Shopping · Mumbai · India
Shopping in Mumbai
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Darwininan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mumbai shopping runs from street markets and antique bazaars to designer boutiques and malls, with bargains on clothing, textiles and Bollywood memorabilia. Best souvenirs: Kolhapuri chappals, Bollywood posters and Spices and tea.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Kolhapuri chappals
Where to shop
Colaba Causeway
Street stalls selling clothes, jewellery, bags and souvenirs alongside long-established shops; bargain hard.
Kala Ghoda
Design stores, galleries and independent fashion labels in heritage buildings.
Linking Road and Hill Road, Bandra
Street shopping for shoes, clothes and accessories, plus brand stores.
Zaveri Bazaar
The city's historic jewellery market for gold and silver near Crawford Market.
Markets
Crawford Market
Victorian market hall for fruit, spices, dried fruit and household goods.
Chor Bazaar
Old 'thieves' market' around Mutton Street with antiques, vintage Bollywood posters and old furniture.
Fashion Street
A long row of low-cost clothing stalls near Churchgate and Azad Maidan.
What to buy
Kolhapuri chappals
Handmade leather sandals from Maharashtra, sold in markets and craft shops.
Bollywood posters
Vintage and reproduction film posters and lobby cards from Chor Bazaar.
Spices and tea
Masalas, tea and dried fruit from Crawford Market.
Textiles
Block prints, handloom saris and Paithani silk from Maharashtra at craft emporiums.
Chikki
Nut and jaggery brittle from Lonavala, sold in Mumbai sweet shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Fort and Kala Ghoda
Crawford Market
Officially Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, this 1869 market hall has stone friezes designed by John Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard Kipling's father.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bhel puri and Falooda. Beach stalls at Chowpatty and Juhu, and chaat counters in every neighbourhood. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Colaba | $$$ | Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Causeway's street stalls |
| Fort and Kala Ghoda | $$$ | Victorian Gothic streets, galleries, museums and restaurants |
| Churchgate and Marine Drive | $$$$ | Art Deco apartment blocks and sea-facing hotels along Back Bay |
| Bandra West | $$$ | Seafront promenades, cafés, street art and Bollywood homes |
| Juhu | $$$$ | Beachfront suburb of hotels, film-star bungalows and evening snack stalls |
| Lower Parel and Worli | $$$$ | Former textile mills turned into bars, malls and business hotels |
| Andheri and the airport area | $$ | Business hotels near the airport and the Versova end of the western suburbs |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in INR. Tip about 10% in restaurants if service is not included, round up for taxis and app rides, and tip guides and drivers at the end of a day.
- Bargaining is normal at street markets such as Colaba Causeway and Linking Road but not in shops with marked prices.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in July; the busiest months are December.
- January: Banganga Festival of Indian classical music (usually January)
- February: Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (usually early February)
- August: Ganesh Chaturthi — ten-day festival ending with idol immersions at the beaches (usually late August or September)
- September: Bandra Fair at Mount Mary Basilica (usually mid-September)
- December: Christmas celebrations in Bandra's Catholic neighbourhoods
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, nightlife and shopping
Colaba
Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Causeway's street stalls
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Mumbai?
Kolhapuri chappals, Bollywood posters, Spices and tea and Textiles.
+Where is the best shopping in Mumbai?
Colaba Causeway: Street stalls selling clothes, jewellery, bags and souvenirs alongside long-established shops; bargain hard.
+What are the best markets in Mumbai?
Crawford Market, Chor Bazaar and Fashion Street.