Utamaduni Craft Centre
Utamaduni Craft Centre
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Utamaduni is the best African artisan market in Nairobi. Perfectly located in the leafy suburb of Langata the shop is easy to drop into on you way to some of the exciting venues in Nairobi such as the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust or the Giraffe Centre. You can sit in the beautiful garden with refreshments and then wind your way through a treasure trove of shops, with friendly staff to assist and help pack or ship if needed. Make sure you make Utamaduni a part of your Kenya holiday itinerary.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Utamaduni Craft Centre

See what travelers are saying

  • bolild
    Kings Mountain, North Carolina148 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great shopping for those of us who do not enjoy bartering!
    We visited Utamaduni Craft Center on the first day of our safari trip. I wish that I could have gone back at the end. I do not enjoy the bartering process and would have loved shopping at this nice fixed price shop after looking around. I feel like the prices were reasonable and there was a good variety of souvenirs. The restaurant out front was relaxing and comfortable and had very good food.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 22, 2023
  • jainlv22
    Las Vegas, Nevada7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quaint little place with variety
    I’m not a big shopper, but my wife wanted to visit the shops based on the review she saw. It was a quaint little place about eight minutes from the Giraffe Center, so it was convenient after we went there. They had a wide variety of handcrafted items from trinkets, to housewares, to fabrics, to carved items. All items seemed reasonably priced and absolutely no pressure to buy. You could walk in and out of the little shops at your leisure. I don’t know if it would be a destination if you weren’t going to be in the area, but if you’re going out that way or you want to make the trip, it is a very nice shopping location.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 21, 2024
  • Cuzco76
    Glasgow, United Kingdom73 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best souvenir craft shop in Nairobi
    This is the best souvenir shopping experience in Nairobi. No hard sales pitches, everything is priced and beautifully displayed in sections. The staff are friendly and helpful. Fantastic selection of items particularly the metal work. There are items made from recycled materials, from women’s cooperatives etc. something available for everyone’s price range. I would highly recommend a visit plus also visit the street art shop next door which has paintings from street children to fund their education .
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 11, 2024
  • imahappybunny
    9 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wide variety. No pressure or haggling. Mix of handmade and mass-market items.
    A wide range of things. A mix of hand-made and more mass-produced items. This is reflected in the prices, so pretty fair. No pressure to buy or haggling- everything has a price on it. O imagine the markups are very large compared to what they pay the craftspeople, but to a European eye the prices are reasonable.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles169 reviews
Excellent
90
Very good
57
Average
12
Poor
5
Terrible
5

SoloWithPassport
Singapore, Singapore61 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
An excellent art and craft centre, with a wide range of artefacts from across Kenya, both traditional and contemporary.

Prices are considerably higher than at street markets, but they are fixed, so you don’t need to haggle (and shouldn’t). You can also shop entirely hassle-free - staff leave you to browse without any chasing or “help”, unless requested. You can also be sure your money is supporting the artisans.

Highlights for me were the baby shop with lovely toys and clothing, the bath ware shop with some gorgeous soaps and candles, and the many beads and carvings.

You pay in one transaction at the front till. Cards accepted.

Note there are a few shops outside the main house, including one supporting street children. Don’t overlook them!

Very pleasant garden cafe on site.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cuzco76
Glasgow, UK73 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
This is the best souvenir shopping experience in Nairobi. No hard sales pitches, everything is priced and beautifully displayed in sections. The staff are friendly and helpful.

Fantastic selection of items particularly the metal work. There are items made from recycled materials, from women’s cooperatives etc. something available for everyone’s price range.

I would highly recommend a visit plus also visit the street art shop next door which has paintings from street children to fund their education .
Written July 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Meeshmartin
San Jose, CA186 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
Took a shopping tour and this was the best stop by far. The prices are set and very fair and the goods are simply beautiful and authentic. Highly recommend! There is also a nice cafe to park your other half if they don’t want to shop.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa P
New York56 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
This is a lovely well-run center where you can buy from a huge selection of arts, crafts and souvenirs. There really is something for everyone! No pressure to buy, but enough kind sales people around to help. Fixed prices mean no haggling, which is a relief for some of us. The prices range from reasonable to high, which is why I gave it four stars, not five, but the experience is five stars. We spent a little over an hour, probably could’ve spent a bit longer but had another spot to visit.
Written August 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

good_ants
Doha, Qatar644 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
This is a very pleasant, diverse, and “professional” craft center in south Nairobi. We were out walking and decided to push further to check it out, and left happy, full, and with a few key purchases!
The first stall we looked in was ‘Streetwise’, a cool small area with art produced by at-risk youths. Some creative, colourful pieces of which we happily bought a large oil elephant print. There are numerous other shops selling fine products from coffee beans to natural soaps to carpets, amd of course the ubiquitous wood carvings.
Fixed prices only, but fair prices for these quality goods.
Pro tip: be sure to check out the cafe attached at the east end!
Written December 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bolild
Kings Mountain, NC148 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
We visited Utamaduni Craft Center on the first day of our safari trip. I wish that I could have gone back at the end. I do not enjoy the bartering process and would have loved shopping at this nice fixed price shop after looking around. I feel like the prices were reasonable and there was a good variety of souvenirs. The restaurant out front was relaxing and comfortable and had very good food.
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bob10
UK10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
Brilliant shop. I always pay a visit to Utamaduni when I am in Nairobi. Their crafts are well priced and help communities. After stocking up on gifts for family, I unfortunately lost a beautiful pair of earrings at the airport. Utamaduni have been fantastic in organising a new purchase and sending me a new pair. Thank you!
Written March 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

imahappybunny
9 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
A wide range of things. A mix of hand-made and more mass-produced items. This is reflected in the prices, so pretty fair.

No pressure to buy or haggling- everything has a price on it. O imagine the markups are very large compared to what they pay the craftspeople, but to a European eye the prices are reasonable.
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bidule05
France1,918 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We came from Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We stopped for lunch in this excellent restaurant that is close Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe centre. The restaurant is located in very a beautiful and peaceful garden.
The staff is friendly and very effective.
I highly recommend this excellent and relaxing restaurant.
Written January 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jainlv22
Las Vegas, NV7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
I’m not a big shopper, but my wife wanted to visit the shops based on the review she saw. It was a quaint little place about eight minutes from the Giraffe Center, so it was convenient after we went there. They had a wide variety of handcrafted items from trinkets, to housewares, to fabrics, to carved items. All items seemed reasonably priced and absolutely no pressure to buy. You could walk in and out of the little shops at your leisure. I don’t know if it would be a destination if you weren’t going to be in the area, but if you’re going out that way or you want to make the trip, it is a very nice shopping location.
Written January 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 146
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Utamaduni Craft Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Nairobi HotelsNairobi Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Nairobi
All things to do in Nairobi
Day Trips in Nairobi
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars