Must-see shopping in Delhi

  • Spice market

    Spice Market

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    It feels as if little has changed for centuries in Delhi's fabulously atmospheric, labyrinthine spice market, as labourers hustle through the narrow lanes…

  • Khan Market

    Delhi

    Khan Market is Delhi's most-upmarket shopping enclave, the most expensive place to rent a shop in India, and is favoured by the elite and expats. Its…

  • Central Cottage Industries Emporium

    New Delhi

    This government-run multilevel store is a wonderful treasure trove of fixed-price, India-wide handicrafts. Prices are higher than in the state emporiums,…

  • Kamala

    New Delhi

    Crafts, curios, textiles and homewares from the Crafts Council of India, designed with flair and using traditional techniques but offering some…

  • HAUZ KHAS, NEW DELHI, INDIA

    Hauz Khas Village

    South Delhi

    This arty little enclave has narrow lanes crammed with boutiques selling designer Indian clothing, handicrafts, contemporary ceramics, handmade furniture…

  • Stack of Rugs

    State Emporiums

    New Delhi

    Handily in a row are these regional treasure-filled emporiums. They may have the air of torpor that often afflicts governmental enterprises, but shopping…

  • Main Bazaar

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    Backpacker Central, this crazy-busy bazaar that runs through Paharganj sells almost everything you want, and a whole lot more. It's great for buying…

  • Shahpur Jat Village

    South Delhi

    Located within the boundaries of the ruined walls of Siri Fort (the second of Delhi's seven historic cities), this urban village contains an artsy…

  • Meharchand Market

    Delhi

    Across the road from the government housing of the Lodi Colony, this is a long strip of small boutiques selling homewares and clothes. Quality clothing…

  • Majnu-ka-Tilla

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    Delhi's Tibetan enclave, Majnu-ka-Tilla, is a fascinating tangle of tiny alleys – too narrow for vehicles – that are dotted with cheap guesthouses,…

  • Roopak’s

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    This spice shop have been purveyors of taste-tingling flavour since 1958. There's a huge selection of easy-to-transport-home, pre-packaged spices…

  • Dilli Haat

    South Delhi

    Right beside INA metro station, this popular, but somewhat stage-managed, open-air food-and-crafts market is a cavalcade of colour and sells regional…

  • Janpath & Tibetan Markets

    New Delhi

    These twin markets, made up of small shop fronts stretching along Janpath, sell shimmering mirrorwork embroidery, colourful shawls, Tibetan bric-a-brac,…

  • Good Earth

    Delhi

    Need some exquisite homewares to complement your perfect life, and are unfussed by the price tag? Look no further than Good Earth, one of Delhi’s chicest…

  • Aap Ki Pasand

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    Specialists in the finest Indian teas, from Darjeeling and Assam to Nilgiri and Kangra. You can try before you buy, and teas come lovingly packaged in…

  • Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan

    New Delhi

    Known for its excellent khadi (homespun cloth), including good-value shawls, salwar kameez and kurta pyjama, this three-floor shop also sells handmade…

  • Kinari Bazaar

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    Kinari means 'hem' in Hindi, and this colour-blazing market sells all the trimmings that finish off an outfit. It's famous for zardozi (gold embroidery),…

  • Ballimaran

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    This area is apparently where Delhi's Yamuna boat operators once lived. Today this market street and the smaller lanes fanning off it specialise in…

  • Fabindia

    South Delhi

    Branch of the excellent Indian clothing shop, with a wide range of men's cotton kurtas (long shirts) and pyjamas, women's salwar kameez (dress-like tunic…

  • Fabindia

    New Delhi

    Surprisingly well-priced, high-quality, ready-made clothes in funky Indian fabrics, from elegant kurtas (long collarless shirts) and dupattas (women's…

  • Dariba Kalan

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    For silver (jewellery, ornaments, old coins), head for Dariba Kalan, the alley near the Sisganj Gurdwara, and with the easy-to-spot Jalebi Wala at its…

  • Full Circle Bookstore

    Delhi

    One of Delhi’s best bookshops, with racks of specialist books on the city, plus novels and kids’ books. Relaxing, but pricey Café Turtle is upstairs.

  • Bahrisons

    Delhi

    This is one of Khan Market's wonderful bookshops, with loads of the latest fiction and books on India, plus knowledgable staff. They also have a branch…

  • People Tree

    New Delhi

    This hole-in-the-wall shop sells fixed-price, fair-trade T-shirts with funky Indian designs and urban attitude, as well as bags, jewellery and Indian-god…

  • Nai Sarak

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    Running south from the old Town Hall, Nai Sarak is lined with stalls selling saris, shawls, chiffon and lehenga (blouse and skirt combo).

  • The Shop

    New Delhi

    Gorgeous little boutique with a calm, no-pressure-to-buy ambience, attractive Indian clothing, and light, bright printed-cotton homewares.

  • Fabindia

    Delhi

    Flagship Fabindia store, with cotton kurtas, textiles for the home, and much more. Fairly expensive, but good value.

  • Kama

    Delhi

    Kama is the place for exquisitely packaged ayurvedic remedies that make excellent presents.

  • Delhi Musical Stores

    South Delhi

    Delhi Musical Stores has a fine choice of tablas, harmoniums, sitars and more.

  • M-Block Market, GK2

    Delhi

    This quiet market consists of a couple of blocks of quality restaurants and cafes (like Not Just Parathas or the Italian Diva) and clothing stores (like…

  • Santushti Shopping Complex

    Delhi

    Diplomats frequent this exclusive and serene shopping complex in which upmarket clothing, jewellery and souvenir boutiques are housed inside little…

  • Select Citywalk

    Delhi

    Enormous, supermodern shopping complex containing three or four interconnected shopping malls, a handful of five-star hotels and even an art gallery. The…

  • Handloom House

    New Delhi

    This spacious government-sponsored collection of stores is a cornucopia of quality cotton, silk and wool products fashioned by handloom weavers and…

  • Karol Bagh Market

    Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

    This hectic collection of market stalls and shops on Arya Samaj Rd and the roads fanning off it, is favoured for clothes and wedding shopping, and…

  • Basant Lok Market

    Delhi

    This long-standing outdoor shopping complex – opened in the 1970s and known locally as Priya, after the cinema here – includes India's first-ever McDonald…

  • Anokhi

    Delhi

    Anokhi specialises in block-print clothes and homewares, showcasing traditional designs with a modern design sensibility. There are also branches at the…

  • Sundar Nagar Market

    Delhi

    Genteel and sleepy Sundar Nagar is a collection of boutique shops set around a small park and specialises in Indian and Nepali handicrafts, replica …

  • Play Clan

    Delhi

    At this cheerful pine wood–lined store, folklore-inspired graphic art embellishes everything from clothing for men, women and children to accessories,…

  • Kama Ayurveda

    Delhi

    Kama specialises in premium-quality skin-, hair- and body-care products in beautiful packaging, all made using traditional ayurvedic ingredients. It's one…

  • Timeless

    South Delhi

    Hidden in a back lane, Timeless has a devoted following for its quality coffee-table books on topics from Indian textiles and architecture to photography…