop in Nairobi.

It is located in Karen, also close to different tourist attractions in Nairobi including the Nairobi National Park.

The factory was set up to provide employment and health care for underprivileged single mothers.

Tourists are welcome to tour the factory, and see for themselves steps of bead making processes after which they can either buy them loose, or as completed jewellery pieces in the on-site shop.

 

All the above are places to shop for tourists who are either visiting Kenya for the first time, or locals looking for specialized and maybe unique items.

However, for the seasoned tourist who has visited Kenya many times and is not worried about “getting dirty”, then there are places to shop for cheap items where you can bargain till you drop for things like clothes, bags, shoes, etc.

Let’s look at two of these markets…

ToiMarket

The Toi Market

The Toi Market is one of the most popular shopping places for the average Nairobian looking for second hand or thrifty home goods, clothing, shoes, fresh food produce, etc.

It is arguably one of the largest informal markets in Nairobi, with over 5000 traders at any one time.

It is located on the left hand side of Ngong Road if you are coming from Nairobi, not far from the Prestige Plaza Mall and the Yaya Centre, and it goes deep into neighboring neighborhoods.

Gikomba

Gikomba

Gikomba is the place to be if you are looking for cheap clothes in Nairobi. Surprisingly, some of the clothes or bags or shoes that you find here are actually designer clothes from renowned international brands, but at a very small fraction of the original price.

In fact, some of the people selling these designer items do not even know how big they are, so you can bargain and buy them for even cheaper, then go do your happy dance at home.

I once saw a lady post a really unique designer handbag that she swore she bought from the Gikomba market, and she thanked the heavens for her find.

The market is mostly popular with Kenyan locals, but don’t be surprised if you see a non-Kenyan visit with or even without a Kenyan friend. If you know what you are looking for and know where to find it in the market (it is a huge market), then shopping can be very easy.

As it is very congested, I would advise you to watch out for your belongings, don’t wear flashy jewellery, don’t display your money….always be alert.

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.