Shopping · Montego Bay · Jamaica
Shopping in Montego Bay
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SpaceEconomist192, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping focuses on Jamaican rum, coffee, crafts and art. Craft markets are open to bargaining, while duty-free shops at the airport and in shopping centres sell jewellery and watches. Best souvenirs: Jamaican rum, Blue Mountain coffee and Jerk seasoning and hot sauce.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Jamaican rum
Where to shop
Hip Strip
Souvenir shops, craft stalls and beachwear along Gloucester Avenue.
Montego Bay Shopping Centre and Fairview
Local shopping centres for everyday supplies and duty-free outlets.
Falmouth cruise pier
Shops and craft vendors near the cruise terminal.
Markets
Montego Bay Craft Market
Long rows of stalls near downtown selling carvings, paintings, jewellery and T-shirts; bargain politely.
Charles Gordon Market
Downtown's main produce market, best visited with a local guide.
What to buy
Jamaican rum
Aged rums and overproof white rum from estates such as Appleton.
Blue Mountain coffee
Whole beans or ground coffee, sold at duty-free and supermarkets.
Jerk seasoning and hot sauce
Bottled marinades and pepper sauces to recreate jerk at home.
Wood carvings
Hand-carved figures and bowls from craft markets.
Jamaican art
Paintings by local artists from galleries and the National Gallery West shop.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue)
Hip Strip
Gloucester Avenue is the town's tourist promenade, lined with bars, jerk stands, craft shops and beach clubs.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Festival, Rum punch, Blue Mountain coffee and Sorrel. Jerk centres and seafood restaurants. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue) | $$ | Beach clubs, bars, jerk stands and mid-range hotels along the bay |
| Downtown Montego Bay | $ | Historic commercial centre around Sam Sharpe Square and the craft market |
| Rose Hall | $$$ | Large all-inclusives, golf courses and the hilltop great house |
| Montego Bay West and Hopewell | $$$$ | Exclusive villas and boutique resorts west of the bay towards Hanover |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in JMD. Tip about 10–15% in restaurants where service isn't included, tip tour guides, drivers and raft captains, and leave something for housekeeping. Some all-inclusives have a no-tipping policy, but small tips are commonly given.
- Swimwear is for the beach and pool; cover up in town and in shops.
- Eat at jerk centres and cookshops rather than resort à la carte restaurants for local food at lower prices.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are January–March.
- July: Reggae Sumfest — major reggae and dancehall festival in Montego Bay (usually mid-to-late July)
- December: Grand Market — Christmas Eve street markets in Jamaican towns (24 December)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Montego Bay?
Jamaican rum, Blue Mountain coffee, Jerk seasoning and hot sauce and Wood carvings.
+Where is the best shopping in Montego Bay?
Hip Strip: Souvenir shops, craft stalls and beachwear along Gloucester Avenue.
+What are the best markets in Montego Bay?
Montego Bay Craft Market and Charles Gordon Market.