Shopping · Nairobi · Kenya
Shopping in Nairobi
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Nairobi is the best place in Kenya for crafts and souvenirs, from the rotating Maasai Market to fixed-price fair-trade shops in Karen, plus large modern malls such as Two Rivers and Village Market. Best souvenirs: Maasai beadwork, Kikoy and kanga cloth and Kenyan coffee and tea.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Maasai beadwork
Where to shop
Village Market
An open-air mall in Gigiri with craft shops, restaurants and a weekly Maasai Market in the car park.
Westlands malls
Sarit Centre and Westgate hold supermarkets, bookshops and Kenyan fashion and homeware brands.
Two Rivers Mall
A large mall north of the city on Limuru Road with international brands, restaurants and family entertainment.
Karen
Workshops and showrooms such as Kazuri Beads sell ceramics, beadwork and textiles at fixed prices.
Markets
Maasai Market
Rotating craft market at different sites through the week, with beadwork, baskets, carvings and fabrics; bargaining expected.
City Market
1930s covered market in the CBD with produce, flowers and curio stalls.
What to buy
Maasai beadwork
Beaded jewellery, belts and sandals made by Maasai women, sold at markets and fair-trade shops.
Kikoy and kanga cloth
Striped cotton kikoys and printed kangas with Swahili proverbs work as sarongs, scarves or throws.
Kenyan coffee and tea
Roasted beans from central Kenya and loose-leaf or bagged black tea from supermarket shelves travel well.
Kisii soapstone
Carved bowls, animals and chess sets in pale soapstone from western Kenya.
Kiondo baskets
Woven sisal baskets with leather straps, sold in many colours and sizes.
Kazuri ceramics
Hand-painted ceramic beads and tableware made at the Karen workshop.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Experience · Karen
Kazuri Beads workshop
Founded in 1975, this Karen workshop employs local women, many of them single mothers, to hand-make and paint ceramic beads and pottery.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Market · Central Business District
City Market
A 1930s covered market off Muindi Mbingu Street, with fruit, vegetable and flower stalls in the main hall and curio dealers selling carvings, soapstone and baskets around the edges.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Market · Rotates between malls
Maasai Market
An open-air craft market that moves to a different site on different days of the week, including mall car parks such as Village Market in Gigiri.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Chapati, Kenyan chai and Kenyan coffee. Canteens, roadside stalls and breakfast menus all over the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Westlands | $$$ | Restaurants, malls and the city's main bar district north-west of the CBD |
| Karen | $$$$ | Leafy suburb of large gardens at the foot of the Ngong Hills |
| Kilimani and Kileleshwa | $$ | Residential apartment districts west of the centre with good-value serviced flats |
| Gigiri | $$$$ | Diplomatic quarter around the United Nations complex and Village Market |
| Central Business District | $$ | Colonial-era avenues, the KICC tower and the City Market |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in KES. Tip about 10% in sit-down restaurants when service is not included. Safari guides and drivers are usually tipped per day at the end of a trip; ask your operator for current guidance.
- Park fees are charged in US dollars for non-residents and gates are cashless; budget for them separately from daily spending.
- Carry some cash in small notes for markets and tips, as card machines are not universal.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in April–May; the busiest months are July–August.
- September: Nairobi International Trade Fair at Jamhuri Park (usually late September or early October)
- December: Christmas and New Year holiday peak
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays, shopping and luxury
Gigiri
Diplomatic quarter around the United Nations complex and Village Market
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Nairobi?
Maasai beadwork, Kikoy and kanga cloth, Kenyan coffee and tea and Kisii soapstone.
+Where is the best shopping in Nairobi?
Village Market: An open-air mall in Gigiri with craft shops, restaurants and a weekly Maasai Market in the car park.
+What are the best markets in Nairobi?
Maasai Market and City Market.