Planning to go shopping in Mumbai? Start by polishing your bargaining skills because you’ll need them everywhere! Well, maybe not at the city’s chic boutiques and upscale stores. But there are myriad options for street shopping, and you would want to bargain the daylights out of shopkeepers. That’s just half the delight; the goodies truly make it worthwhile.
But with such a huge number of markets for street shopping in Mumbai, how do you figure where to get the best stuff without breaking the bank? We’re here to help so read on to get the inside track on how you can hunt for bargains at the city’s most popular street markets for your clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry and more.
Top Street Shopping in Mumbai:
Colaba Causeway | Colaba |
Crawford Market | Fort |
Zaveri Bazaar | Mandvi |
Heera Panna Market | Tardeo |
Lalbaug Market | Lalbaug |
Hindmata Market | Dadar East |
Linking Road | Bandra |
Hill Road | Bandra |
Lokhandwala Market | Lokhandwala Complex |
Dharavi Leather Market | Dharavi |
1. Colaba Causeway, Mumbai
Home to iconic Mumbai hangouts like Café Mondegar and Leopold Café, Colaba Causeway is famed for its energetic and friendly vibe. You’ll find everything here – from breezy apparels, colorful jewelry and antique clocks to brass knick-knacks, bags and trendy footwear. Usually filled with tourists, this street market also hosts upscale boutiques such as Bombay Electric and Bunglow 8 and offers an essential shopping experience in Mumbai. And when you get tired, head to eateries like Bagdadi, Bade Miyan or Light of Asia for a delicious meal. What’s more? Colaba Causeway is in close proximity to majority of the hotels in Mumbai.
- Location: Colaba
- Timings: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm (Open on all days)
- Places to Stay: Hotels near Colaba
2. Crawford Market, Mumbai
Chaotic, colorful and oh-so-traditional… Crawford Market must be on your list of places for shopping in Mumbai. One of the city’s oldest markets, Crawford Market or Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai as it is officially known now, is known for its wholesale shops selling fruits and veggies, home décor accents, bags, makeup, toys and spices, and hold your breath … pets! It is equally famous for its grand structure, a curious mix of Norman and Flemish architecture, adorned with friezes designed by Lockwood Kipling, father of novelist Rudyard Kipling.
- Location: Fort
- Timings: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm (Closed on Sundays)
- Places to Stay: Hotels in Fort
3. Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai
Are you in the market for some serious bling? Head to Zaveri Bazaar, just north of Crawford Market, for an eyeful of gold, silver, precious gems and opulent jewelry that could take your breath away! Shopping in Mumbai for wedding is never complete without stepping into the labyrinthine streets and by-lanes of Bhuleshwar, where Zaveri Bazaar is located. You could also buy high-end home décor, dinnerware, furniture, toys and brassware here.
- Location: Mandvi
- Timings: 10:00 am – 7:30 pm (Closed on Sundays)
4. Heera Panna Market, Mumbai
The most fashionable watches, mobile phones, laptops and every other kind of electronics call Heera Panna home. Even if you’re on a street shopping trip to Mumbai, you can’t miss this iconic market as it offers great deals. Just minutes away from another Mumbai icon, the Haji Ali Dargah, Heera Panna has almost 140 shops selling electronics, imported cosmetics and chocolates as well as branded apparels and accessories. Pro tip: Shop for cheap knock-offs of branded items, perfumes as well as quality men’s clothing here.
- Location: Tardeo
- Timings: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm (Closed on Sundays)
- Places to Stay: Hotels in Tardeo
5. Lalbaug Market
Rows upon rows of dried red chilies stacked in a conical mountain at the Mirchi Galli, giant mounds of dry snacks like farsan and fresh kachoris and samosas… this is what you’ll see at the Lalbaug Market in Central Mumbai. You can easily get 3 Star Hotels in Central Mumbai under your budget. Also renowned for the Lalbaug cha Raja, this market offers the authentic Mumbai experience you can’t go home without. Go here for the spices, which you can pick at will and have them roasted and ground into fresh powder to take back with you!
- Location: Lalbaug
- Timings: 10:15 am – 9:00 pm (Open on all days)
FabHotels Bonus Tip – The Dadar Flower Market is very close to Lalbaug. Make a trip to this chaotic but pretty-as-a-flower market for a unique experience. And buy flowers…in bulk!
6. Hindmata Market
Yards of saris in all kinds of fabric, material for dresses and readymade Indian wear…if these are a part of your shopping list, then head straight to the Hindmata Market in Dadar. Stand-alone tailoring shops punctuate this maze of streets, dotted with small family-owned shops which have been around for decades as well as glitzy new showrooms. Here you’ll find every imaginable textile that is made in India and very often bolts of imported silk and synthetics. A must-visit for the budget-conscious, the Hindmata Market is one of the biggest and oldest wholesale fabric markets and a great place to visit in Mumbai for wedding shopping.
- Location: Dadar East
- Timings: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Places to Stay: Hotels in Dadar East
7. Linking Road, Mumbai
Filled with shack-style shops selling affordable and on-trend clothes, jewelry, footwear and accessories, Linking Road should be your top destination for street shopping in Mumbai. By far one of the most popular street markets in the city, Linking Road has been featured in a Bollywood song starring Salman Khan and Raveena Tandon! Located in Bandra, one of the hippest neighborhoods in Mumbai, Linking Road street market is also home to some upscale branded showrooms and boutiques. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, walk around the Mount Mary area close by to discover some little-known boutiques and designer ateliers.
- Location: Bandra
- Timings: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm (Open on all days)
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotels in Bandra, Hotels in Bandra
8. Hill Road
Another great place to go street shopping in Mumbai is the Hill Road, where you would have to jostle with crowds and snarling traffic situation to get to one of its many shoe stores, high street shopping centers and malls. As always, be prepared to haggle with the street vendors and once you’re done with your shopping, hop into Hearsch Bakery sitting inside a charming colonial-style bungalow and known for its giant burgers and home-style lemonade.
- Location: Bandra
- Timings: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm (Open on all days)
9. Lokhandwala Market, Mumbai
Further up from Bandra is the plush, crowded and coveted neighborhood of Lokhandwala in Andheri. This is where it gets really filmy because it would be tough to walk around without toppling over a celebrity! They’re everywhere, and especially in the very chic Lokhandwala Market, a mishmash of branded stores, street vendors, eateries and residential buildings. If you are planning to shop in Mumbai, you must make a stop at this market for fashionable apparels and accessories, shops selling miles of fabric and tailors who can craft your dream outfit. Also, don’t miss out on the first copies of international brands sold here!
- Location: Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West
- Timings: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm (Open on all days)
- Places to Stay: Hotels in Lokhandwala
10. Dharavi Leather Market, Mumbai
What if we told you that the city’s (and Asia’s) largest slum Dharavi is one of the best places to shop in Mumbai? Most of us associate the area with only poverty, destitute residents and tons of garbage. But Dharavi is home to many small-scale manufacturing units, most popular ones being leather work factories. And they churn out awesome leather bags, shoes, jackets and accessories that you simply must have in your wardrobe. And to your surprise, they are a steal when compared to big brand names, but as always be prepared to bargain.
- Location: Dharavi
- Timings: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm (Closed on Sundays)
These are the most popular markets for street shopping in Mumbai and you are sure to get your money’s worth along with an authentic Mumbai experience here. You can dial up your experience with a trip to Chor Bazaar in South Mumbai for eccentric finds like old Bollywood posters, automobile spare parts and antiques. Lamington Road is also a great place in South Mumbai to shop for electronics and all the latest gadgets. And the prices are a scandal!
Did we miss out on a biggie? Tell us in comments below.