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Shopping in Nairobi is an art form. Supermarkets and upmarket stores in the malls charge fixed prices, but everywhere else, you'll have to haggle, and haggle hard. As elsewhere, sellers start high and buyers start low, but with a bit of give and take, you'll eventually reach a price that both sides find acceptable. The upper end of Moi Avenue is downtown Nairobi's prime shopping strip, with plenty of mainstream stores, but handicrafts are better purchased in the city's bustling markets.
Markets
The City Market on Muindi Mbingu Road is jam-packed with fruit and veg stalls and souvenir vendors, but you'll find a more interesting selection of items on sale at the Westland Curio Market on Parkland Road, or the roaming Maasai Market, held on the waste ground next to Slip Road on Tuesday and at other locations around Nairobi on Friday and Sunday (ask your hotel for details). Good-value crafts can also be found at Embakasi Village Crafts Market, on the Mombasa Road.
Shopping centres
The best shopping centres are out in the suburbs, catering to wealthy locals and expats. All have cafés, restaurants and upscale stores selling African and imported goods. Northwest of the centre, Westlands has the posh Sarit Centre on Parklands Road, the Westgate Mall on Mwanzi Road, and the Mall Shopping Centre on Waiyaki Way. Further out, Karen has the Karen Shopping Centre on Ngong Road and the soon-to-open Galleria on Langata Road. Other popular malls near Nairobi include the Yaya Centre off Argwings Kodhek Road in Hurlingham, and the Village Market on Limuru Road in Gigiri.
Key areas
Nairobi is well stocked with places to buy tribal textiles and handicrafts, though most of the curios on sale are produced for the tourist market. Popular purchases include Maasai beadwork, drums, wooden toys, soapstone carvings, masks, carved gourds, tribal shukas (shawls) and ceremonial weapons from around Lake Turkana. There are dozens of stores selling handicrafts around Moi Avenue and Koinange Avenue in the centre, and most of the suburban malls have souvenir emporiums, but the markets offer similar items at lower prices. If money is no object, Gallery Watatu on Standard Street sells artworks by big African names. Numerous tailors in the centre of Nairobi and the suburban malls can make up a bespoke safari suit in 24 hours. 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.
Shopping hours
Shops in Nairobi are typically open from 0800 to 1700/1800.
