The best independent shops and studios around Karen & Nairobi

Nairobi isn’t a city you conquer in a checklist. It’s a city you ease into — through conversations, side streets, workshops, and places that don’t announce themselves loudly.

From Karen’s leafy backroads to the creative corridors of Kilimani and Westlands, the capital’s most interesting shopping experiences live far from malls and mass retail. Here, design is personal. Craft is political. Beauty is practical.

This is the Nairobi we love sharing with our guests at Karen Plains Hotel — a city of independent makers, thoughtful fashion, functional objects, and places where you can meet the people behind what you buy.

Below, our edit of the best boutiques, studios and concept spaces, organised by neighbourhood. Go slowly. Linger. Refuel at one of our favourite cafés when you’re done.

The best shops in Karen

Matbronze Art Gallery & Foundry

Best for: Sculptural art rooted in African narratives
Address: Langata South Road, Karen

Part gallery, part working foundry, Matbronze is one of those places that recalibrates how you see African contemporary art. Bronze sculptures by Kenyan artists sit alongside outdoor installations and quietly powerful figurative works. It’s less a shop, more a cultural landmark — and a reminder that Nairobi’s creative economy is deeply intellectual.

Utamaduni Craft Centre

Best for: Handmade gifts, jewellery and artisan pieces
Address: Bogani East Road, Karen

A long-standing Karen favourite, Utamaduni is a gentle maze of stalls featuring crafts from across Kenya. Beaded jewellery, woven baskets, leather goods and carved wood pieces coexist under one canopy. Ideal for meaningful souvenirs that support local artisans directly.

The best shops in Kilimani & Lavington

KikoRomeo Studio

Best for: Modern African fashion with global polish
Address: Yaya Centre, Kilimani

Christie Brown meets Nairobi cool. KikoRomeo’s designs are architectural, wearable, and unapologetically African without leaning into cliché. Expect tailored pieces, elevated basics, and garments that travel well — both physically and aesthetically.

Sunny Dolat Studio

Best for: Experimental womenswear and textile play
Address: By appointment, Kilimani

Sunny Dolat is part fashion designer, part cultural thinker. Her work interrogates identity, heritage and modern African womanhood through bold silhouettes and textile innovation. If you catch her during a studio open day, consider it a quiet win.

The best design & homeware studios

A.A.K.S Kenya (Pop-ups & Stockists)

Best for: Handwoven bags and accessories
Made in: Ghana · Loved in Nairobi

While A.A.K.S is Ghanaian at heart, Nairobi has become one of its most loyal homes through curated pop-ups and concept stockists. The handwoven raffia bags strike that rare balance between craft and global fashion — the kind of piece that works equally well in Karen or Copenhagen.

Kitengela Glass

Best for: Hand-blown glassware with soul
Address: Near Nairobi National Park

Recycled glass bottles transformed into tumblers, vases and statement pieces, all made on-site. No two items are identical. Visiting Kitengela Glass feels like stepping into a creative ecosystem rather than a store — chaotic, beautiful, and deeply Nairobi.

The best concept spaces & slow shopping

The Souk at Capital Centre (Curated vendors)

Best for: Pop-up designers, wellness brands, ethical fashion
Address: South C / Rotational venues

The Souk isn’t a single shop — it’s a rotating universe of makers. From natural skincare and ceramics to fashion and food, this is where Nairobi’s emerging brands test ideas and meet their audience. Timing matters, but when it’s on, it’s worth the detour.

The best leather & accessories

Sandstorm Kenya

Best for: Handcrafted leather bags and travel goods
Address: Multiple stockists; workshop in Industrial Area

Made for people who move — across cities, borders, and seasons. Sandstorm’s leather goods are rugged, timeless, and quietly luxurious. The kind of pieces that age with you, not out of style.

A note from Karen Plains Hotel

We believe good travel isn’t about seeing everything — it’s about seeing well. Many of the places above won’t appear on billboards or influencer reels. Some require appointments. Others reward curiosity.

If you’re staying with us and want:

• directions

• introductions

• timing advice

• or a version of this list tailored to your interests

Just ask at reception. That’s part of the stay.