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Senegal

Shopping in Senegal

  1. A

    Marché des HLM

    The fabulous Marché des HLM is the best place to buy African fabrics. Hundreds of rolls of wax-dyed bazin (dyed fabrics beaten to a shine with wooden clubs), vibrant prints, embroidered cloth, lace and silk lend colour to the ramshackle stalls and dusty streets of this popular quartier. You can get matching shoes, bags and jewellery at the same place, and even have your new ensemble sewn here.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Marché Sandaga

    In the endless sprawl of street stalls here you can buy about anything, as long as no one steals your purse.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Marché Kermel

    The covered Marché Kermel, behind Av Sarraut and within walking distance of Marché Sandaga, sells a mixture of foodstuffs and souvenirs. It's mainly worth visiting for the beautiful building that shelters its busy stalls. The original 1860 construction burnt down in 1994, but the 1997 reconstruction has been closely modelled on the building's initial structure and decoration.

    reviewed

  4. D

    Score Supermarket

    If you're getting by on a few crumpled CFA notes a day, stop at the makeshift street stalls selling rice and sauce or one of the many shwarma (grilled meat served in bread) places feeding the capital's snack-hungry. The best-stocked supermarket is Score.

    reviewed

  5. E

    Touareg jewellery market

    At the Hôtel de l'Indépendance, the Touareg jewellery market has a shining selection of beautifully decorated rings, earrings and necklaces - if it's around, that is. The traders occasionally dismantle their mobile stalls for exhibitions elsewhere.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Marché Malien

    The Marché Malien, near the station, is the place for women who are keen to learn the Senegalese art of seduction. All the ingredients, including incense, the earthenware to burn it in, mixed perfumes and jingling waist beads, are sold here.

    reviewed

  7. G

    Fili Fili Supermarket

    Fili Fili Supermarket three blocks north of Place de l'Indépendance is a dusty little place with slightly cheaper prices but a much smaller range of stock. In Point E, the Ecomarché (Av Cheikh Anta Diop) is pretty good.

    reviewed

  8. H

    bookshop

    Shopping The Best Bookshop In Town Is On The Northern End Of Rue Javelier, With A Good Selection Of Titles On Senegal And Casamance (Mostly In French), As Well As Some English-Language Magazines.

    reviewed

  9. I

    Cocktail du Sénégal

    The spacious Cocktail du Sénégal also has a good selection of clothes, both for children and adults, along with a great variety of original gifts, souvenirs and jewellery.

    reviewed

  10. Marché Escale

    Self-caterers can buy all the fresh fruit and vegetables they can carry on Marché Escale, right in the heart of town.

    reviewed

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  12. J

    Garmy's Confection

    Garmy's Confection and Cajou right next door, both have a lovely range of toys and bags made from African fabrics.

    reviewed

  13. superette

    There is a small superette, as well as a good patisserie opposite the restaurant Le Mansah.

    reviewed

  14. K

    Ecomarché

    In Point E, the Ecomarché is pretty good.

    reviewed

  15. L

    Hann Fish Market

    Hann Fish Market.

    reviewed

  16. Sono Mondiale

    This brilliant little shop has a better selection than some of the music shops in Dakar. It has a good variety of African (and not only Senegalese) music on offer - both on CD and cassette - and, oddly, a quirky vinyl collection of old salsa.

    reviewed

  17. M

    Libre-Service

    For European goods and French wine, head for the Libre-Service.

    reviewed

  18. N

    Keur Fall

    On a nicely brushed-up ground floor of one of the old buildings, Keur Fall sells a wide range of pretty children's and adult clothes, shoes and toys - all made by women in a nearby village and sold under fair-trade conditions.

    reviewed

  19. Ecomarché

    The Ecomarché is a good spot for European goods and French wine.

    reviewed

  20. Ateliers d'Art

    In the same building as Sono Mondiale, this is a great place to rummage for fabrics. You can even watch the weavers working on the gigantic, patterned cotton-rugs on sale here - and seeing the work that's involved in making them almost makes you willing to pay the steep prices charged for them.

    reviewed

  21. O

    Institut Français

    The Institut Français is one of Senegal's major outlets of the Maam Samba label, which is known for its simply cut clothes made from rich, stunningly coloured cottons. All ingredients are natural, and the fabrics are woven, dyed and sewn locally by the women of Ndem village, and sold fairtrade.

    reviewed

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