Shopping in Nairobi

Who does not like shopping these days? It is such a huge part of our lives now! Kids, man even babies, like to dress up and look fashionable. And, don’t you worry about Nairobi. They are definitely catching up with the world! There may not be many shopping malls here (at least from my point of view), but they are definitely growing.

I remember when we were looking for a house over a year ago. Our real estate agent talked to us about shopping malls with such enthusiasm. She told us about these newly opened places with this degree of amazement in her voice! She even made me excited. So… for first timers in town, I have put together a list for you.

-Junction Mall: (on Ngong Rd) It is only a few years old and there are plenty of parking spaces. On Thursdays, there is a Masai market, which I would definitely recommend. There are many restaurants in Junction Mall including the following cuisines: Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, Japanese, and continental food. I have tried it all and the verdict is in… It is delicious! There is also a wine place on the first floor. A big popular restaurant chain called, Art Caffe. I would definitely recommend the bakery, which has many healthy and tasty choices. The food court is located on the top level. Some of the stores in Junction include: Bata, Mr. Price, Kazuri, Banana Box, Nakumatt supermarket, Zucchini grocery store, Text Store, Kikoy, an art shop, Nike, Baby Shop, Converse, Levi’s, Beauty Shop, a movie center, and much more! You can check out website here at http://www.thejunction.co.ke/

- Westgate Mall: This is very, very popular. It is the biggest and newest one in town, has plenty of stores, and there is a Masai Market on Tuesdays on the top level. There is another Art Caffe which serves continental food and baked goods. The live music occurs during the weekends and it is always a crowded, popular spot. There is a chic Japanese restaurant on the upper level and a tapas place and hamburger joint on the first floor. There is also a food court on the top level for a quick bite when you want many choices. Also, there is a kids arcade located on the top level across from the food court. Nairobi Java House is also located on the top level. It is relatively new as it was recently opened. There are also many stores such as Bata, Mr. Price, Nakumatt, travel agencies, Palacina, Woolworth's, Kazuri, Ivory, Identity, Nike, jewelry stores, a movie center, and much more. Check out website http://www.westgate.co.ke/

- Sarit Center: It was the first mall in Nairobi and is known as the largest mall in East Africa. I personally think it is old, dark, and airless, but it still has many helpful stores. It is also conveniently located within walking distance of Westgate! Stores at the Sarit Center include Bata, Bike Land, Banana Box, Uchumi (a grocery store), Levi's, Toy world, and a few specialty stores such as jewelry and rug store. There are also a few restaurants (not big names), a movie center, and much more. Some of the food accommodations include a Nairobi Java House and Doorman’s Coffee Shop located on the ground level, both serving fresh coffee, desserts, and quick bites to eat. Check out the website http://www.saritcentre.com/

-Galleria Mall: On Langata Road, the Galleria Mall is new but very small since there are not many stores inside. Since there is huge road construction in front of it, I would not recommend the Galleria Mall to anyone, at least these days! You can also find an Art Caffe here and a food court on the upper level for a quick bite. Some stores include Bata, Nakumatt, Health store, Mr. Price, bike store, Uniform Store, Converse, and a few more. The best thing about the Galleria Mall is that the Nairobi Hospital outpatient center is located on the third level. It is very new and provides the best customer service in Kenya. The Nairobi Hospital at the Galleria Mall is open 24/7. Check out www.galleria.co.ke

-Yaya Center: I would not call this a mall as it is hard to get a parking space and is also quite old looking! But any expat who has a child must visit this place since the Uniform Store (all Nairobi school uniforms are sold in this place) is located in here.  Other things located at the Yaya Center include Mr. Price, Chandarana (a grocery store), Pro Bike, Mr. Price, Doorman’s Coffee, Bata, Truworths, Toy World, Book Shop, Beauty Shop, Nairobi Sports House, specialty stores such as bridal, art, optics, health, photo studios, and more. Check out www.yaya-center.com

-Village Market: Located in Runda, this is an open air, three level mall located in Runda. It is old as well, but since it is open air, I find it very refreshing. Village Market is very popular among expats. It gets very crowded during weekends and most expats hang out here. There is another Art Caffe, which is an always crowded, newly opened Italian restaurant serving good food. Many shops are located in the Village Market such as Bata, Identity, Nakumatt, Toy World, Palacina, art shops, beauty shops, bridal shops, Kikoy, Nairobi Sports House, Kazuri, Palacina, Zucchini grocery store, and some other shops as well. The last time I was at Village Market it was going through major renovation. There is also a game center for kids on the upper level. Check out www.villagemarket-kenya.com

-ABC Place: The ABC Place is located on Waiyaki Way. The best thing about ABC is the popular restaurant called Seven Seafood & Grill located on the ground level. They serve fresh fish and simply delicious food. Here, you can also find Chandarana supermarket, Zucchini grocery store, Toy World, Java House, and a few other stores. Check out their web site www.abc-place.com

In regards to grocery stores, I would recommend Nakumatt because it is easy to locate in all shopping centers as the biggest chain in town. Nakumatt sells anything you could look for from fish, to poultry, to toys, to bikes, to mattresses, to furniture, to dairy, to veggies, to mosquito nets, to garden supplies, and much more. At Nakumatt, you can get all of your shopping done in a single place that is both clean and convenient.