Shopping in Antigua Island - authentic goods, best outlets, malls and boutiques

The biggest shops are located in St. John’s. To buy everything you do need and not really, go to High Street and St. Mary’s Street. This is where all the outlets are. The shops are usually opened from 8.30 a.m. till 4 p.m. six days a week. They usually close for a lunch break from 12 to 13 p.m., and on Sundays you most probably won’t find any opened shop. Keep in mind that real working hours can differ from those on the sigh – the locals are not really punctual. On Thursdays, for example, most of them already close their shop at noon.

When in big shops, remind a shop assistant about the duty-free system. Though Antigua is far from Britain, many advise buying fabrics here, especially wool and linen. Do you want to enjoy the local color to the maximum? On a Saturday, go to the Market Street, there is a food market in its southern part. Here you can find a black pineapple at a reasonable price, which doesn’t grow anywhere else in the world. If you don’t want the fruit to go bad on the way back home, ask a seller to find a little unripe one. They also sell here coconuts and papaya. On all the other days, there is a market at English Harbour, where there is also a large choice of exotic fruit and vegetables.

If you want to go to a boutique, go to Redcliffe Quay. This is not only a historic quarter of St. John’s, but a modern trading platform as well. In the former department stores’ buildings, there is now three dozens shop with various goods. For instance, this is where the famous A Thousand Flowers shop is located, which is famous for its quality and diverse fabrics. Though, they also sell a lot of souvenirs. In Antigua, you can find local painted plates and souvenirs from other countries. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Thanks to the location of the island, you can find here affordable jewelry from Afganistan and the dark continent, traditional Indonesian wood carvings, and many other goods from all around the world. In Antigua, they also sell the local golden jewelry. They have a really unique style thanks to the combination of traditional materials with pieces of bamboo, wooden beads, shells, and corals. If you want, you can also find here shops with European clothes. However, if you would like to buy something really outstanding, choose a local national costume, which has bright colors and beautiful beading.

Traditionally, the travelers bring from the island also some jewelry, made with different gifts of nature. There is also a large variety of weaving mats and baskets, wide-brim hats, peculiar shaped bottles, and pottery. A man-sized figure of Maximon, which is iconic for the Antiguans, would be an extravagant purchase. By the way, according to the legend, if you give this statue rum, it will make any of your dreams come true. If you don’t want to bring home such a hulk, you can limit the dive into the traditional beliefs by buying a ritual wooden mask, which ward off evil. Do you want to by something practical? Then buy at least one bottle of Cavalier rum. In the Colonial times, them made rum in almost every house. A century ago the locals decided to combine and start a common production, keeping all the best traditions of the ancestors.