my favorite places to shop (and eat) in Jaipur, India

This is the time of year where I start noticing an awful lot of people in my Instagram feed are in India. And while it means I spend a lot of time trying to control my jealousy (while trying to figure out when I can sneak in my third trip), it also means I frequently find myself DMing friends to share my favorite India recommendations.

So since it can be repetitive to share my recs one by one (and since I was pretty bad about blogging either of my trips) today I thought I’d share my favorite places to shop and eat in Jaipur! (I’ll be sharing my favorite Delhi shopping destinations in a separate post.)

The Silver Market

At the risk of giving away my trade secrets, the Silver Market is where I first found the stones for my Contra Collection. But since the Silver Market is really a winding series of alleys with lots of little shops inside, I feel safe in sharing. If you’re searching for gemstones or a beautiful piece of antique silver to bring home as a souvenir from your trip, I highly recommend spending a few hours wandering the shops.

Full disclosure: the Silver Market can be tricky to find. Ask your rickshaw driver to take you to the Chameliwala Bazaar across from the GPO on MI road. The sign is in Hindi, so hopefully your driver is being helpful. Then be prepared to wander through the shops. Also come prepared to haggle, and don’t feel bad leaving any shop that you don’t love! It took me a little wandering to find some really great vendors.

Nayika

Tucked into a lovely little courtyard off MI road, Nayika is a beautiful little boutique and my favorite Jaipur source for block printed scarves. (At a really reasonable price.) They also have really fantastic clothing in both Indian and Western cuts. (Pro tip: while it can be fun to buy traditional Indian clothes to wear on your trip, you’ll be much more likely to wear the pieces you purchase when you get home if you buy clothes in more Western cuts. On my last trip, I focused on buying beautiful block print patterns in more Western style dresses and skirts, and I’ve worn them many more times than the kurtas and kaftans I bought on my first trip.)

Anokhi

Anokhi is a small chain of stores throughout India featuring beautifully crafted block print clothing and textiles, but the store in Jaipur is the mothership. Their clothing is wondering (I picked up this jacket there on my last trip) but I’m especially in love with their textiles. I picked up a number of quilts on my first trip (pro trip: pack an extra duffle bag in your suitcase for the trip home if you’re planning on buying a lot of textiles) and one of them has a permanent place in my living room. (I’m actually curled up under it as a write this.) And if you can’t make it to Jaipur, they do have a US website.

But if you’re in Jaipur, it’s definitely worth hitting up Anokhi in person. Not only does the Jaipur store feature a large selection of their products, it also has a cute cafe with fresh salads and juices. (And if you can make it, I’d also recommend checking out the Anokhi Museum just outside of Jaipur, especially if you want to learn about the block print process. If you’re planning on heading to the Amber Fort, the Anokhi Museum is an easy side excursion.)

Jaipur Modern

Speaking of cute cafes, my favorite place to eat in Jaipur is actually Jaipur Modern. The beautiful modern courtyard is a great break from the chaos of the city, and the food is excellent. (Especially if you’re craving some vegetables.) Plus, they also have a beautiful boutique with a great selection of gifts and teas.

Caffé Palladio

If you’ve ever thought about India, it’s likely that you’ve seen the iconic blue and white interior of Bar Palladio. And while that is worth a trip, I actually prefer the casual courtyard vibe of they’re newer location, Caffé Palladio. It’s the perfect place to take a break from shopping to enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee. (And the decor is a must see.)

There’s so much to see in Jaipur, which is why I wanted to focus on just a few of my favorite places. If you’re planning a trip, I’d highly recommend getting the Love, Jaipur Rajasthan book by Fiona Caulfield. This was literally my bible on the trip. I marked all the places I wanted to go and kept it in my bag at all times, and it was quite handy for showing rickshaw drivers exactly where I was trying to go.

Speaking of drivers, here’s one final tip. Drivers will often try to take you to other stores, because they get a cut there. It’s essential that you’re firm and don’t get out if it’s not your destination. That said, I never had a problem with getting to where I wanted to go, even if I was by myself!