Must-see shopping in Africa

  • Jazz Hole

    Lagos

    An offspring of the great Glendora Books, Jazz Hole is primarily a book and record store. In this oasis of calm in the mile-a-minute city, sip tea in the…

  • Mustapha Blaoui

    Marrakesh

    Treasure hunters rejoice: this is a one-stop shop for all things artisanal. Moroccan lanterns drip from the ceilings of this grand emporium that features…

  • 27 Boxes

    Johannesburg

    This shipping-crate complex of boutiques, galleries and eateries is well on its way to establishing its Melville street cred. A newly planted park,…

  • Kampala Fair

    Kampala

    Selling gorgeous women's kitenge dresses in traditional patterns, separates, children's clothing and some batik pillows, this fair-trade boutique is a…

  • Boutique Majid

    Tangier

    You can get lost for hours in this exotic antique shop, but the real gem is Majid himself. Straight out of central casting (including his red fez), Majid…

  • Las Chicas

    Tangier

    Just outside the kasbah, this is an eclectic mishmash of a shop, stocking art pieces, homewares, cosmetics and some exquisite designer clothes. It also…

  • Souk

    Nairobi

    Some of Kenya's more creative artists, photographers, leatherworkers and other high-quality artisans and artists have come together under one roof – the…

  • Outside view, Global Mamas

    Global Mamas

    Accra

    This shop, which stocks pretty dresses, hats, tops, accessories (including lush scented shea butter) and kids clothes in colourful fabrics, is part of a…

  • 44 Stanley

    Johannesburg

    The antithesis of consumer tack, 44 Stanley is a blueprint for future mall development. It’s a warren of lanes around shady courtyards and features an…

  • Patrick Mavros

    Harare

    His clients may include Bruce Springsteen, Kate Middleton and the king of Spain, but Patrick Mavros' stunning handmade silver jewellery is very affordable…

  • Cultural Arts Centre Zanzibar

    Zanzibar Town

    Organised by the dedicated Hamad and other local artists, with an emphasis on quality and distinctiveness, this arts centre and shop provide a refreshing…

  • Penduka

    Windhoek

    Penduka, which means ‘wake up’, operates a nonprofit women’s needlework project at Goreangab Dam, 8km northwest of the city centre. You can purchase…

  • Bay Harbour Market

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    This imaginatively designed indoor market at the far end of Hout Bay Harbour is one of Cape Town's best. There’s a good range of stalls selling items from…

  • soleRebels Footwear

    Addis Ababa

    Eight years after being founded by designer Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu to help talented artisans in her neighbourhood, soleRebels Footwear's shoes are made…

  • Ed Dar

    Tunis

    Up winding tiled stairs, the rooms of this traditional dar are filled with rugs, textiles and antique musical instruments; downstairs there’s everything…

  • Elephant's Walk Shopping & Artist Village

    Victoria Falls (town)

    A must for those in the market for quality Zimbabwean and African craft, this shopping village is home to boutique stores and galleries owned by a…

  • Sidi Ghanem

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    Modern Moroccan design fanatics head 4km out of the central city to the industrial district of Sidi Ghanem to scour local designer factory outlets and…

  • Naturom

    Marrakesh

    Naturom's neatly packaged and keenly priced argan, verbena and orange-blossom beauty products are all 100% certified organic, using pure essences and…

  • American University in Cairo Bookshop

    Cairo

    The best English-language bookshop in Egypt, with a huge selection of material on the politics, sociology and history of Cairo, Egypt and the wider Middle…

  • Utamaduni

    Nairobi

    Utamaduni is a large crafts emporium and easily one of the best places to souvenir shop in Nairobi, with more than a dozen shops selling all kinds of…

  • Africa Nova

    Cape Town

    One of the most stylish and desirable collections of tribal and contemporary African textiles, arts and crafts. You’ll find potato-print fabrics made by…

  • Galerie Jama

    Essaouira

    If you don't know your Beni Ourain from your boucharouite (rag rug made from recycled cloth), this is the place to come. The extremely knowledgeable…

  • 33 Rue Majorelle

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    More than 60 designers, mostly from Morocco, are represented in this two-floor emporium, and co-owner Yehia Abdelnour dedicates much of his time to…

  • La Maison de L'Artisan

    Tunis

    Top-quality Tunisian handicrafts are artfully displayed in the upstairs and side salons of this handsome funduq (caravanserai) in the heart of the medina…

  • Neighbourgoods Market

    Cape Town

    This is the artisanal goods markets that kickstarted the craze for similar markets across the Cape – and it's still one of the best. Food and drinks are…

  • Montebello Design Centre

    Cape Town

    This development project has helped several great craftspeople and designers along the way. In the leafy compound, artists' studios are scattered around…

  • Kim Sacks Gallery

    Johannesburg

    Kim Sacks, a renowned ceramicist and ceramics teacher, has assembled an astounding collection of handcrafted pots, baskets, tapestries, rugs, jewellery,…

  • Elizir Gallery

    Essaouira

    Vintage lovers could happily while away a few hours here. Friendly owner Abdellatif has amassed a treasure trove of fabulous finds – perhaps a Vernor…

  • Shanga

    Arusha

    What started as a small enterprise making beaded necklaces has branched into furniture, paper, clothing and many other products, mostly using recycled…

  • Streetwires

    Cape Town

    Their motto is ‘anything you can dream up in wire we will build’. And if you visit this social project, designed to create sustainable employment, and see…

  • Market on Main

    Johannesburg

    Spilling out of Arts on Main onto Fox St is this buzzy weekly market. You'll find the usual selection of takeaway food stalls downstairs (look out for the…

  • Four Seasons Centre

    Lilongwe

    An oasis of fine dining and upmarket shopping, featuring clothing and design boutiques, a bar, a restaurant and a cafe, Four Seasons is a restful one-stop…

  • Wonder Workshop

    Dar es Salaam

    At this excellent workshop, artists with disabilities create world-class jewellery, sculptures, candles, stationery and other crafts from old glass, metal…

  • Matbronze

    Nairobi

    More than 600 wildlife bronzes by Denis Mathews (from jewellery and small lion-cub-footprint dishes to much larger pieces running into thousands of…

  • Poterie Serghini

    Safi

    Safi's famed ceramics are showcased in this huge shop and gallery near Bab Chaaba. English-speaking owner Mehdi Serghini is in the seventh generation of a…

  • Village des Artisans

    Cameroon

    South of town, the Village des Artisans seems to produce more handicrafts than the rest of Cameroon combined. Get ready for some bargaining and banter –…

  • Quintessence

    Lagos

    Out in the gated Parkview estate, Quintessence sells artworks and crafts, with an especially good selection of clothes and some antique carvings and…

  • Histoire des Filles

    Essaouira

    Essaouira’s first concept store – curated by Parisian Christelle Pailly – stocks a superstylish mix of Moroccan and Moroccan-based designers for women,…

  • Namibia Crafts Centre

    Windhoek

    This place is an outlet for heaps of wonderful Namibian inspiration – leatherwork, basketry, pottery, jewellery, needlework, hand-painted textiles and…

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