Asakusa & Sumida River
This small monthly artisan and farmer's produce market includes food trucks and live music. The location next to the Asahi Super Dry Hall provides views…
Must-see shopping in Asia
Shimla
This time-warp, antiquarian bookseller is a single dusty room full of rare Himalayan travelogues at prices aimed firmly at collectors.
Chennai (Madras)
Reliable modern bookshop stocking English-, Indian- and Tamil-language fiction and nonfiction, kids' books, magazines, Lonely Planet guides and other…
Mumbai (Bombay)
A spacious bookstore with a good selection of travel books, plus the Cha Bar, serving tea. The store was closed for a refurb at the time of research, so…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
A department store Shimo Kitazawa–style: this flea market–like space has dozens of vendors selling everything from handmade jewellery to vintage cowboy…
Tokyo
Specialising in foods made from tofu, this shop and restaurant also sells amazake (¥200), the sweet milky fermented (but nonalcoholic) rice drink, after…
Xi'an
Near the South Gate is the Qing-style Shuyuan Xiang, the main tree-lined strip for art supplies, paintings, calligraphy, paper cuts, brushes and fake…
Hoi An
Lotus has very affordable and attractive hand-crafted pieces loosely modelled on butterflies, dragonflies, Vietnamese sampans, conical hats and Chinese…
Guangzhou
Praised for its elegant design, this enticing bookstore has more than 90,000 (mostly Chinese) titles, wrapping around a central cafe. You can also find…
Downtown Kyoto
Located in the midst of Kyoto’s banking district, this shopping, dining and entertainment complex is always worth a look. The offerings range from books…
Manila
Plenty of fast food here along with less-ritzy boutiques than in neighbouring Greenbelt. Glorietta 1 through 4 are all under one roof; Glorietta 5 is in a…
Bishkek
Postcards, basic maps and a mere handful of English-language books plus a museum section and a sweet, traditionally styled chaikhana room. Descend the…
Papua
Local handicrafts from the Mee tribe are available at this tidy little shop in central Nabire. Prized items include bags woven from orchid bark, and…
Singapore
Stocking the in-house label from the Pedder Group, the shoes are nice but pale in comparison to the extravagance you will find at the main Pedder On…
Shanghai
Set in the M50 complex is this sleek boutique filled with ready-to-wear haute-couture minimalist creations by the award-winning socialist and feminist…
Bandung
A modern indoor-outdoor sweep of a shopping mall, with a food court on the leafy ground floor and a blend of small businesses and international chains on…
Kaohsiung
An organic farmers market that takes place every weekend (and sometimes one weekday) in five venues across Kaohsiung. Produce on offer includes fruits and…
South Goa
This small boutique shop back from Patnem Beach stocks handicrafts, textiles, antiques and clothing sourced from all over India by the expat owner, as…
Taipei
This lovely independent bookshop, run by Mr Wu, stocks a selection of scholarly history and political books on Taiwan in English, as well as maps,…
Ahmedabad (Amdavad)
Traditional and contemporary saris, embroidered tunics, accessories and gifts – all handcrafted by expert craftspeople from around the country using eco…
Kuta & Legian
Swallowing up a significant section of the shoreline, this huge, hulking and popular enclosed Tuban mall is built on the water and filled with shops of…
Darjeeling
Supports local artisans and environmental projects through the sale of organic honey and tea from local small farmers, plus local handmade paper products,…
Harajuku & Aoyama
Chicago is crammed with all sorts of vintage clothing, but best of all is the extensive collection of used kimonos and yukata, priced from ¥2000, in the…
Chiang Rai
Adjacent to the bus station off Th Phahonyothin is Chiang Rai’s night market. On a much smaller scale than the one in Chiang Mai, it is nevertheless an OK…
Bukhara Artisan Development Centre
Bukhara
Here you can watch artisans at work on a variety of handicrafts including suzani, miniature paintings, jewellery boxes and chess sets. Bring your own…
Yangon
Come here for one of the city's most extensive selections of English-language books on Myanmar and Southeast Asia. Genial owner U Htay Aung really knows…
West Sumatra
This outdoor adventure store is handy if you're climbing Gunung Kerinci or going on a multiday trek into the jungle. It has a good selection of camping…
Singapore
Streetwear, beauty and nail salons, 'lifestyle' shops and a large cineplex behind an unfinished-looking old art deco frontage. Home to the Cathay Gallery,…
Hong Kong
Located in hidden-away Chancery Lane, this gallery focuses on thought-provoking works by promising Asian, mainland Chinese and Hong Kong artists. It also…
Udon Thani
With just a handful of the hundreds of vendors selling handmade items, Udon's Walking Street doesn't rise to the level of the markets in Chiang Mai and…
Western Mongolia
A women's cooperative workshop that sells handmade felt and camel-wool items including cosy slippers, saddle covers for horses and camels, and woven…
Phuket Town
A fun and intriguing artist-owned shophouse featuring mythical creatures and abstract portraits in minimalist grey-dominated oils on canvas, with splashes…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
Next to Malwa Resort, this small shop sells good-quality scarves, shawls, bedspreads and clothing made from material (mostly cotton) that has been block…
Ulaanbaatar
Run by the team from nearby Rosewood is this small grocer that bakes its own rustic breads and sells fresh locally sourced meats. It also stocks other…
Myanmar (Burma)
Tucked down a sleepy side street, this tiny traditional house contains a small collection of landscapes, portraits and caricatures by Sooe Lay, who opened…
Shanghai
Stationery shop selling cute items for your every writing need, from little design diaries to coloured pens and dumpling-shaped pencil sharpeners as well…
Kota Bharu
Located near Central Market, Bazaar Buluh Kubu is the place to purchase the local handicrafts such as batik, traditional Malay clothing and jewellery that…
Kuta & Legian
Although most other outlets have left, Jl Arjuna still has a few batik wholesalers hanging on amid the construction boom in chain hotels. This one is a…
Chennai (Madras)
This fair-trade, India-wide brand specialises in fashion, accessories and homewares made from fun-patterned Indian fabrics, including stylish kurtas,…
Chiang Mai
Sleekly contemporary, this high-class jewellery studio makes top-quality rings, pendants and earrings using silver, gold and precious stones. It also runs…
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