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…
Must-see shopping in Africa
Mouassine & Central Souqs
Brace yourself for the future of Marrakesh: Belgian-Swiss design duo Jan Pauwels and Maximilian Scharl have taken over multiple premises to create this…
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…
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
Selling gorgeous women's kitenge dresses in traditional patterns, separates, children's clothing and some batik pillows, this fair-trade boutique is a…
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…
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…
Nairobi
Some of Kenya's more creative artists, photographers, leatherworkers and other high-quality artisans and artists have come together under one roof – the…
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…
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…
Green Point & Waterfront
One of the best places to shop for souvenirs in Cape Town, this inventively designed retail market gathers together over 150 tenants representing the…
Harare
His clients may include Bruce Springsteen, Kate Middleton and the king of Spain, but Patrick Mavros' stunning handmade silver jewellery is very affordable…
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…
Green Point & Waterfront
Produce grown on the Oranjezicht City Farm and other local farms is sold every Saturday here alongside many other edible and souvenir products. It's a…
L’Art du Bain Savonnerie Artisanale
Mouassine & Central Souqs
Art du Bain's biodegradable, pure olive oil soaps carry the scent of Marrakesh in them: honey, orange blossom, jasmine, eucalyptus – there's even a…
Kâat Ben Nahid & Bab Debbagh
If you're looking for a unique Moroccan woollen rug or high-quality local souvenirs, Abdess Anamil can help. His small shop is crammed with beautiful…
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…
Green Point & Waterfront
Trevyn and Julian McGowan have made a business out of cherry-picking the cream of the South African design community and promoting it to the world in…
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…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
Short-circuit souq fatigue and head straight for this converted funduq (inn once used by caravans) where younger local designers congregate on the 1st…
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…
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…
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…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
This memorable Marrakesh brand has taken old sepia photos of Amazigh tribal women and incorporated them into hand-embroidered and printed bolster cushions…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Aksum
One of the best shops in northern Ethiopia, St George has that rare combination of simple tourist items and fine pieces of art and antiques, although the…
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…
Cape Town
This development project has helped several great craftspeople and designers along the way. In the leafy compound, artists' studios are scattered around…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
This smart cooperative run by local women with disabilities is where you can find fabulous neutral household linens, embroidered garments and top-quality…
Johannesburg
Kim Sacks, a renowned ceramicist and ceramics teacher, has assembled an astounding collection of handcrafted pots, baskets, tapestries, rugs, jewellery,…
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…
Arusha
What started as a small enterprise making beaded necklaces has branched into furniture, paper, clothing and many other products, mostly using recycled…
Bulawayo
Established in 1932, this fourth-generation family-run menswear store is most famous for its Courtney Boots – a homegrown shoe, sold worldwide. All of its…
