Cape Verde

You might think that from the outside it looks more like a museum than a market, but it is, in fact, the municipal market of the city of Mindelo, a vibrant, colourful and meticulously kept space filled wall to wall with the freshest island produce and the smiling faces selling them.

Capvertdesign+Artesanato is no ordinary souvenir shop. Within its walls, you can find Cape Verdean photography and coffee table books, typical home design items and decorations, art, glasswork, and traditional musical instruments. Every product sold here has a refined and elegant taste about it, making it perhaps the best place in the country for gifts and mementoes.

At the foot of the central area of Platô in Praia stands a large market (perhaps more of an agglomeration of stalls) selling everything from clothes, shoes and accessories to furniture and home decor items, and even live farm animals. It is a colourful and lively place and always makes for an interesting visit.

At the edge of São Filipe's modern neighbourhood, Bila Baxo, right next to the main square of Praça Francisco de Assis, lies the city market, a lively place where visitors can purchase locally-produced products, such as cheese, coffee, wine and Cape Verde's typical exotic jams, as well as freshly-caught fish.

Pérola Do Sal is a fine boutique that sells jewellery and home decor items with original design ideas, creatively using precious stones, pearls, shells and other natural materials from the islands.

Art D’Cretcheu takes great pride in being the oldest fair trade arts and crafts shop in Cape Verde. All of their items are handmade by artists and artisans from the archipelago's nine islands, including wicker baskets, clay figurines, local liquors, artwork, and much more.

World-champion kite-surfer (and three-time world vice-champion) and Cape Verde native Mitu Monteiro has opened his own surf shop in Santa Maria, selling his own line of fantastic surf gear, clothes and accessories, as well as boards and everything else needed to ride the waves.