Nairobi Shopping

Shopping in Nairobi is an art form. Never accept the first price, except in supermarkets, haggle hard where possible and be prepared to play the game. The upper end of Moi Avenue is Nairobi's prime shopping district with plenty of standard stores here.

Nairobi is the best place in East Africa to buy handicrafts. For a good range of crafts visit the Zanzibar Curio Shop on Moi Avenue. For carvings try Zebra Crafts on Koinange Street. Fabrics, textiles and kikoys (brightly coloured rectangles of woven cotton - the East African version of a sarong or wrap, traditionally worn by men but now popular with people of all ages and sexes) are available all along Biashara Street.

You can buy beads and other jewellery from Kenafro Antiques and Crafts on Koinange Street or Kazuri Beads and Pottery Centre on Mbagathi Ridge in Karen. Good-value crafts can also be had at Embakasi Village Crafts Market, on the Mombasa Road. For traditional and more touristy Maasai memorabilia, including beaded jewellery, gourds and baskets, visit the busy Maasai market, adjacent to the Globe Cinema during the week and the Hilton Hotel on weekends.

Produce markets include the fruit and veg stalls at the city market on Muindi Mbingu Street, the eclectic mix at the farmers market, Wakulima, and the jumble of stands at Kariokor market between Racecourse Road and Ring Road, where workmen can be watched toiling to make clothes, tyre-rubber sandals,  toys and traditional sisal baskets.

Shops are typically open from 0800-1700/1800.