Shopping in Durban – malls, markets & souvenirs
Posted on 25. Mar, 2010 by admin in Durban
Shopping in Durban is vast and varied with everything from designer boutiques to African Craft stalls to spend your rands in. The beaches are lined with native vendors pedalling their wares and the large Durban shopping centres are packed to bursting with well-known brand names and department stores. You can also pick up some more exotic items in Durban’s Indian Quarter or head to Florida Road for something chic and unusual. Whatever you retail needs, there are shops in Durban waiting to fulfil them.
Durban shopping areas
Durban’s main shopping areas are scattered around the city with the beachfront acting as one big flea market. If you’re prepared to explore a little you can find some really unusual and special items away from the big Durban shopping malls, and the whole experience can often be more relaxing and rewarding. Be prepared to haggle, however, and keep an eye on your belongings in the busiest areas.
Amphitheatre Gardens
Snell Promenade, Durban 4001, Tel: +27 (0)31 311 1111
The Amphitheatre gardens are a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Durban. The gardens are made up of tropical plants and cooling fountains but there are also plenty of opportunities to shop until you drop if you’re in the mood. A funky flea market selling everything from second-hand clothes to antiques is held here on the last Sunday of every month and a good art market takes place on alternate Sundays. There’s plenty of decent curios here and its a good place to pick up cheap souvenirs and presents.
Indian Quarter
Grey Street north and West Street, east-central Durban
Durban’s Indian Quarter is one of the highlights of the city and it is a great place to go for an altogether different shopping experience. There are two good markets here, the Victorian and the Oriental. The Victorian Market was rebuilt in the 1970s after it was destroyed by a fire so now consists of old fashioned market stalls in a modern building. The African and Indian items on sale on the 180 stalls include spices, fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, woodcarvings and souvenirs. The Oriental Bazaar is much smaller but boasts some quaint and colourful shops.
The African Arts Centre
Box 803, Durban 4000
Durban’s African Arts Centre is bursting with Zulu arts and crafts, including carpets, pottery, sculptures, jewellery and carvings. It is closed on Sundays but open from 8:30am – 5pm every other day of the week. You can find some great items here if you’re looking for things to furnish your home with, but be prepared to haggle hard with the stall holders if you want to get a good price.
Florida Road
Florida Road, Central Durban
This funky street in Central Durban is renowned for all things stylish. There are some great restaurants and bars to enjoy here during the evening but in the day, shopping is the pastime of choice. Florida Road has a real villagey feel about it and the chic and unusual boutiques line the pavements. If you’re looking for a really unusual item of clothing or accessory to return home with, Florida Road is the place to head for.
Beachfront flea markets
Flea markets of various forms can be found scattered along the main beachfront in Durban. This is your best place for picking up bargains but also an easy place to get ripped off. Never seem too interested and never accept a first price. You can get everything from handmade baskets to ethnic clothes here. There are also curios items such as native carvings and masks.
Shopping Centres: Durban shopping centres come in one size – large. These sprawling retail paradises have everything under one roof, with all your shopping, eating and entertainment needs taken care of. Most malls in Durban need about a day to get around, but even if you’re just popping in for an hour or so, it’ll be worth it just for the air-con.
The Wheel
Gillespie Street, Durban
This modern shopping centre can be recognised by the huge Ferris wheel that sits over the entrance. It is home to around 150 shops, all with their own unique ingredient, as well as food outlets, bars and cinemas. The Wheel is popular with Durban’s young adults so expect it to be packed with them on weekends.
The Workshop Shopping Centre
99 Aliwal Street, Central Durban 4001 Tel: +27(0)31 304 9894
The Workshop Shopping Centre sits in the original 1860 workshop of Durban Railway Station. The building still has the original iron girders but is today a real mix of old charm and modern masterpiece. Everything you could possible need is here, from a variety of shops and restaurants to cinemas and other entertainment venues. There are departments stores alongside independent boutiques and the Indian community is very prevalent among the smaller stalls. European and African tastes are also widely catered for and the centre hosts special events and fashion shows throughout the year.
La Lucia Mall
90 William Campbell Drive, La Lucia, Durban 4051, Tel: +27(0)31 562 8420
La Lucia Mall is home to more than 115 restaurants and shops. It has a fresh produce market and a supermarket for those looking to stock up on the essentials, as well as electrical and home furnishing stalls. For fashionistas there are also plenty of well-known South African clothes outlets as well as boutiques selling homemade clothes, jewellery, bags and accessories. There are also many salons and some major bank branches here.
The Pavilion Shopping Centre
Jack Martens Drive, Westville, Central Durban 3611, Tel: +27(0)31 265 0558
The Pavilion Shopping Centre is just a few minutes’ drive out of the city centre in Westville. There are more than 200 shops here, including independent boutiques making made-to-measure one-offs and funky designer outlets. There are also well-known South African department stores here, electronic shops, shoe shops, banks and stationary shops. On top of this there is a supermarket, a plethora of restaurants and a 12-screen Nu Metro cinema.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping
1 Palm Boulevard, Umhlanga Ridge, New Town Centre, Umhlanga 4320, Tel: +27(0)31 566 2332
The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is one of the newest malls in Durban. It boasts pretty much every department stall known to man, as well as luxurious and pricey designer boutiques. There are, however, plenty of bargains to be found here as their seems to be a different sale on every month. Food-wise, there’s everything from mobile hotdog stands to fancy restaurants and the entertainment facilities are unrivalled. If an IMAX cinema, a theatre, a gaming centre and a skate park aren’t enough for you, we give up!
Musgrave Shopping Centre
115 Musgrave Road, Berea, Central Durban 4001, Tel: +27(0)31 201 5129
The Musgrave shopping Centre is just around 10 minutes from downtown Durban and is the one-stop shop for all your retail needs. It boasts banks, a bureau de change, restaurants, supermarkets and a cinema. There are also the standard department stalls and cute boutiques.
