DRMumbai: Explore these famous streets across the globe for local fashion and food, handicrafts or cute souvenirs without burning a hole in your pocket
UAE
Dubai Shopping Festival 2020, Dubai
Dubai Shopping Festival has returned for its 25th edition and transformed the city into a must-see showstopper. The city’s malls and shopping destinations come to life during the annual extravaganza till February 1, 2020. Shoppers can find unbeatable deals on everything from fashion and jewellery to electronics and accessories. Ushering in some of the most awaited sales and promotions of the year, malls, retail spots, local markets and shopping destinations across Dubai offer discounts from 25 per cent to 75 per cent off select collections.
Hong Kong
Temple Street Night Market
When the sun goes down, this 600 m stretch lights up, bustling with traders opening their shops and enthusiastic shoppers gearing themselves to bargain through the market. As the name goes, Temple Street Night Market opens up in the evening, selling mostly gadgets and small items. Trinkets, tea-ware, electronics, watches and jade are amongst the popular finds here. Also known as the Men’s Market, it offers a variety of men’s clothing, accessories and footwear, at an unbelievably cheap price. The restaurants here are a must-try for Chinese street food. You can’t miss the rice served in clay pots oozing with local flavours.
Operating hours: 4 pm to Midnight
Ladies Night Market
You ought to visit the iconic and the most famous street market in Hong Kong – the Ladies Market, as the name suggests, mainly sells feminine goods – clothing, footwear and accessories. With over 100 stalls of cheap clothing, accessories and souvenirs, you will also find replicas of high-end brands like Marc Jacobs to Jimmy Choo amongst others. This market is surrounded by some of the best restaurants and eateries which serve you delicacies in the Mong Kok area.
Operating hours: Noon to Midnight
Thailand
Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
The Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand. Also known as JJ Market, it has more than 15,000 stalls and 11,505 vendors divided into 27 sections. Chatuchak Market sells many different kinds of goods, including plants, antiques, consumer electronics, cosmetics, pets, food and drinks, fresh and dry food, ceramics, furniture and home accessories, clothing, and books. It is the world’s largest and most diverse weekend market, with over 2,00,000 visitors every weekend.
Cicada Market, Hua-Hin
Located in Hua-Hin, the market is a shopper’s paradise, a little away from Bangkok. It is known for dozens of stall vendors selling art, decorative items, eye-catching home décor, and other handmade items produced by local craftsmen. Among the items for sale are jewellery, watches, silk products, clothing and fashion accessories that one can’t resist buying. This market is in an open air garden-like setting which welcomes visitors from Fridays to Sundays. It is also a great place to enjoy some local music along with some lip-smacking Thai delicacies.
Indonesia
Kumbasari Art Market, Denpasar
The Kumbasari Art Market is one of Denpasar’s central landmarks and one of the city’s main sources of arts and handicrafts. Its four levels are home to over 200 kiosks and over 1000 stalls. The market is right across the Badung River and sells items that mostly come from the island’s various art-producing communities, like Ubud and other artistic communities in the central Bali highlands, while also featuring galleries by onsite painters and craftsmen. From kitsch barong key chains for less than a dollar to towering silver sculptures costing hundreds of dollars, the choices are seemingly endless. By night, some parts of the market open up with food stalls, making it a good spot for enjoying a local, budget-friendly dinner.
UK
Camden Passage, Islington
Boasting a treasure trove of shops and stalls dedicated to vintage clothes, antique stores, retro chic and cute cafés, Camden Passage is a 17th-century, cobblestoned passageway close to Angel Underground station (and not part of Camden Market!). It’s a fantastic place to find something out of the ordinary; vintage vinyl and classic comics at Atomic, antique and vintage porcelain at Caroline Carrier, art nouveau and art deco jewellery at Esme but also contemporary boutiques such as ladies clothing store Victoria Beau and independent concept store S120.
Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill
A not-to-be-missed London shopping experience and one of the most famous street markets in the world. It’s easy to spend hours browsing along this mile of shops and stalls selling vintage clothing, rare antiques, gifts, souvenirs, and street food. The market is in full swing on Saturday – arrive by 11:30 am to avoid the crowds.
Top shops: Saddle up in Wild West style at Jessie Western – a visual feast of cowboy boots, Stetson hats, fringed suede jackets and Navajo turquoise jewellery sourced by its sister owners. Just a few shops down is Alice’s antiques, a fascinating emporium of rare, out-of-the-ordinary vintage finds. You won’t miss it – the outside of the shop is painted bright red!
USA
SoHo, NYC
SoHo is one of NYC’s most eclectic shopping enclaves, known more for its designer boutiques. Check out the one-of-a-kind shops, bargain emporiums and kids stores. Bordered by Canal Street to the south, Lafayette Street to the east, Sixth Avenue to the west and Houston Street to the north, the neighbourhood tempts shoppers at every corner. On weekends, vendors on Prince Street and along West Broadway sell a variety of intriguing items – jewellery, art books, paintings and more.
