The Best Markets In Mumbai, India

Colaba Causeway starts from a scattered collection of stalls to a seemingly never ending boardwalk of irresistible things. Approaching the entrance to Colaba Causeway, you are greeted with galaxies of bags, exotic shawls, amusing household items, T-shirts sporting mottos and slogans, clothes and accessories. A shopaholic’s dream, the numerous cramped up stalls have many hidden treasures. To find your treasure, keep digging deeper, Colaba Causeway rewards the dedicated rummager. Bargaining is also a vital part of the process. Never agree to the first three prices the seller offers you.

Crawford Market, also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, is a densly populated Muslim area, flags of green and red hang overhead and the melodic sound of the azan, or call to prayer, echoes from a distance, creating a beautiful environment. Standing still only crowds of people are visible, and getting drowned in the chaos of Crawford Market is all too easy. Famous for it’s wholesale supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, the market has numerous stalls filled with unimaginable props for parties, toys for all ages, striking figurines of dolls or remarkable artisans on the sidewalk making henna hand prints. Unique and colourful, Crawford Market is a must-visit.

Flora Fountain is a piece of heaven for any bibliophile. Starting from the end of Churchgate Subway, the piles of books are so tall and spacious, that the sellers have created narrow pathways between them for readers to browse. And it doesn’t stop here, look out for little open fortresses with walls made of books. Ranging from classics, thriller, erotic, encyclopedias, academic, self help, romance or even comics dating back decades, Flora Fountains has something for everyone.

For a Gucci bag spelled with a triple c, or Puma sportswear which overnight has turned into Pume (potentially with an accompanying Nike logo), look no further than the Fashion Street Market. As the name suggests, it is a shopping street with a comical side to it, offering fake ‘real’ branded clothes, bags, clutches and accessories. Fashion Street is the place to go if you want to buy what’s trendy in a pocket-friendly way. As well as knock-offs, look out for some more unique, authentic items for sale.

Chor Bazaar is a must-visit place when in Mumbai. Chor Bazaar, translating as ‘The Thieves Market’ got its name due to the mispronunciation of Shor Bazaar, ‘The Noise Market’ as Chor Bazaar by British colonialists. However, stolen items gradually started accumulating in Shor Bazaar, making it live up to its new name. Today the market is filled with antiques, vintage lamps and instruments, old-fashioned devices and rusty belongings all add to the beauty of Chor Bazaar.

Popularly known as the market that always glitters, Zaveri Bazaar features notable jewelry giants like Dwarkadas Chandumal, UTZ, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri (TBZ) and Dhirajlal Bhimji Zaveri, as well as more independent boutiques. Zaveri Bazaar is a jewelry market with rows and rows of shops trading gems and jewels of all kinds. Even though Zaveri Bazaar is located north of the Crawford Bazaar, visiting both of them in a day would not be possible, because of the large variety of things to see and do in each. Dedicate at least a day to exploring all of the treasures Zaveri Bazaar has to offer.
Find places to stay with our partner, Hotels.com