List of best Arts And Crafts Shops in Kenya. The traditional Maasai Markets are being held on different days during the week at different location throughout Nairobi. There is one at Junction Mall on Thursday’s, Galleria Mall has a permanent one and at Village Market on Friday’s!
Kariokor Market is a huge open-air market where you can find everything from traditional fabrics and souvenirs to food items such as vegetables, fish, fruit etc.
NOTE: Be careful and advised that when visiting any of these busy markets, to better leave all your valuables at the hotel and to watch out for thieves at all times and keep your backpack/handbag close to you (best in front).
Nairobi has also a number of craft shops or community craft centers, which have charitable status, and/or associated with development or self-help projects. They can be sometimes a bit expensive and most of the time you cannot really bargaining, but they often have unusual and unique items, that make great gifts and souvenirs.
Art Craft Events & Festivals, like Bizarre Bazaar, Bargain Box etc have become very popular and they happen throughout the year.
Following is a List of brilliant Crafts and Markets that often create many of their own items/products, support local women, help the environment and in general produce amazing things that are very unique to Kenya!! Enjoy!
Here is a List of best Arts And Crafts Shops in Kenya
Spinners Web
Spinners web is a curio shop, little in the way of craft supplies but a great place to find local crafts, clothing, weavings, sculptures and art from all over East Africa. It has a great place to lunch and is perfect for a day out.
Basket Lady, Red Hill Road.
If you drive along Red Hill Road towards the Village Market you will see a couple of stalls selling a humungous array of brightly coloured baskets. A proper visual feast of weaving and colour. They sell baskets and bags all the colours of the rainbow and even with my pathetic attempts at bargaining you can usually pick up a really good deal.
Beats of Beads
The only museum in Africa dedicated to the art of East African beads.
We are a non profit trust, empowering Maasai Women in Sekenani, Maasai Mara.
- Address:Sekenani gate
- City/Town: Maasai Mara
- Telephone Number: 0759962563
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Website: www.beatsofbeadstraut.org
Maasai Market Nairobi
The Maasai Market moves all over town so you need to track it down. If you are looking for curios and crafts in Nairobi then this fabulously popular market is worth a visit, especially if you are in town only for a short while and looking for souvenirs. Over 50 different stalls selling, Maasai Shukas, Kikoys, Kitenge, beaded, metal and wooden jewellery and crafts and hand-woven baskets. You need to haggle and I always feel hassled and therefore rarely buy anything but it’s a must-do for a visitor to Nairobi.
- Tuesday: Westgate Shopping Mall in Westlands (the upper car park) relocated to Kijabe Street opposite the Norfolk Hotel
- Wednesday: Capital Centre on Mombasa Road near the airport
- Thursday: Nakumatt Junction Shopping Mall on Ngong Road
- Friday: Village Market in Gigiri (the upper car park)
- Saturday: The High Court parking lot in the city center (behind the Hilton)
- Sunday: Yaya Centre in Hurlingham
Victoria Creations
Handmade products from recycled materials like hyacinth wires paper tins etc. Cards, hyacinth products,wall hangings, bookmarks seasonal greeting cards, hyacinth coasters baskets lampshades keyrings saviette holders pen holders and hyacinth paper
- Address:284 Kisumu
- City/Town: Kisumu
- Telephone Number: 0704910026
- Telephone Number 2: 0729535233
- Email Address: [email protected].
Indian Cotton at The Shop & Zawadi Africa, Karen
The best place to buy Indian Cotton to make your clothes in Malindi but if you aren’t planning a trip to the coast then two shops in Karen stock bolts of material. The Shop in Hardy Dukas (which incidentally has an awesome range of Indian Cotton clothing if you want to buy off the rack) and Zawadi Africa at Karen Crossroads (next to Nothing Like it Spa) on the first floor above KPS.
Utamaduni
Utamaduni is another tourist stop off on the Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre circuit. It’s a large house filled will some usual crafts from all over Africa. Whilst it is priced for the tourist market, they aren’t excessive and you don’t have to negotiate. If you are looking for more unusual material there is a shop here that stocks mudcloth and occasionally other African fabric.
Bogani East Road off Langata South
House of Leather
I have a love /hate relationship with House of Leather. Let’s face it, it’s a gigantic shop full of tat, but I love it. It’s like South Africa’s Crazy Store but bigger and better. Toys, cooking stuff, ornaments, lamps all the things you never knew you needed until you see them and if you choose to buy them will probably break in a day anyway. It was great for stocking gifts though. And you can buy sewing things and feathers, pom poms, sequins, cheap beads an all kinds of fluff and tat to bedazzle that boring old t-shirt
Adams Arcade, Ngong Road
Crafts and Beyond
we are a small business that makes handmade items and sells quality jewellery.
- Address:Mombasa road
- City/Town: Nairobi
- Telephone Number: 0723 272132
- Email Address:
- Website: https://crafts-beyond-art-supply-store.business.site/
Kitengela Glass – Junction Mall, Nairobi
If you like recycle glass art, this is the place to check out! The colors mainly used are dark blue and aquamarine. Especially the drinking glasses are wonderful! The factory is close to Nairobi and you can go for visits easily.
Sally Dudmesh at The Silk Road
- Address:Sally Dudmesh at The Silk Road
The House of Treasures 70 Dagoretti Road, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya
PO Box 24516 Karen Nairobi 00502 Kenya - City/Town: Karen
- Telephone Number: 0720 718306
The Haberdashery Shop, Galleria Mall
For skeins of cotton, balls of wool, knitting needles, buttons, badges and all kinds of sewing paraphernalia then this shop in the Galleria stocks everything you need. It is closer than a trip to Biashara Street but more expensive. If you are a Karenite you need to weigh up the pros and cons of Uhuru Drive vs the pesa in your pocket
Galleria Mall, Langata
Polka Dot Art Gallery
The Polka Dot is home to a varied collection of work from artists all over East Africa and showcase art from both local and international artists.
- Address:The Souk Karen
- City/Town: Karen
- Telephone Number: 0716 886463
- Email Address:
- Website: https://www.polkadotartgallery.co/
BG’s Leather & Glass Shop
Our products touch the lives of artists in every step of their artistic journey, from early childhood drawings to abstract canvases to adorn walls.
- Address:Langata Road, Nairobi
P.O.Box 24936 Karen, Nairobi, Kenya 00502 - City/Town: Nairobi
- Telephone Number: 0722 917256
Gado’s Creative
Gado’s Creative is a branding and engraving enterprise.
Products and services
1. Gift Shop
2. Trophies
3. Engraving Shop
4. Brand
- Address:Karen road, Karen Waterfront Nairobi, Kenya 00515
- City/Town: Karen
- Telephone Number: 0736 600363
- Email Address:
- Website: https://gados-creative.business.site/
Yellow Sparrows Craft & Design Centre
Yellow Sparrows Craft & Design Centre is a Centre for training in Craft-Art skills, Technology & Business in the Arts. A platform to inform, promote and educate on Artsy or Creative events.
- Address:Karen village, Nairobi
- City/Town: Karen
- Telephone Number: 0774 547663
- Email Address: [email protected].
Hilton Arcade Curio Shop
This is one of the oldest craft shops in town. There are many reasons to visit; the stock is super cheap and all one price. I hate bargaining and so this was a dream. They hand you a basket and you wander through the store, which is piled high goodies. Look for beaded bracelets, necklaces, earrings and animals, wooden spoons, carved animals and Kitenge bags and purses. It’s your regular Maasai Market stock at a very reasonable price and no need for hassle or haggling.
